85 / 166
Tyrants of the Tigris & euphrates
197
Sasanian Empire
Gold Light Dinar (4.14g, 19 mm), AD 457/9-484
Peroz (Firuz), Sasanian King, AD 457/9-484
Sunrise # 950, SNS Type IIib/1c, Gobl Type III/1, Mochiri # 738, Saeedi, AV 80. Superb
Extremely Fine.
Mint: WH (Veh Ardashir or Veh Andiyok Shapur).
Another fine example of Peroz’s gold light dinar.
198
Sasanian Empire
Silver Drachm (4.09g, 28 mm), AD 457/9-484
Peroz (Firuz), Sasanian King, AD 457/9-484
Sunrise # 938 (this coin), SNS Type I/1a, Gobl Type I/1. Extremely Fine.
Mint: AS.
There are two interpretations for the mint abbreviated AS. One is “Aspahan” which is Modern day Isfa-
han in central Iran or according to M.I. Mochiri, Aspanvar, which was the military headquarters of the
royal cavalry in a suburb of the capital Ctesiphon, 20 miles south-east of modern Baghdad. This is the
rarest type for Peroz’s drachms, showing him in his first crown. As discussed above, this crown has an
uncanny resemblance to the crown of his great-grandfather Yazdgird I, who was very favorable toward
Christians. Peroz’s good relationship with both Christians and his own priesthood lead to conflict with
his Jewish subjects who saw themselves as less-favored, even though Peroz maintained an extremely
friendly and cordial relationship with the Jewish rabbis and leaders of that community. A rebellion took
place in the city of Jay in central Iran which had a wealthy and powerful Jewish community (as it has to
this day). Peroz put down the rebellion and created a new military city called Sepahan (meaning “stand-
ing army” in Persian) adjacent to the old city. Slowly the two cities became one under the name Sepahan,
today known as Isfahan. In the sixteenth Century, Isfahan became the capital of Islamic Safavid Persian
empire and flourished, having the greatest examples of Persian architecture, art and gardens which can
still be visited today.