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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Parthicus, post: 2527590, member: 81887&quot;]Here&#039;s a bronze of Ardashir V of Persis (c. 212-224 AD):</p><p>[ATTACH=full]539793[/ATTACH] </p><p>Unfortunately, it illustrates one reason that facing busts are not often used on coins: even moderate wear makes them look really bad.&nbsp; Anyway, Ardashir V started out as a faithful vassal of the Parthians, but eventually he staged a revolt.&nbsp; In about 224 he killed the last Parthian king, Artabanos I, and declared himself Ardashir I ( 224- 241) of the New Persian dynasty, which is now usually called Sasanian.&nbsp; Here is one of his early coins, a silver obol:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]539800[/ATTACH] </p><p>Notice that the king wears a Parthian-style tiara in this early coinage; later he switches over to a more distinctly Sasanian-style crown.&nbsp; Also note the fire altar on these early coins does not have the two attendants at the sides who would appear in almost all later Sasanian coinages.</p><p><br /></p><p>Sasanian coins are really cool, I am probably going to focus on them once I sell off my Parthian collection.&nbsp; The basic type remains pretty constant throughout the series, and many types are common, but there are enough subtle varieties and rarities to maintain interest.&nbsp; You can even collect the later drachms by year and mint-mark, if you can&#039;t shake the US collector mentality <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie101" alt=":woot:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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