★ Shahpur, the unsuccessful brother of Ardashir I ★

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.