Sale: Triton VII, Lot: 631. Estimate $150.  Closing Date: Monday, 12 January 2004.  Sold For $190. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SASANIAN KINGS of PERSIA. Yazdgard I. 399-420 AD. AR Drachm (4.20 gm). AS (Aspahan) mint. Degraded Pahlavi legend, crowned and cuirassed bust right, crescent on forehead / "Yazdgard" left, "fire" right in Pahlavi (crude), fire altar with attendants and ribbon; "ras[t]" in Pahlavi on central column, mint signature to right of flames. Göbl I/1; Paruck 298; Alram 854; MACW 943 corr.; De Morgan pg. 700, 164b var. (mint). Darkly toned, good VF. ($150)

Yazdgard I was an enlightened king, noted for his peaceful nature and religious tolerance. He is often regarded as the “Christian king” among the other Sasanian monarchs, as he was particularly tolerant towards them (even to the point of serving as the president of the Counsel of Christian bishops in Seleukeia in 410 AD). In 408 AD he made a treaty of peace and friendship with Rome, and the young Roman emperor, Theodosius II, was placed at his court under Yazdgard’s guardianship. Naturally, his strong pro-western stance disaffected many among his eastern nobility, and he was murdered in far off Hyrcania, possibly while in action against the Huns.