Sale: CNG 66, Lot: 879. Estimate $250.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 19 May 2004.  Sold For $175. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SASANIAN KINGS of PERSIA. Ardashir II. 379-383 AD. AR Drachm (4.14 gm). Crowned and cuirassed bust right / Fire altar with attendants and ribbon; Pahlavi legend (mint signature?) above. Göbl I/1; Alram 827; De Morgan pl. LVIII, 5. Toned VF, light porosity, slight wave to flan. Extremely rare. ($250)

From the Bellaria Collection.

None of the standard references make note of any reverse legends on Ardashir II's coinage. The De Morgan piece is the only published example with a similar reverse legend (but it is not noted in the text, which calls the reverse 'anepigraphic'). The reverse legend resembles the word ShT' (the number 6), but it could also be interpreted as ATBY, ATAY, STBY, or STAY. The style of this coin is very similar to the drachms of Ardashir II found in the Tepe Marandjan Hoard (cf. Göbl, Kushan pl. 154, 330).