Posted 10/27/2016 8:57 pm
Neat coin, Dave. An Artaxerxes II, right?
Persis is one of those areas where there is a dearth of literature and where, potentially, an enthusiastic collector could potentially contribute to the body of knowledge.
I had the opportunity to pick up a bunch of Persis drachms at a really good price several years back, and I passed on it since there were also affordable Parthians in the bunch that I gravitated more towards. I hope I made the right call! Persis coinage is interesting to me in that Parthian influence can sometimes be seen (Arsacid-inspired tiaras in early issues like those of Darios II, and later corncob hairdos like Pakor and Namopat). And, as with Parthian coinage, there is the gradual movement away from Greek naturalism of early issues to later more stylized and simplified depictions - although, of course, never to the linear, minimalist style of the later Parthians.
It's also interesting to note the inclusion, on reverses, of fire altars - foreshadowing their common appearance on subsequent Sassanian issues. Ardashir, the first king of the Sassanian Empire, was himself from Persis, I believe.
Persis is one of those areas where there is a dearth of literature and where, potentially, an enthusiastic collector could potentially contribute to the body of knowledge.
I had the opportunity to pick up a bunch of Persis drachms at a really good price several years back, and I passed on it since there were also affordable Parthians in the bunch that I gravitated more towards. I hope I made the right call! Persis coinage is interesting to me in that Parthian influence can sometimes be seen (Arsacid-inspired tiaras in early issues like those of Darios II, and later corncob hairdos like Pakor and Namopat). And, as with Parthian coinage, there is the gradual movement away from Greek naturalism of early issues to later more stylized and simplified depictions - although, of course, never to the linear, minimalist style of the later Parthians.
It's also interesting to note the inclusion, on reverses, of fire altars - foreshadowing their common appearance on subsequent Sassanian issues. Ardashir, the first king of the Sassanian Empire, was himself from Persis, I believe.
