Clear Roman Undertype

Sale: CNG 75, Lot: 736. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 23 May 2007.  Sold For $900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SASANIAN KINGS. Shahpur II. AD 309-379. Æ Unit (2.29 g, 3h). Mint I (”Ctesiphon”). Struck circa AD 321-324. Crowned bust right; taurus symbol to right / Fire altar with ribbons and attendants; head right in flames. SNS Ib3/3d, 49 (same obv. die; also overstruck); Göbl Ia/6a. VF, brown patina. Overstruck on a follis of Roman emperor Licinius I (a similar type is included in this lot [RIC VII 28]). Two (2) coins in lot.

The undertype is clearly a follis of the Roman emperor Licinius I, more than likely the Alexandria mint issue struck for that emperor shortly before the battle of Chrysopolis in AD 324 (RIC VII 28). The high-quality bronze coinage of the Romans that entered the Sasanian capital through trade would have provided excellent flans upon which to strike much-needed small change for the Sasanian Empire.