Game Of The Contemporary Civilizations Revised

This will be second incarnation of Game of the Contemporary Civilizations. Back by popular demand, the game challenges the boards members to examine the world through their most beloved coins. The objective is to post a coin (ancient forgery or mint product) within your collection that shared the world with the coin of the day. To expand a little on that, Say the original post coin or coins that were in circulation, revalued, counter marked, or otherwise in use during the period of accepted date(s) for the coin or counter marks.

For Example:
The Host of the Day posts a coin of the Emperor Gordian III, (ruling the Roman Empire AD 238-244), a contemporary coin would be a coin from the same ruler but of a different province (least desired valid response), or one may post a coin of Persian Shah Ardashir I (r. AD 224-242) or Shapur I (r.AD 240-270) (most desired valid response.)

There exists coins with blanket dates for many periods, coins with a blanket date CAN be a valid response, cut a criteria must be met, 1) The coin must have a blanket date no greater than 100 years. 2) the coin was in use during the use of the Host coin. 3)no further dating info on the contestant coin is available.

For example:
The Host coin is Gordian III (r.AD 238 -244) a coin of Ancient Burma with a blanket date of 3rd century AD is a valid response. Due to lack of historical record.

Example 2: If the Host posts a coin struck by Philip I (r. 244-249)AD COS III, AD 248. The host provides an exact date. The challenge would be to find another coin that is not Phillip COS III of the same mint but rather a coin that was in use in AD 248 through the end of 249. A coin from AD 275-300 would not a valid response considering the world was a different place in AD 300 then it was in AD 248.

Example 3: The Host posts a coin of Ancient Burma c. Third century AD, then there will be coins of many contestants from AD 200-AD 300.

Example 4: The Host posts a coin of Domition countermarked by Ostrogoths. Responses can be made in regards to the coin date of the countermark. Coins from the reign of Domition, and coins of the reign of Theodoric.

Example 5: Host posts a dated coin of Khusro II. Khusro II for a very long time. His coins would have many contemporaries.

The Host is a completely volunteer position. Anyone way be the host for the day.

I hope this encourages the lurkers and new guys to issue challenges and see who inhabited the world with their coins. This is a great opportunity to see a snap shot in time, and to learn to recognize the metal fabric, corrosion types, coin types and other conditional factors common to the eras.

The first challenge of game will be to post a coin contemporary of this coin. You coin must have been in circulation from AD 224-242.


The King pictured here was a powerful and wise military leader who usherd in a new era for Persia. He sought to remove the influence of the Hellenistic Period and the culture of the Parthians who long ruled Persia. He sought to restore Persia to the glory it had enjoyed before the defeat by Alexander the Great and the subjugation of the previous 5 centuries. Once in power he would declare himself the king of kings would start a dynasty that would last until the Arab conquests of the mid 7th century.

(r.224-242 AD)
Ctesiphon, Iraq
Ardashir I (b.180-242 AD d.)(r.224-242 AD)
Ar Drachm 24.6 mm x 4.13 grams
Obverse: Cuirassed bust of Ardashir I right in Parthian Headdress. Pahlavi legend- MAZDISN BAGI ARTAHSHATER MALKAN AIRAN"of the worshiper of Mazda, the divine Ardashir, King of Kings of Iran"
Reverse: Zoroastrian Fire Alter with two attendants Pahlavi legend "NURAZI ARTASHATR "Fire of Ardashir"
ref:Gobl type III/2