Heritage World Coin Auctions
CCE Signature Sale 3054 7-8 April 2017
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Ancients
SASANIAN KINGDOM. Varhran (Bahram) I (AD 273-276). AV dinar (21mm, 7.42 gm, 3h). Choice XF. Diademed and draped bust of Varhran I right, wearing radiate crown with korymbos / Fire altar flanked by two outward-facing attendants, the one on the left wearing crown with korymbos (Ardashir I?), the other wearing mural crown (Shapur I?). Göbl type I/1. SNS type Ib/1Ba. Sunrise 754. Very rare dinar of this short-reigning king!Varhran (or Bahram) I ascended the Sasanian throne in the wake of his father Shapur I's glorious reign. His position had been briefly usurped by his younger brother Hormizd (Ohrmazd) I, who died after only a single year of rule; chronicles are silent as to whether Varhran had anything to do with his demise. Varhran tentatively supported the revolt of Zenobia against the Roman Empire, but quickly withdrew his backing when she was defeated by Aurelian. Although he signed a non-aggression pact with Aurelian, Varhran can have had few illusions about the coming Roman counterattack and spent the rest of his brief reign preparing for it. His gold coins are extremely rare and notable for his adoption of a radiate headdress called a "sun crown," reminiscent of the type worn by Roman emperors on their antoniniani.
Estimate: 10000-13000 USD
SASANIAN KINGDOM. Varhran (Bahram) I (AD 273-276). AV dinar (21mm, 7.42 gm, 3h). Choice XF. Diademed and draped bust of Varhran I right, wearing radiate crown with korymbos / Fire altar flanked by two outward-facing attendants, the one on the left wearing crown with korymbos (Ardashir I?), the other wearing mural crown (Shapur I?). Göbl type I/1. SNS type Ib/1Ba. Sunrise 754. Very rare dinar of this short-reigning king!Varhran (or Bahram) I ascended the Sasanian throne in the wake of his father Shapur I's glorious reign. His position had been briefly usurped by his younger brother Hormizd (Ohrmazd) I, who died after only a single year of rule; chronicles are silent as to whether Varhran had anything to do with his demise. Varhran tentatively supported the revolt of Zenobia against the Roman Empire, but quickly withdrew his backing when she was defeated by Aurelian. Although he signed a non-aggression pact with Aurelian, Varhran can have had few illusions about the coming Roman counterattack and spent the rest of his brief reign preparing for it. His gold coins are extremely rare and notable for his adoption of a radiate headdress called a "sun crown," reminiscent of the type worn by Roman emperors on their antoniniani.
Estimate: 10000-13000 USD