Sasanian Empire Drachm - Yazdgard I, 397 – 420

Drachm from Sasanian Empire. Issued from 397 to 420. Struck in Silver (.900). Measures 25 mm and weighs 4.58 g.

Obverse

A portrait of the king facing right. His crown takes the form of a close-fitting headdress crowned by globe. Small ribbons flow from the globe, and there is a crescent under it. There are ornamental points all over the headdress. the diadem is in the form of one row of large "pearls". Ribbons flow from the king's right shoulder with theri ends upwards. His hair is curled, and he has a beard and moustache. He wears an erring and, around his neck, a necklace of one row of beads. Under the bust there are six horizontal leaves. Around it'is a pointed rim. Pahlavi legend (Mazda worshipper, the lord (divine)joy for the country, Yazdgard king of kings)

Reverse

An ĀTAŠDĀN (Zoroastrian Pahlavi) “place of fire, fire-holder,” with a capitellum and base. Above the capilellum there is a tongue of flame. On two sides of the altar there are two figures wearing headdress of Yazdgard I. The capitellum is covered with ribbons, the ends pointing downwards. On the column of the atasdan is an iscription (Just
Yazdgard)

Edge

Smooth