SASANID EMPIRE, Shapur I. Dinar. (Aug. 7.40g/22mm). 240-270 AD Ktesiphon. (Göbl, Sas. Type I/1; SNS Iic/1b). Obv: Bust of Shapur I right with mural crown and globe. Rev: Altar of lit fire flanked by two guardians both carrying spear and sword. Extremely Fine. Slight mint vain on the reverse. Precious and rare specimen, more in this quality.
Second king of the Persian Sassanid Empire, Shapur I has the peculiar privilege of being the first foreign ruler to capture a Roman emperor in battle: Emperor Valerian. Apart from this fact, anecdotal for some, Shapur I is considered the great promoter of this empire. The Sassanid coinages remain largely unknown to many, among other things because they present many interpretative gaps. With regard to gold, we find the so-called dinar, which comes from the Roman golden denarius and between the reigns of Ardasir I to Sapor III it had a weight between 7 and 7.4 grams. Progressively and after different reforms, the weight of this coin was reduced by half, standing, in the times of Varhan IV and Peroz, at 4.54 g and 3.5 grams respectively.
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