Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 1210. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

[Medieval] SASANIAN KINGS. Ardashir I, as King Artaxerxes (Ardaxsir) V of Persis. Circa 205/6-223/4 AD. AR Hemidrachm (1.86 g, 9h). Mint A ("Stakhr"). Phase 1 (circa 205/6-224 AD). "The divine Ardaxir, king" in Pahlavi (slightly blundered), bearded facing head, wearing diadem and Parthian-style tiara decorated with pellet in crescent / "Son of the divinity Papak, king" in Pahlavi, bearded head of Papak left, wearing diadem and Parthian-style tiara decorated with pellet in crescent. SNS Type I/1, 4 var. (obv. legend); Göbl I/1 var. (same); Alram 658 var. (same). Good VF, toned, traces of find patina. Rare; unusual obverse legend. ($1500)

A natural and charismatic leader, Artaxerxes took advantage of the Roman invasion of Parthia in 216 AD to begin a revolt against Arsakid rule. Eventually, his insurrection was joined by other Parthian vassal kingdoms, Media, Adiabene, and Kirkuk. In 222 AD Artaxerxes' forces defeated Vologases VI, and in 224 AD they defeated Vologases’ brother, Artabanos V, at the Battle of Hormuzdagan. Claiming descent from the great Achaemenid kings of antiquity, Artaxerxes realized his goal of founding a new Persian empire; as Ardashir I, he became the first king of the Sasanian Empire.