SASANIAN KINGS. Yazdgird (Yazdgard) I, with Šābuhr (Shahpur) IV. AD 399-420. AR Drachm (28mm, 3.78 g, 3h). Uncertain (“Western”) mint. Struck AD 414-420. Good VF.

CNG Feature Auction 124
Lot: 416. Estimated: $ 2 000

Central Asian, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 27 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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SASANIAN KINGS. Yazdgird (Yazdgard) I, with Šābuhr (Shahpur) IV. AD 399-420. AR Drachm (28mm, 3.78 g, 3h). Uncertain (“Western”) mint. Struck AD 414-420. Bust right on floral ornament, wearing mural crown with frontal crescent and korymbos; pseudo-legend around / šhpwhry zy lba ’lmn’n mlk’ (Shahpur the great king of the Armenians) in Pahlavi, bust right, wearing ram's horn crown with ribbons. SNS type Ib1/7 (no example in catalog); SNS Schaaf 404; Saaedi –; Göbl –; De Morgan –; Sunrise –; Zeno –. Traces of find patina, porosity and light roughness, slight double strike on reverse, lightly crystallized surfaces. Good VF. Extremely rare, one of three known, and the only one with a fully readable legend.

From the Nisa Collection.

Appointed king of Sasanian Armenia by his father Yazdgird I in AD 414, Šābuhr IV, ruled that territory with reconciliation and amicable relations with the local nobility. When Yazdgird I was assassinated at Hyrcania in AD 420, Šābuhr rushed to the capital at Ctesiphon to claim the succession. His reign, however, was brief, since he was subsequently murdered by the nobles and priests. As all three specimens appear to have been struck in an ad hoc manner, and perhaps suppressed shortly thereafter (an thus their extreme rarity), this coin may have been struck upon Šābuhr’s arrival at Ctesiphon.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 124 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 19-20 September 2023. This lot is in Session Two, which will begin 19 September at 2 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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