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Drachm - Varhran II type I/1 - I/1a
| Issuer | Sasanian Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 275-293 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Draped bust of Bahram II (Varhran II) facing right, adorned with earrings and an elaborate winged crown surmounted by a globe or korymbos. The portrait is rendered in the characteristic Sasanian court style, with finely detailed regalia emphasizing royal authority. The field surrounding the royal effigy is plain, typical of early Sasanian drachm coinage. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse script | Middle Persian (Pahlavi) |
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| Additional information |
Varhran II — known in Western sources as Bahram II — ruled the Sasanian Empire through a period of near-constant dynastic pressure, including the usurpation attempt by his brother Hormizd in the east and sustained conflict with Rome that culminated in the humiliating capture of Emperor Valerian's successor Carus near the Tigris in 283 AD. The Type I/1 and I/1a distinction in Göbl's classification reflects early die-cutting variation from the primary royal mint, likely at Ctesiphon, during a reign that stretched an unusually stable 17 years for a dynasty prone to violent succession.