Sasanian Empire Drachm - Ardashir I

Drachm from Sasanian Empire. Struck in Silver. Measures 25 mm and weighs 4.32 g.

Obverse

Crowned and draped bust of Ardashir I to right; legend along the dotted rim, running anticlockwise from 11 h to 1 h, 'mzdysn bgy ʾrthštr MRKAn MRKA ʾyrʾn MNW ctry MN yzdʾn', i.e. 'mazdēsn bay Ardaxšēr šāhān šāh Ērān kē čihr az ya (a)dān' (('The Mazda-worshipping Lord, Ardashir, King of Kings of the Iranians, whose essence is from the gods' in Pahlavi).)

Reverse

Fire altar; to left and right, 'NWRA ZY ˗ ʾrthštr', i.e. 'ādur ī Ardaxšēr' (('Fire of Ardashir' in Pahlavi).)

Edge

Smooth