Just received this Shapur I in mail. The portrait and the price sold me on this one. I also like the reverse. Although poorly struck I like what looks like to me as a half finished recut die job. Can someone please help me with the date? I have read some old threads that point to the numiswiki page (below) that shows the dates but I can't make heads or tails of the squiggly lines. I think I have chosen the correct squiggles for close up shots? Also, this coin has silvering and shows signs of base metal. I this normal? You can see the base metal mostly at the base of the alter. Coin is 25 mm, 3.87 grams. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Sasanian Dates There is more than one set of photos. I couldn't decide which was better; set one or set two and posted both.
Dates on Sasanian coins do not start until the reign of Peroz (457-483), there is no date on your drachm of Shapur I (240-271). The reverse inscription on your coin is: left NURA ZI, right ShAHPUHRI, meaning "fire of Shapur". (Note: I am basing that on the published transliterations, I can make out some of the letters on the reverse clearly but not all of them.)