196, Lot: 85. Estimate $200. Sold for $175. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SASANIAN KINGS. Shahpur I. AD 240-272. AR Hemidrachm (20mm, 1.99 g, 3h). Mint I (Ctesiphon). Phase 1b, circa AD 244-252. Draped bust right, wearing headdress with globe / Fire altar flanked by attendants. SNS Type IIc/1a, Style A, indeterminate group, -; Göbl I/1; Alram 690; Paruck 70. VF, lightly toned. Rare denomination.

The Sasanian Empire reached its greatest size under Shahpur, who is perhaps most famous for defeating two Roman emperors, Philip I and Valerian (who he actually captured). Hemidrachms, such as this coin, are a scarce denomination for the Sasanians, only being issued by the first few emperors. The reason for their coining is uncertain, but probably served a very specific purpose, such as to make a payment or distribution on a special occasion. The reverse type, which is the standard type on all Sasanian coins, served a dual purpose. It was to make clear the paramount place of religion in the new empire, and serve as a direct link to the ancient Persian religion, as the altar is modeled after the great altar in the ancient Persian palace at Perseipolis.

This particular piece is anomalous in that on the reverse, Shahpur's name is inverted from the usual orientation -- it is read from the inside-out rather than the outside-in. While the particular variety is not published in SNS, the type is certain. Also, as typical with the long obverse legends of the Sasanians, part of the central portion is left off due to space constraints (it appears that the legend was inscribed from each end towards the center, where space ran out).