Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 713. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $720. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MEDIEVAL. HUNNIC TRIBES. Hephthalites (or Western Turks). "Phromo kesaro." 8th century AD. AR Drachm (3.90 gm, 10h). Countermarks on WH mint, year 46 drachm of Sasanian king Khosrau I. Crowned bust of Khosrau I right; circular Baktrian legend counterstamp / Fire altar with attendants; date to left, mint to right; circular Baktrian legend counterstamp. Cf. Göbl, SO II, 247C (counterstamp on Khosrau II); cf. Göbl, SO I, 247A (counterstamp on Yazdgerd III); cf. Göbl, Dokumente, Em. 247 (legend on imitation of Khosrau II); MACW -. Host coin VF, counterstamp Good VF. Extremely rare, and unpublished on a coin on Khosrau I. ($300)

The "Phromo kesaro" coinage appears to comprise two issues. The first phase consists of a Baktrian legend in circular counterstamps applied to a host coin. These counterstamps have been found on host coins of the Sasanian kings Khosrau II and Yazdgerd III, as well as an Arab-Sasanian coin of Abdallah bin az-Zubair (see Göbl, SO II, pp. 208-9). The great rarity of these coins attests to a brief issue, struck for some urgent reason before full dies could be made. The second phase consists of Sasanian imitations with the same legends engraved in the dies. The coins of this phase are relatively more common, and comprise the main issue of this king/chieftain.