Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXIII 24-25 Mar 2022
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Sasanian Kingdom, Ardashir III AV Dinar. Uncertain mint, RY 1 = AD 628/9. Facing bust of young king, wearing cap surmounted by crenelated mural crown with globe and crescent above pair of wings; hair parted in two korymboi over crescents above shoulders; wearing oval pendant earrings, elaborate decorated garment and double beaded pendant necklace with central circular jewel from which hang three matching oval drops; Pahlavi legend in upper field from right to left: ‘artashtr’ (Ardashir) apzwn (‘ever increasing glory’ or ‘he has increased’) / King standing facing wearing cap surmounted by crenelated mural crown with globe and crescent above pair of wings; to left and right stars of crescents and hair is parted in two korymboi above shoulders; ribbons fly upwards from shoulders and holding inverted sword with both hands to the ground line; Pahlavi legends around from right to left: gyhan ap[e] bym kartar (‘rid the world of fear’), artastr (Ardashir) ay[a]ky (year one). Unpublished in the standard references, for similar issue cf. Khusro II Dinar cf. Göbl SN VI/7, pl. 14, 221; cf. Sunrise Collection 989. 4.19g, 24mm, 9h.
Fleur De Coin. Unique, unpublished, and of the greatest interest to Sasanian numismatics.
From a private UAE collection.
The dinar of Ardashir III is among the rarest if not the rarest of all Sasanian gold dinars. Likely struck for the king’s coronation, it follows the standard special issues of Sasanian kings displaying the child king in a facing portrait on the obverse, and his standing figure holding his sword on the reverse. The obverse portrait shows Ardashir with the traditional crescent moon and star ornaments on either shoulder, and flowing ribbons behind. The reverse treatment is similar, with star and crescent over each shoulder, and ribbons to either side. This standing posture was first seen in a relief depicting Shapur I, but was immortalized by Shapur II in Taq-e Bostan showing the king and his successor Shapur III standing next to each other both adopting this royal pose. It is struck in the same fabric, die engraving style and employing the same dotted border as the dinar issue of Khusro II year 36 (AD 625/6). Interestingly, the coinage of Kavad II and Ardashir III both avoid using the traditional Sasanid title shahanshah (‘king of kings’) preferring apzwn (‘he has increased or augmented / ever increasing glory’), seemingly in order differentiate themselves from the reign Khusro II.
Facing portraiture had commenced on the Sasanian coinage with Ardashir I, and was employed on the gold coinage of Bahram IV, Valkash, Kavad I, Khosrau I, Khosrau II and Queen Buran, and all clearly represent extraordinary issues. This seems to be borne out by the circumstances of the known issues, with for example (per R. Gobl) the Khosrau II facing issue being minted at the height of the conflict with the Byzantine Empire.
Kavad II usurped the throne from his father Khosrau II on 25 February AD 628 during the final phase of the Byzantine-Sasanian War of 602-628. Sasanian forces were in total disarray, the king’s favorite residence of Dastgerd had been thoroughly sacked, and the Byzantine emperor Heraclius was advancing on the capital Ctesiphon. Kavad II had been held prisoner in favour of his brothers, but was freed in early 628 by the noble family guarding him and he proceeded to take revenge by having all his brothers, half-brothers and father executed, incurring the displeasure of his sisters Buran and Azarmidokht, and furthermore robbing the kingdom of several potentially able heirs and commanders. Kavad’s actions are seen as playing a key role in the downfall of the Sasanians, as there then followed a chaotic civil war. Although Ardashir III signed a peace treaty with Heraclius, this was highly favourable to the Byzantine empire and not only restored lost territories, prisoners of war and the True Cross and other relics that had been lost in Jerusalem in 614, it also granted them a war indemnity. Kavad II died of plague after only a few months of rule, with the throne passing to his seven or eight year old son Ardashir III on 6 September 628. The boy-king ruled little longer than his father, being captured and executed by the general Shahrbaraz on 27 April 630, who was himself assassinated a mere forty days later, leading to Queen Buran ascending the throne only recently vacated by her brother and nephew.
Thus far the only other known gold in the name of Ardashir III is a uniface bracteate found in China in the tomb of Shi Tiebang, a Tang official of southern Sogdian origin who died in 666. It is an “exceptionally heavy coin” of 25mm diameter (James C. Y. Watt, China: Dawn of a Golden Age, 200-750 AD, p.325; see also M. Alram 2001; 281, no. 96) possibly struck from an official Sasanian die, and holed for use as a pendant.
We are grateful to Bahram Badiyi for his assistance with this note and the translation of the legends.
Fleur De Coin. Unique, unpublished, and of the greatest interest to Sasanian numismatics.
From a private UAE collection.
The dinar of Ardashir III is among the rarest if not the rarest of all Sasanian gold dinars. Likely struck for the king’s coronation, it follows the standard special issues of Sasanian kings displaying the child king in a facing portrait on the obverse, and his standing figure holding his sword on the reverse. The obverse portrait shows Ardashir with the traditional crescent moon and star ornaments on either shoulder, and flowing ribbons behind. The reverse treatment is similar, with star and crescent over each shoulder, and ribbons to either side. This standing posture was first seen in a relief depicting Shapur I, but was immortalized by Shapur II in Taq-e Bostan showing the king and his successor Shapur III standing next to each other both adopting this royal pose. It is struck in the same fabric, die engraving style and employing the same dotted border as the dinar issue of Khusro II year 36 (AD 625/6). Interestingly, the coinage of Kavad II and Ardashir III both avoid using the traditional Sasanid title shahanshah (‘king of kings’) preferring apzwn (‘he has increased or augmented / ever increasing glory’), seemingly in order differentiate themselves from the reign Khusro II.
Facing portraiture had commenced on the Sasanian coinage with Ardashir I, and was employed on the gold coinage of Bahram IV, Valkash, Kavad I, Khosrau I, Khosrau II and Queen Buran, and all clearly represent extraordinary issues. This seems to be borne out by the circumstances of the known issues, with for example (per R. Gobl) the Khosrau II facing issue being minted at the height of the conflict with the Byzantine Empire.
Kavad II usurped the throne from his father Khosrau II on 25 February AD 628 during the final phase of the Byzantine-Sasanian War of 602-628. Sasanian forces were in total disarray, the king’s favorite residence of Dastgerd had been thoroughly sacked, and the Byzantine emperor Heraclius was advancing on the capital Ctesiphon. Kavad II had been held prisoner in favour of his brothers, but was freed in early 628 by the noble family guarding him and he proceeded to take revenge by having all his brothers, half-brothers and father executed, incurring the displeasure of his sisters Buran and Azarmidokht, and furthermore robbing the kingdom of several potentially able heirs and commanders. Kavad’s actions are seen as playing a key role in the downfall of the Sasanians, as there then followed a chaotic civil war. Although Ardashir III signed a peace treaty with Heraclius, this was highly favourable to the Byzantine empire and not only restored lost territories, prisoners of war and the True Cross and other relics that had been lost in Jerusalem in 614, it also granted them a war indemnity. Kavad II died of plague after only a few months of rule, with the throne passing to his seven or eight year old son Ardashir III on 6 September 628. The boy-king ruled little longer than his father, being captured and executed by the general Shahrbaraz on 27 April 630, who was himself assassinated a mere forty days later, leading to Queen Buran ascending the throne only recently vacated by her brother and nephew.
Thus far the only other known gold in the name of Ardashir III is a uniface bracteate found in China in the tomb of Shi Tiebang, a Tang official of southern Sogdian origin who died in 666. It is an “exceptionally heavy coin” of 25mm diameter (James C. Y. Watt, China: Dawn of a Golden Age, 200-750 AD, p.325; see also M. Alram 2001; 281, no. 96) possibly struck from an official Sasanian die, and holed for use as a pendant.
We are grateful to Bahram Badiyi for his assistance with this note and the translation of the legends.