Sasanian coinage stands out as an unparalleled primary source, illuminating both its economic practices and broader historical context. Central to this monetary system was the ubiquitous silver drachm, which carried a meticulously crafted portrait of the reigning monarch on its obverse, thus allowing scholars to trace the dynastic progression. The reverse side of these coins typically bore the symbol of a fire altar, frequently accompanied by two attendants. These coins also bear inscriptions, predominantly in the Pahlavi script. These annotations provide scholars with a wealth of information, delineating reign periods, royal titles, and even specific minting locations, offering an intricate window into the Sasanian world. “Sylloge Nummorum Sasanidarum” (often abbreviated as SNS) represents a pivotal numismatic project that aims to catalogue and systematically present the coinage of the Sasanian Empire. By methodically arranging and analysing the coinage, the SNS provides a chronological and regional overview of Sasanian minting activities, political shifts, dynastic changes, and even religious transformations. Given the scarcity of written records from the Sasanian period, such numismatic sources like the SNS are critical to our understanding.
Institutions with Sasanian Coinage:
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Schaaf Sasanian Coin Collection, Princeton University (Website)
- American Numismatic Society (Website)
- Sylloge Nummorum Sasanidarum (Website)
Bibliography:
- Daryaee, Touraj and Andrea Gariboldi. “A Bibliography of Sasanian and Arab-Sasanian Numismatics (1793-2010).” Sasanika 2012.
- Schindel, Nikolaus. “Sasanian Mint Abbreviations: The Evidence of Style.” The Numismatic Chronicle (1966-) 165 (2005): 287-99.
See a full list of Sasanian mints, Sasanian Crowns, countermarks