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TYRANT COLLECTION
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171
Sasanian Empire
Gold Dinar (7.27 g, 19 mm), AD 293-303
Narseh, Sasanian King, AD 293-303
Sunrise # 808, SNS Type Id/3c, Gobl Type II/2. Extremely Fine.
Mint: Unknown.
Narseh (also written as “Narse” in Western literature and “Nersie” in the Near Eastern languages) was
the last remaining son of Shapur I. He was acting as governor of a vast stretch of the Sasanian Empire
in the east when he was approached by elements of the military, priesthood and aristocracy to replace
Bahram II’s son, Bahram III. A revolt or coup twas engineered by Narseh’s supporters and as a result, he
became the seventh monarch of the Sasanian Dynasty. He was ca ontemporary of the Roman emperor
Diocletian and his commander (son-in-law) Galerius. Most of Narseh’s reign was spent confronting
Rome over Armenia. Narseh’s major victory at Callinicum (near modern day Raqqa in Syria) was re-
versed by his defeat in the Battle of Satala where Narseh’s wife, sister and number of his children were
captured by the Romans. The details of this incident are shrouded in mystery but it forced Narseh to
sue for peace. The treaty which resulted had much more favorable terms for the Romans than for the
Persians. Narseh died not long after peace was established between the two empires. Muslim historians
have credited Narseh with founding several cities that survive to this day. One is the fortress and settle-
ment of Tashkent (known as Tashkura in Turckic literature) in the Oasis of Chach on the silk road, the
capital of present-day Uzbekistan. Narseh is also credited with the foundation of a city called Narseh
Gerd, modern Takrit in Iraq.
172
Sasanian Empire
Silver Drachm (4.13 g, 25 mm), AD 293-303
Narseh, Sasanian King, AD 293-303
Sunrise # 803 (this coin), Gobl type II/2 variant, SNS Type Ia/1a. Extremely Fine.
Mint: Unknown.
Narseh’s coinage follows the typical format of Sasanian coins. In addition there are symbols that appear
on the reverse like his predecessors. In his case the symbol to the left of the flame is of “Faravahar”
(symbolizing divinity, and the one on the right the which is Tarus like symbol is “caduceus” which is a
common symbol bwteen the Mesopotamian, Greek and Roman representing various aspect of “Earthly
Life”. The discussion on this symbol is outside of the scope of this narrative and extremely fascinating.
The symbols might well represent Heaven (divinity) and Earth (Caduceus). Also notice the appearance
of pellets on the korymbos of the crown.