278, Lot: 465. Estimate $150. Sold for $575. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Umayyad Caliphate. Farroxzād. Æ Pashiz (22mm, 1.00 g, 5h). Ardashīr Khurra mint. No date. Crowned Sasanian-style bust right; “May xvarrah increase” in Pahlavi behind, “Farroxzād” in Pahlavi before; open circle border with star-in-crescent motif in margin at 3, 6 (flanked by triple-pellets), and 9 o’clock / Sēnmurw to left; three pellets and “May Ardashīr Khurra be prosperous (or free?)” in Pahlavi around; double circle border with star-in-crescent motif at 3, 6 , 9, and 12 o’clock. Gyselen 2. VF, brown patina.

From the J. P. Righetti Collection. Ex F. Gurnet Collection.

Struck sometime around the late 80s H, the reverse legend is similar to Gyselen 6-8 from the Bīshāpūr mint (see three previous lots). Although Gyselen conjectured that “Farroxzād” may just be a patronym (“born with glory”), given its location in the normal position of a proper name the latter is perhaps more likely. It is unclear if this Farroxzād is the same individual as the Farrroxzād ī Gušn-anōšān below (see lots 469-471).

The Sēnmurw was a mythological creature that incorporated aspects of all birds.