Sale: CNG 70, Lot: 445. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 21 September 2005.  Sold For $850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of PERSIS. Artaxerses (Ardaxsir) I. Early-mid 3rd century BC. AR Drachm (4.10 g, 1h). Head right, wearing diadem and satrapal cap (kyrbasia); Aramaic 'PRS' to right / Fire temple of Ahura-Mazda; on left, Artaxerses standing right; to right, standard. Cf. Alram 521. Good VF, toned. Apparently unique with obverse legend. ($750)

This is the only known coin of the early Perseid series with any markings on the obverse. Although the king's name is off the flan on the reverse, the obverse legend suggests it is Ardaxsir I. The legend, PRS, first appears on Ardaxsir's coinage, and always is placed in the field between the fire temple and the standard. Following this example, the subsequent kings often added this legend to all of their denominations, and always placed it in the same position. Such consistency suggests that the placement was standardized in Ardaxsir's reign, and the appearance of PRS on the obverse, as here, is more likely to have occurred before this standardization, rather than after. Although there is uncertainty as to the exact meaning of the legend, it is commonly believed to represent the mint name, whether it be 'Persepolis', 'City of Persis', or simply 'Persis' (see Alram, p. 166 and n. 661).