The New York Sale
Auction 40 11 January 2017
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ANCIENT COINS, ANCIENT GREEK COINS, Sasanian Kingdom. Narseh. Gold Dinar (7.45 g), AD 293-303. Bust of Narseh right, wearing crown with arcades, three foliate branches, and korymbos; hair in single group. Rev. Fire altar; flanked by two attendants, the one on left wearing winged crown with korymbos, the other wearing mural crown; symbols flanking flames. (SNS type Ib/2a; Göbl type II/2; Paruck -; Saeedi AV29; Sunrise 806 (same dies)). Rare and seldom offered. Extremely fine.
Narseh seized the Sasanian throne from the unpopular Vahran III in AD 293. His status as the last surviving son of Shapur I made him a favorite of the nobility and he used their support to drive out the Roman-backed king of Armenia in AD 296. This invited attack from the Roman Caesar, Galerius, whom Narseh defeated on three separate occasions in Mesopotamia. Unfortunately, when Galerius returned the following year with an army of 25,000 men, Narseh suffered a crushing defeat in Armenia and was forced to flee for his life. His family and war chest all fell into the hands of Galerius, which compelled Narseh to negotiate a humbling peace settlement. He was required to give up five provinces west of the Tigris River, accept the expansion of the borders of Armenia and the restoration of its pro-Roman king, and renounce Sasanian claims to Iberia. Thus the bright beginning of Narseh's reign was darkened by the shadow of Rome. Humiliated by the peace, Narseh died only five years after the settlement was ratified.
Estimate: $ 7,500
Narseh seized the Sasanian throne from the unpopular Vahran III in AD 293. His status as the last surviving son of Shapur I made him a favorite of the nobility and he used their support to drive out the Roman-backed king of Armenia in AD 296. This invited attack from the Roman Caesar, Galerius, whom Narseh defeated on three separate occasions in Mesopotamia. Unfortunately, when Galerius returned the following year with an army of 25,000 men, Narseh suffered a crushing defeat in Armenia and was forced to flee for his life. His family and war chest all fell into the hands of Galerius, which compelled Narseh to negotiate a humbling peace settlement. He was required to give up five provinces west of the Tigris River, accept the expansion of the borders of Armenia and the restoration of its pro-Roman king, and renounce Sasanian claims to Iberia. Thus the bright beginning of Narseh's reign was darkened by the shadow of Rome. Humiliated by the peace, Narseh died only five years after the settlement was ratified.
Estimate: $ 7,500