Identification of Sasanian coins

Écrit le 28 juillet 2015

This wants to be a simple guide to identification of the major mint marks & the Rulers of Sasanian coins, particularly:
Shapur I & II - Khusro I & II - Hormazd IV & VI

Where find the mint mark?

Normally, you can read the mint mark on the reverse, to the right of the right attendant.
Note:
- Not all Sasanian coins have a mint mark.
Also, the locations of the mints themselves may vary

Example:

Mint DA - Darabgird/Darab (Fars)



Where find the Ruler's name & crown?

On the obverse at the right of the king, inside the borders and keeping in mind Pahlavi is read from right to left, we find his name & always, on this side you can identification the sovereign crown.

Example:

Khusro


Mint marks

Mint City Name Location Example
AHM Ahmatana (Hamadan) Hamadan
AW / AY Ahwaz / Erankhvarrah-Shapur Khuzestan
AB Abarshahr Media
AM Amol Mazandaran
AYLAN Aylan Zanjan
BN (Uncertain) Kerman
BYSh Bishapur Fars
DADarabgird / Darab Fars
GD Gayy / Jayy Isfahan
MR / ML Merv Khorasan
MY Meshan Southern Iraq-Northern District
RAM Ram-Hormizd / Rāmhormoz Khuzestan
RD / LD Ray South Khorasan
ShY Shiraz Fars
ST Istakhr (Persepolis) Fars
WH Veh-Ardashir(Seleucia) Central Iraq/Northern District
WYH Veh-Kavad(Nahavand) Hamadan
WYHC Ctesiphon Mesopotamia/Iraq
YZ Yazd Yazd
 AH Azorestan Gilan
 KN Sirjan Kerman
S / Š Isfahan Isfahan

Sovereign crown identification

Ruler Desciption Reign Example
Shapur I Four-merlon crown with ear flaps and surmounted by globe, diadem ties follow contour of hair behind 241-272
Shapur II Four-merlon crown surmounted by globe decorated with lines and pellets between, diadem ties behind globe, diadem ties behind crown and pointing up 309-379
Khusro I Three-merlon crown, side merlon with three levels, three short diadem ties behind, crescent in front, tassel in middle to left and surmounted by crescent 531-579
Hormazd IV Three- merlon crown, side merlon with two levels, three short diadem ties behind, crescent in front, tassel in middle to left and surmounted by crescent 579-590
Khusro II Winged crown, three merlons, three short diadem ties behind, crescent in front, surmounted by star and crescent 590-628
Hormazd VI Winged crown, two side-merlons, three short diadem ties behind, crescent in front, surmounted by star and crescent 631-632

Middle Persian

Inscriptional Pahlavi

ʼbgdhwz
Sasanian
yklmnsc
Sasanian
pqrŠt
Sasanian
123410201001000
Sasanian





References:

  • Pahlavi unicode
  • Sasanian Numismatics by Robert Göbl - Klinkhardt & Biermann, 1971
  • Sassanian Coins by W. H. Valentine - Rahul Publishing House, 1993


written by simoneo80