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Obol - Balash
| Issuer | Sasanian Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 485-488 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Pahlavi |
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| Reverse description | A stepped fire altar with pendant ribbons occupies the central field, its shaft bearing a rightward-facing bust of Vālaxš. Two attendants stand in profile flanking the altar, each facing inward toward the sacred flame. A star and crescent appear in the upper field flanking the flames atop the altar, serving as celestial symbols of royal and divine authority. |
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| Additional information |
Balash reigned for just three years, a short and troubled rule bookended by dynastic conflict with his brothers. He came to power only after Peroz I was killed — along with much of the Sasanian nobility and army — in a catastrophic defeat against the Hephthalites in 484, a battle so devastating that the empire was forced into tributary payments afterward. Balash's coinage reflects the administrative continuity maintained despite that collapse, with the obol denomination serving the small-change needs of a kingdom still functioning under Hephthalite pressure.