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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,534 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
8/19 Another one I had never even heard of; would have been a real challenge to attribute had I not matched it to an old tag. Sassanian governor/king of Merv, "Ardashir" c.240-262 AE "drachm" 17mm / 3.03g Bearded, Diademed bust right, hair in bun behind head Figure of (Ardashir?) On horse, holding diadem, ribbons behind. Loginov & Nikitin 1 158; Alram 1218A  Tag referenced this old CNG listing: https://www.cNGCoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=315526 |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Very interesting coin, here is one of my Kushanshah coins of him.   |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6130 Posts |
Super example, Ron. It does however beg the question whether these two are in fact the same person - the Sassanians (and the Parthians before) were big on using headgear, hair, and ornamentation to differentiate between rulers. My Ardashir has a Diademed head, while yours wears a crown. Whoever wrote the description on the handful of Merv coins I was able to find online seems to think that this was a separate person who never ruled outside of Merv.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
I know that the Sasanian Ardashir and the Kushanshah Ardashir where the same person where different crowns. So given that the dates or rule are the same your Ardashir is also the same.
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Moderator
United States
34413 Posts |
Interesting to compare the details of the two coins. I think that the nose looks quite similar on both busts.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Sasanian Drachm of Ardashir I, not my coin. Wish I had one of these. For comparison to the other two.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Not sure if this will come up correctly, but this author mentions three Ardashirs in the early Sassanian period, Ardashir I, founder of the empire; Ardashir, king of Merv; and Ardashir "king of the sakas". Kushans were believed to be the overlords of the Western Satraps, so perhaps that is the interpretation of that title. At any rate, Ardashir I died in 242, so he must be distinct from the other two who ruled until about 260. https://books.google.com/books?id=M...merv&f=falseOh, and since we brought up the OG Ardashir:   Edited by Finn235
10/12/2017 10:34 am
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
While I can not confirm that he was the ruler of Merv, I do know from the various written sources that he was the also the Kushano Ardashir depicted on those coins.
Steve is that Ardashir coin yours? It's a beauty and very high on my wife list.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Yup, I bought that one about a year ago. One of my favorite coins in my collection, and easily my favorite Sassanian.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
It would be my favorite Sasanian also. I have a limited monthly coin budget so one of these is still just on my wish list.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,534 |
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Posted 10/10/2017 10:42 am
