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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Pellinore, post: 4030364, member: 74834&quot;]And here&#039;s a numismatic fable animal that&#039;s new to this zoo: the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simurgh" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simurgh" rel="nofollow">simurgh</a> or senmurv, a gigantic bird with the head of a dog (or a human face) and the claws of a lion. It&#039;s occasionally encountered on early medieval Persian coins, like this one: </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1059147[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>As you see, it&#039;s modeled after the stereotype Xusro II drachm of the 610-628 period, but it&#039;s copper and much smaller. It&#039;s from the early, sad days of the islamic occupation of Iran, when worshippers of non-islamic religions (zoroastrism, nestorianism) were largely left alone and they were still able to maintain local coinages of their own choice.</p><p><br /></p><p>Arab-Sasanian AE pashiz, Ardashir-xvarrah (=Farroxzad), 75-79 AH = 695-699 AD. Obv. Xusro II-like head r. In the margins left and right, moon and star marks. Single pearl rim. On 6h, one threepoint. Rev. Senmurv flying to the left. Double pearl rim. Moon and stars on left and right edge. 22 x 21 mm, 0.74 gr. <a href="https://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=204927" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=204927" rel="nofollow">Zeno 204927</a> (this coin). Album 41 (‘R’). Gyselen Type 2, cf. Nr. 1. </p><p><br /></p><p>I have another of these, but the head is unclear on this one, too: </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1059154[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>22 x 24 mm, 0.67 gr. Gyselen Type 2, cf. Nr. 10.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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