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Obol - Varhran II type VII/2 - VII/2a
| Issuer | Sasanian Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 276-293 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Dynastic family portrait of Bahram II (Varhran II) in three-quarter facing arrangement. The king, depicted at center, wears a distinctive winged crown surmounted by a globe. To his side stands the queen, whose elaborate headdress is surmounted by a boar-head crown, a symbol of royal Sasanian investiture. Before the royal couple appears the crown prince, distinguished by an eagle-head crown representing the forepart of a bird of prey. The composition reflects the formal dynastic iconography characteristic of Bahram II's coinage, emphasizing the legitimacy and continuity of the Sasanian royal line. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Middle Persian (Pahlavi) |
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| Additional information |
Vahram II ruled the Sasanian Empire during a period of near-constant internal fracture — his reign saw at least two serious dynastic challenges, including the revolt of his brother Hormizd in the east and the usurpation of Vahram III, who held the throne for a matter of months in 293 before being deposed. These small silver obols circulated in a monetary system where the drachm dominated prestige exchange; the fractional denominations served local market transactions and are consequently far scarcer in well-preserved state than their larger counterparts, having passed through many more hands before leaving circulation.