Leu Numismatik AG
Auction 7 24-25 Oct 2020
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KINGS OF PERSIS. Shahpur, son of Papak, circa AD 200-209. Drachm (Silver, 23 mm, 2.92 g, 10 h). ŠHPWHRY MLK ('King Shahpur' in Pahlawi) Bearded head of Shahpur to left, wearing diadem and tiara decorated with a pellet-in-crescent. Rev. BRE BGY P'KY MLKA ('Son of the 'God' Pabag, King' in Pahlawi) Bearded head of Pabag to left, wearing diadem and tiara surmounted by leaf-like object. Alram 653. SNS I, pl 40, E35. Sunrise -. Rare and unusually attractive. Nearly extremely fine.
Shahpur inherited the small kingdom of Istahkr from his father, who had overthrown Gochihr, the last Parthian vasall in Istahkr, in 205/6 and who is depicted on the reverse of this coin wearing an elaborate tiara. Shahpur's bad luck was to have an ambitious younger brother, and he allegedly died from a stone falling from ruins and killing him when he marched against his sibling - so the official version went. He was succeeded by his ambitious brother Artaxerxes, who became known to the world as Ardashir I, the founder of the Sasanian Dynasty.
Shahpur inherited the small kingdom of Istahkr from his father, who had overthrown Gochihr, the last Parthian vasall in Istahkr, in 205/6 and who is depicted on the reverse of this coin wearing an elaborate tiara. Shahpur's bad luck was to have an ambitious younger brother, and he allegedly died from a stone falling from ruins and killing him when he marched against his sibling - so the official version went. He was succeeded by his ambitious brother Artaxerxes, who became known to the world as Ardashir I, the founder of the Sasanian Dynasty.