I bid on several coins in the FSR auction but all the exceptional coins went well over my level. Today's mail brought the lower priced items from my bids. I have always wanted one of these even though I really do not collect Islamic coins and this is especially Islamic compared to its peer group. ARAB-SASANIAN. Tabaristan. Sulayman. 787-789 AD. AR Hemidrachm Sasanian style bust right with face replaced by rhomboid bearing the Arabic word bakh; / Fire altar flanked by attendants Sulayman felt it necessary to adhere to the Islamic prohibition against portraiture and replaced the Sasanian face with a geometric shape. The rhombus still wears the crown, jewelry and robes. Only the face was deleted. I still need to research the date/mint details.
Very interesting @dougsmit. I have a few Sassanian coins, nothing to write home about. But I saw some displayed at a coin show and they were priced very high for what turned out to be common issues. I found some cheaper and similar quality examples not long after. Thanks for sharing. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=6383
Neat addition, Doug. Never seen Sasanian with a obscured portrait like that. I don't mess with Franks auctions, they go too high for me. I buy off the unsolds and cheap lists.
This is a very interesting point. The first islamic coins were the types arab-byzantine and arab-sasanian. The most of these types, at least on the beginning of their coinages, still mainteined human figures and faces on this coins. Around the 8th century, almost all the islamic coins didn't have human figures. The most known exception was the Artuquid coinage, on the 11-12th centuries, where human faces and portraiture are well represented. I think that your coin is a transition coin. Thanks to sharing with us!
I don't collect these either, but cool coin! I'm waiting on my three wins from Frank's auction, but am in the meantime enjoying seeing what everyone else picked up. I like that we all seem to choose a different morsel from the same buffet table.
Nice pickup, Doug! I have an example of that type: As far as I know all of the Tabaristan coinage has the mint name of TAPWRSTAN, and the dates are expressed in the post-Yazdegard era (year 1= 651/2 AD).
Nice, I just have the slightly earlier version that still has a face. + the earlier Sassanian version..
I agree. Reading his prices realized is very interesting since he lists not only what the winner paid but what he bid. My coin here was a tie but mine was first received so I had to pay my full $36 bid. There was a Titus sestertius that went for $570 but the winner had bid $750. Frank would have made more had there been another bidder willing to pay $700+. Over the years, I have been second place on a hundred or more coins in these sales but those days are gone. People are out there waiving money in the air. At the back of the list he offered Tabaristans with faces (Jarir) VF or better for $33.95 and 'Reasonably clear' Parion 3/4 drachms for $22.50. The sharpest of that last batch went for $38. In the past I have had him offer backup lots (less than the $38 but better than the $22) when I was an underbidder. I have no idea how many of either he has. The back of the list stuff can be cheap and very educational but will not dazzle the CT crowd who only collects MS slabs. The question is whether off center Apollonia EF's need love, too.
I am very interested in looking at this mysterious Frank's sales if anyone wants to point me in the right direction.
