★ Nicely toned ★

SASANIAN KINGS. Shapur I, 240-272. Drachm (Silver, 25 mm, 4.29 g, 2 h), mint I (‘Ctesiphon’). ‘mzdysn bgy šhpwhry MRKAn MRKA ʾyrʾn MNW ctry MN yzdʾn’ = ‘mazdēsn bay Šābuhr šāhān šāh Ērān kē čihr az yaz(a)dān’ (‘The Mazda-worshipping Lord Shapur, King of Kings of the Iranians, whose essence is from the gods’ in deteriorated Pahlavi) Diademed and draped bust of Shapur I to right, wearing mural crown with a great korymbos on top and long earflaps; long beard with two rings and thick tufts of curly hair at the back; two ribbons rising from behind head. Rev. Zoroastrian fire altar flanked by two regal attendants wearing mural crowns and holding scepters; to right and left, ‘NWRA ZY - šhpwhry’, i.e. ‘ādur ī Šābuhr’ (‘Fire of Shapur’ in Pahlavi). Göbl type I/1. SNS I, type IIc/1b, style P. Nicely toned. Areas of weakness and with some light deposits, otherwise, very fine.

From an American collection, previously privately acquired from Martin Deeran.