SASANIAN KINGS. Shapur I, 240-272. Dinar (Gold, 20 mm, 7.34 g,

SASANIAN KINGS. Shapur I, 240-272. Dinar (Gold, 20 mm, 7.34 g, 3 h), mint I ('Ktesiphon'). Diademed and draped bust of Shapur I to right, wearing mural crown with a great korymbos on top and long earflaps; long beard tied in the middle and thick tufts of curly hair at the back; two ribbons rising from behind head; around, 'mzdysn bgy šhpwhry MRKAn MRKA ʾyrʾn MNW ctry MN yzdʾn' = 'mazdēsn bay Šābuhr šāhān šāh Ērān kē čihr az yaz(a)dān' = 'The Mazda-worshipping Lord, Shapur, King of Kings of the Iranians, whose essence is from the gods' in Pahlavi). Rev. Zoroastrian fire altar flanked by two regal attendants wearing mural crowns and holding scepters; three pellets to the right of the altar shaft and one to the left; to right and left, 'NWRA ZY – šhpwhry' = 'ādur ī Šābuhr' ('Fire of Shapur' in Pahlavi). Göbl type I/1. SNS I, type IIc/1b, Style P. Well struck and attractive. Minor doubling, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.
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