AncientIranianNumismatic Badiyi

Ancient Iranian Numismatics — in Memory of David Sellwood Mostafa Faghfoury © Mostafa Faghfoury 2020 Mostafa Faghfoury is hereby identified as author of this work in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988 Cover: Kourosh Beigpour | Layout: Ilia Faghfouri | ISBN: 978-1-949743-16-6 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and condition is redundant. ANCIENT IRANIAN NUMISMATICS IN MEMORY OF DAVID SELLWOOD Mostafa Faghfoury 2020 Artwork by Majid Faghfouri, Tehran 2019 Table of Contents vii Preface ix Sellwood’s Biography xiii Sellwood’s Bibliography xv Tributes xxv About Authors 1 The Heavy Bronzes of Antiochus III and Demetrius I of Bactria K. Rutter and S. Glenn 7 The Date of the Battle at the River Lycus: Antiochus VII Defeated the Parthian General Indates on Friday 12 June 130 BC G.R.F. Assar 59 Introducing a forthcoming book: Volume 2: Mithradates II c.122/121–91 BC The Sylloge Nummorum Parthicorum (SNP) V. Sarkhosh-Curtis, A. Magub and E. Pendleton 63 The Gold Variety of a Silver Drachm of Mithradates III of Parthia (87‑80 BC) G. R. F. Assar 113 Some Observations on Parthian Bronze Coinage M. Faghfoury 129 Onomastica Persida: Names of the Rulers of Persis in the Seleucid and Arsacid Periods Kh. Rezakhani 135 A Revised Frataraka Chronology and Coinage K. Gholami 157 Sasanian Coins from Āmul, Tabaristān H. M. Malek 193 “The Maker of the World Without Fear”: Observations on the Gold Coin of Khosrow I T. Daryaee 197 An Anomalous Group of Khusrau II Drachms S. Tyler-Smith 203 Cities and Mint Centers Founded by the Sasanians B. Badiyi 233 Leiden Conventions for Greek Numismatic Epigraphy E. C. D. Hopkins Cities and Mint Centers Founded by the Sasanians BAHRA M BADIYI The majority of Sasanian kings contributed either to the creation of new cities or to the expansion of old ones. These were often the old cities with commercial interests along trade routes. They were also the newly minted ones with growing populations thanks largely to Sasanian military activities. Successful campaigns led to the displacement of enemy populations to new areas sometimes enhancing the existing cities and sometimes founding new ones. In general, greater Persia during the Sasanian period became a far larger urban society than during any previous period. Over the span of four and a half centuries, the Sasanid kings added to or developed nearly 109 cities. Only a handful of these cities became minting centers. They can be recognized by their well-known mint signatures. In addition, there were a few cities that could possibly be considered mint centers as they shared the abbreviations of their names with other cities that were recognized as minting centers. This developmental activity remains unprecedented in the history of pre-Islamic empires in Iran. Daily goods markets within or around the cities as well as the many military camps and operations generated the need for a constant flow of hard currency. Sasanian cities also had to supply the most basic human needs for water, food, shelter and security before indicators of true urban life could appear. Rivers and their basins provided the water for most Sasanian cities such as those in Pars and Huzistan (Kor, Pulvar and Shapur basins), for Asuristan and Huzistan (Tigris, Euphrates, Karun and Karkheh basins), Tabaristan and Gorgan/Dehistan (Atrak and Caspian Sea basins), Ispahan/Jay (Zayandehrud basin) among others. These basins also provided the requirements for strong agricultural-based communities for the residents, and their local markets as can be seen in the excavated remains of Veh Ardashir (Geller). Taken all together they aided in the creation of a wealthy and religiously diverse Sasanian culture. This can be seen in the development of new cities and mint centers. In addition to the markets, cash payments to the troops and the subsequent exchanges of larger to smaller units or fractions by those troops (possibly for the purpose of being sent to their families) remained a dominant feature of a Persian military camp. A map of such a camp specifically attributed to the Sasanid King of Persia (Fakhr-e Modabbir) indicates that the location of the money lenders and exchange dealers was right in the heart of the camp alongside other major services. Tabari records a few such monitary exchanges by troops during the subsequent period of Islamic conquest of the Persian Empire indicating routine and long-lived practices. These cash demands created a need for active minting centers. In order to determine better the nature and characteristics of the cities that were minting centers, several categories were brought together. (See Table 1). These categories are: A. Population: From a study of the original and secondary records of the diverse makeup of the populations (including native peoples or deportees/prisoners of war during the reigns of Šāpūr I, Šāpūr II, Pērōz, Yazdgīrd II, Kavād I and Khosau I), it appears that none of the cities built especially to house Roman or Byzantine prisoners of war, deportees from Syrian cities or deportees from Bahrain and Arabia was selected as a mint center. Populations also impacted the internal layout A NCI ENT I R A N IA N NUM ISM ATICS 203 of the city. Almost all cities designed for the prisoners of war or for civilian deportees who were primarily Christian show the “grid” layout; other cities have circular or zoomorphic shapes such as the horse or eagle (Ibn Balkhi). The zoomorphic shapes in abstract forms as well as many Sasanian decorative elements can be seen best in local traditions of tribal rugs in the province of Fars (Ancient Persis) where these forms have survived from the Sasanian time and for centuries. An extensive study of these forms along with examples from these rugs were completed and published by Cyrus Parham and Siavosh Azadi in Tehran in 1992. One city, Bišāpūr (City of Šāpūr), also shows some Roman influences in decorative arts. However, it was not a city made for Roman prisoners. Rather it housed the palace of Šāpūr I, the Fire temple and buildings on which were placed many of the reliefs commemorating his victories over Romans. Sasanian cities had diverse minorities as well as the majority of native peoples. Cities such as Veh Ardasir, Jay/ Sepahan, Ahmadan, Ray had large Jewish communities as well as those cities such as present day Mosul and northern Mesopotamia.1 Regions such as Harev (Herat), Badaxšan and Kandahār maintained very large and thriving Buddhist communities until their brutal destruction by the Hephtalites. Unless an uprising took place such as the one in the city of Jay by the Jewish residents over religious disputes that led Peroz to suppress it, the records show tolerant policies toward most if not all minorities. In terms of Christians and especially during the reign of Šāpūr II when the followers of Christ were seen as the 5th column of the enemy (Rome). With only some exceptions after that, the Sasanids did not persecute Christians any longer since Persian Christians deliberately cut all ties with the Church of Rome establishing their own Nestorian doctrine. The relationship between the bishops of the Christian church/ communities and Sasanian Kings such as Yazdgird I, Peroz, Khosrau I and Khosrau II was respectful and built on mutual understanding of the politics that governed Sasanian Iran. B. Proximity among major cities or mint centers Some of the mint centers are close to each other; such as those in and around Ctesiphon. Others were quite distant from any major city. The two longest distances between growing centers recognized as new cities can be observed for Ardabīl in the northwest and Kāšghar in the east. Recognizing the development of these centers provides us hints as to the increase in the quantity of currency/coins needed for the vibrant markets around these new cities. The increasing number of minting centers might also indicate a possible decrease in the size of precious metal reserves in an older minting facility adjacent to the new ones, or a stoppage of minting altogether at the older facility. C. Internal and external political and socio‑economic conflicts Major internal events affected the minting of coinage. The overthrow of the Parthian Dynasty and their feudal allies, conflicts with the Romans and the Byzantines on the west, and the Hepthalites and Turks on the east and north-east had major economic impact. The flow of revenue, material goods and man power/labor translated into the increase or decrease in the output of coinage. Tabari recorded the capture of numerous bags of coins from the fleeing Persian camp after the battle of Qādesīyyah. This seems to illustrate the cash-rich nature of Sasanian military camps engaging with internal or external enemies. According to Tabari, at the time of Khosrau II’s death, the legendary Sasanian Royal treasury had been reduced to almost one eighth of its size before the Perso-Byzantine war. Ostensibly millions were spent with no clear gain for those who participated in this destructive conflict. D. Religious Supremacy The rise of Zoroastrianism to the official religion of the empire resulted in violent interactions with the Manichaeans and Mazdakites. The destructive and bloody aftermath had a great impact upon labor and production. According to Tabari, the participants in the Mazadakite revolt came from all levels of society: royalty, shop owners, peasants and artisans. Some 80,000 members were executed outside of Ctesiphon (Tha’labi). The vacuum in terms of manpower 1 204 The zoomorphic shapes in abstract forms as well as many Sasanian decorative elements can be seen best in local traditions of tribal rugs in the province of Fars (Ancient Persis) where these forms have survived from the Sasanian time and for centuries. An extensive study of these forms along with examples from these rugs were completed and published by Cyrus Parham and Siavosh Azadi in Tehran in 1992. BLACK COLCHIS SEA Batum Cac Teflis (Tbilisi) Darband (Derbent) Yazdgird II & Khosrau I Fortifications ALBAINA Ganzak (Ganja) Qobadan in Badaxsan Province Lankaran CASPIAN SEA Astara Mayyafariqin (Martyropolis) (Silvan/Diarbakir) Tabriz Sad Peroz(Ardabil) Port of Anzali Qumis Tepe e nsiv efe an Gorgan DGorg DAYLAMAN TABARISTAN (Mosul) Budh Ardasir Zanjan Shiz Xorzad Ardasir Xwarrah Kavad Ninevah B(W)ozorg Ardasir Sariya (Sari) Amol Kasvin (Qazvin) Arbil Eran Asan Kard Kavad Sahrezur Khosrau Sapur Qasr e- Sirin (Tagrit) Haditha(Parwand) f ll o wa Nivsapur Tus Tehran Dastgerd Nihavand Ctesiphon Aspanvar Astabaz Ardasir? (Ostad Ardasir) Veh Ardasir Ghorian Herat HAREV (HARI) Kashan (Vazan?) Akbarieh (Bozorg Sapur) KUSANSAHR Pusang Zuzan Baghdad Xost Badgis KHORASAN Xolm Mazari Sharif Marv U Rud Valas Xwarrah (Valasfarr) Anbar Sabargan (Sapur Gan) Peroz Sapur Morghab Hulwan Kermansah Balkh (Balx) Balasgerd Abad Kavad Ram Peroz Ecbatan (Ahmadan) Ray Qom RHAGAE Asad Abad Qobadbazn MAH Marv (Merv) ABARSAHR Damghan (Qumis) MEDIA GARAMIG NODADASHIRGAN Bertha Ashgabat Sahr-e Ram Peroz Rosan Peroz Astar Abad Ardasir Abhar Volasgerd Hanbu (Xandaq) Sapur Mithradatkart (Nisa) Eran Xwarrah Yazdgerd (?) Yazdgird II - fortifications DEHISTAN ATURPADAN Sinjar Samarqand Bukhara (Buxara) Baku Yerevan Sapur Xast Falk-ol Aflak Veh Antioch Khosrau Sabat ASPAHAN Kaskar Wasit (Umma) Susangerd VEH KAVAD REGION Zandvard (?) Balad Sapur Iransahr Sapur Sustar Tustar Gorzavan (Gorz) (Farah) Sepahan jay Kavad subdivisions ASURISTAN Gondisapur (ASORISTAN) Khosrau Mah Veh Antioch Sapur Eran Xwarrah Sapur (Susa) Yazd Izad Kavad (Izeh) Hormazd Ardasir Abar Kavad(?) (Ahwaz) HUZISTAN Ram Hormazd Vehest Ardasir (Basra) (Behbahan) Ram Ardasir Wahman Ardasir(?) Asta Baz Ardasir Sad Sapur (?) Xorramsahr Bost Izad Xast Zabol Abar Kavad (Abarqu) Veh Az Amad Kavad Arrajan Nobandagan MESENE (MESHAN) Pasargad PERSIAN GULF Khark Island Kazeroun Shiraz Istaxr PARS RS PE Karzin Kandahar (Lashkar Gah) Ram Peroz ? SAKASTAN Kirman Bardsir Ardasir Gan (Sirjan) Bam Fasa Rev Ardasir Gor (Ardasir Xwarrah) (Rem Ardasir) Jahrom Ram Peroz ? Zarang Darabgerd Gowyam Hajiabad Karian N IA MEKRAN LF GU Siraf Jabur BAHRAIN Boxt Ardasir Kish Island Hijra? Fawran Ardasir (Al Khott or Al Khorr) alone cannot be ignored in examining economic prosperity and development. Commerce and agriculture as well as the output of currency due to labor shortages must have been seriously curtailed. E. Natural hindrances Tha’labi recorded that Ardašīr I ordered the Imperial treasury to pay for the public losses during the deadly drought and famine that took place in Persis during his reign (224-242 CE). Many more examples of this kind of social beneficence have been recorded about Peroz (Tabari, Dinvari, Isfahani) and his heroic defense of the public facing deadly famine. These expenditures to save the public led to the bankruptcy of the royal treasury and created a major A NCI ENT I R A N IA N NUM ISM ATICS 205 Roxvad? rift between Peroz and his courtiers and their allies in the religious establishment. Valkash has also been recorded to have spent vigorously to provide relief for the victims of famine especially stopping peasants from relocating from their farms due to effects of famine and lack of water. Such public expenditure affected deeply the quality of the currency and quantity of its production. Mint Centers The cities that are recognized as minting centers and were created by the Sasanians were: • Ardašīr Xwarrah or Gōr (ART) • Rām Hōrmāzd (RĀM) • Hormozān Ardašīr (Ahwāz) (AW) • Veh Ardašīr (WH) • Reyšahr (RI) also known as Rēw Ardašīr (RīV) • Sīrjān (Ardašīr Gān) (SIR or SI) • Astar Abād Ardašīr (Estarabad) (AS) • Shād Shāpūr (Forat-e Mesene) (PR) • Gundīšāpūr (GN) • Qōm (QO or GO or GW) • Jay (Aspāhān) (GD) • Yazd (YZ) • Abaršahr (Nivsapur) (AP) The Following mints became active from Kavad I’s reign onward. They are all located in the eastern provinces of the Sasanain Empire (Mochiri): • Marw’u rud (MRWRD) • Bost (BST) • Xost (Khost) (Xvst) • Gorzavan (Gorz) • Xolm (Xlm) • Roxvadeh (Roxv) • Zuzan (Zozno) Given the list above and the numismatic evidence form the recognized outputs, we can state that majority of the cities minting coins during the Sasanian era were not built or created by Sasanians and their existence (not as a mint center but as cities) pre-date their advent in to power. In addition some of the mint centers founded by the Sasanians share the same abbreviations with some other known mint centers. This becomes problematic in the correct identification and attribution of coins to their respective mint centers. These cities are: 1. Kašvin (Qazvin) established by Sapur II sharing the abbreviation (KA) with Kāriān and Kārzīn (KA) 2. Qōm established by Bahram V, recognized by Steve Album sharing the abbreviation (GW) with Gorgan (GO & GW). Also the abbreviation of “GOM or GWM” have been observed on silver drachm from Peroz (Fig 23). 206 3. Parwand (Parvand) also known as “Haditha” in present day Iraq’s Anbar province established by Shapur II. A rare silver drachm of Shapur II has the abbreviation of “PR” (see photo). The mint abbreviation is the letter of the first part of the name “Par” and the second letter from the second part “Wand”which will be a natural selection. So far and in the absence of any other City that can have similar abbreviation, PW most likely represents “Parwand” 4. Astarabad (Astar Abād Ardašīr Estarābād) which was part of Gorgan shring the abbreviation (AS) with Aspānvar (part of Ctesiphon) and Aspāhānā (Isfahan) (AS). (See Table 1) Let us begin with the cities that were founded by Sasanian kings of Iran starting with Ardašir I. ARDAŠĪR I 224-240 CE 1. Ardašīr Xwarrah (Ardašīr Khurreh or Gōr). The city is presently known as Fīrūzābād in Fārs (Persīs) province in Southern Iran (Tabari, Dinvari, Tha’labi). This City is the most symbolic of all Sasanian cities and architecturally was and is a remarkable statement about the resurgence of Ancient Persian culture versus Alexander of Macedon’s destruction of that heritage. Even though not necessarily a numismatic concern, it is extremely important to discuss, in a few words, the ideas that created this monumental city. The city dates back to the Achaemenid period and more than likely before that. Alexander of Macedon (the Great), set siege to the city. When he could not easily take it, he changed the course of the nearby river to flood and drown the city and its population. The new layout in round form was created by Ardashir I in the wake of his victorious rise to power and becoming a Shah’n shah, a title not used since the Achaemenids governed the Persian Empire. Ardasir Xwarrah presents a circular design with concentric circles creating various residential and institutional or governmental zones. Incidentally the layout for the living and thriving city in circular form such as original “Baghdād” modeled after examples such as “Gōr” was not far different than that of the circular “Tower of Silence” destined to be the resting place of dead; the city of living (Gōr) exemplified a major circular mass (fire temple tower) at its center and the city of dead exemplified a major circular void or (nothingness/death) at its center where the bones were collected. It is almost impossible to look at these two examples of architecture and not see the resemblances and their opposing presence; physically and philosophically. In this comparison one exemplifies existence and the other non-existence. Fīrūzābād/Gōr was a most symbolic Sasanian City. It celebrated the life and faith of its founder Ardašīr I, a priest and warrior, who triumphed against impossible odds and cheated certain death at the hands of his powerful Parthian overlord. It was initially believed that term “Gōr” in Pahlavi was synonymous with a sunken place or a hole in the ground but not necessarily a “Grave” (Hamza Al Isfahani). The similarity was the main reason that Adud-Al Dawla of the Būyīd dynasty changed the name to Firuzābād to take away the negative connotation (Ibn Balkhi). However, with a discovery of a 7th century Arab-Sasanian coin with the mint name of Pērōz Abād, it is obvious that the City’s name existed before the advent of the Daylamites (Gyselen & Miri). The name Pērōz Ābād by itself means the “City of Victory” confirming Ardašīr’s unparallel success. 2. Veh Ardašīr (Bahurasir) (Fig 4): Mint Abbreviation of “WH”, A large urban addition to the city of Seleucia-Ctesiphon capital of Parthians and later Sasanians)-(Tabari). 3. Veh Ardašīr (Bahurasir) is located in Kerman province of Iran. The Arabized version of the name was Behrsīr which is currently “Bardsīr” (Hamza Al-Isfahani). Yāqūt in his book Nōzhat-Al Qōlōub called this city Gavāšīr, also known as the “City of 6 Gates”. However, since Gavāšīr dates back to 2nd century BCE, this might have been a renaming of an existing city. 4. Rām Ardašīr is attributed to be present-day Basra in Iraq at the north western shore of Persian Gulf. (Tabari, Dinvari and Gardēzī) 5. Rām Ardašīr is also known as Rišahr or Reyšahr on the Iranian coast of Persian Gulf. A NCI ENT I R A N IA N NUM ISM ATICS 207 6. Āstā-bāz Ardašīr or Astāz Ardašīr is the city of Anbār in present-day southern Iraq according to the Persian historian and geographer Abu Sa›id Gardīzī (Tabari, Dinvari). Hamza Al Isfahani called this City Ôstād Ardašīr. 7. Bahman Ardašīr (Wahman Ardašīr) is the present Bahmanšir in Kerman province of Iran. Tha’labi notes that there is also a city with the same name near present day Basra in Southern Iraq. 8. Hōrmaz Ardašīr or Hōrmōzān Ardašīr (Fig 3): Mint Abbreviation of “AWH” is the present-day Ahwāz, the capital of Hūzistān (Khuzistan) province of Iran. Some attribute the foundation of this City to the final victory of Ardašhīr over his Parthian overlord in the nearby field of Hūrmazdagān (Tabari, Dinvari). There are some references from the medieval Islamic era which refer to Tustar (Muqqadasi) being founded by Ardašhīr. However, according to Tabari, Tustar was part of Ahwāz during the Arab conquest of Iran. According to Hamza Al Isfahani, there were two cities, one Ahwaz and the other Hōrmaz Ardašhīr. Hōrmaz Ardašhīr was an aristocratic city and was utterly destroyed by Arab armies during the seventh century invasion of Iran; however, Ahwāz which was the commercial center survived. Ahwaz is near and central to large number of cities founded by the Sasanians all within a range of 70-75 mile (20 Parsang) of each other in Huzistan Province of Iran (see Table 1). It also is situated with a reasonable distance from some of the major cities of Mah province. 9. Fāwrān Ardašir(Dinvari) (Khōtt or Khorr-Ibn Balkhi) is located on the island of Bahrain or in neighboring Qatar. The word Fāwrān is a corrupted form of “Farwār, p’lw’l meaning “fortification with watch towers” (Farahvashi). In present day Qatar we have two cities, one called Al-Khorr and another city called Al Gahriyah Fawyarit, which given the similarities in pronunciation and linguistics could both be candidates. 10. Bād-gīs (Vādgēs) (Tha’labi) is present-day Bād-e Qase or Bād-e Ghase in greater Khōrāsān. It is also known as Badghis in Afghanistan. 11. Rēw Ardašīr also known as Rīšahr (Tabari) was a major commercial port during the Sasanian era. It was utterly destroyed during the Islamic conquests of the seventh century and later was replaced by the near-by Port of Būšehr. It is currently a highly active commercial and oil exporting port in Iran. 12. Pūšang (Pērōz Ardašīr Gān? or Pās(ā) Ardašīr?) lies in present-day Afghanistan. The names of many cities associated with ancient Persian culture were replaced by Pashtūn names under various Pashtūn Amirs of Afghanistan during the 19th century as part of the independence movement and separation from Iran. This city is currently known as Poshtun Zarghūn. The Pahlavi book of Šahrestānihā ī Ērānšahr attributes Pushang to Šāpūr I. In historical book of Khūdā-Nāmah, there is a city called Pās(ā) Ardadšīr. (Pās=Guardian (Farahvashi) which might be a reference to this city given the linguistics and pronunciations in the areas concerned (Gardezi’s Zayn Al Akhbar). 13. Astar Abād Ardašīr is a city to which two (2) locations have been attributed. One is on the present-day Island of Bahrain, but the exact location unknown (Tha’labi). The other is presently known as Astarābād (Estarābād) in Gorgan on the south-western coast of the Caspian Sea in Tabaristan (Muqaddasi’s Ahsan AlTaqāsim). The city became a major minting center during Iran’s Islamic era. It is possible given the history of minting for the city, that Astarabad was also active during the Sasanian era when the abbreviation AS stood for its name which derives from Astar-ta-kīh=calm and order (Farahvashi). 14. Khōrzād Ardašīr (Xwār zād or Xwārrah Zād Ardašir) also known as Bōzōrg Ardašīr or Bōz Ardašīr is known to be the foundations of the present-day city of Mosul (Dinvari). It could also possibly be an addition to a Hellenic city already existing in Northern Iraq. Such additions or renovations can be traced in the City of Takrit, also known as Tagrit, which came into existence as a result of further development of a Hellenic city called Bertha. According to Ibn Balkhi, the city that Ardašīr built near Mosul was called Hōzzeh. Tabari called it Xōrreh which most likely is derivative of Xwārrah or Xwār Zād. 15. Ardašīr Gān lies in present-day Sīrjān in Kermān province of Iran. The entire area is a major Sasanian archeological site including another city about 40 miles north-west of it called Šahr-e Bābak (City of Pāpak). 208 16. Wahman Ardašīr (Bahman Ardašīr) is present-day Bahmanshīr in Iran’s province of Hūzistān (Hamza Al-Isfahani). 17. Būdh Ardašīr (Bōvad Ardašīr or Bōd/y Ardašīr?) is part of the present-day city of Mosul in northern Iraq (Hamza Al Isfahani). Its name seemingly derives from Bōd/y=wisdom and conscience (Farahvashi). 18. Vehešt Ardašīr (Behešt Ardašīr) (Hamza Al Isfahani) is considered to be the present-day Basra. 19. Veh Tan Ardašīr (Beh Tan Ardašīr and eventually Betan Ardašīr) is on the Island of Bahrain (Hamza Al Isfahani). At present he city is known as Madinat Al Khat. 20. Asad Abād whose original name might have been Ardašīr Abaad. The name later seems to have turned into Šīr Abād, followed by the Persian name of Lion (Šīr) with its equivalent in Arabic (Asad). This name might have been a reference to a community with a similar name near the biblical city of Ecbātān or Ahmadān (18 miles (25+/- kilometers) west of modern day Hamadān. Like the Achaemenids, the Sasanian emperors considered Ahmadan their second summer capital after the spiritual capital of Istaxr. 21. Bōxt Ardašīr was located between the shoreline of the Persian Gulf and Qešm Island. Bōxt more than likely is the corrupted form of Vohuxšatr which refers to a “just king and ruler” (Farahvashi). ŠĀPŪR I 240-270 CE 22. Šāz or Šād Šapur (Forāt-e Mesene) (Tabari, Tha’labi, Istakhri) was built opposite the future city of Wasit on the river Tigris is what is present day Iraq. The original city has not survived. Muqaddasi considers Šād Šapur to be the center of the region of Kaškar which was near the ancient capital of Ctesiphon. Kaškar is also noted to have been a city built by Šāpūr I to house the deported Greek- speaking population from northwest Syria. (Harrak; the acts of Mār Māň the apostle-2005). Currently the Kaškar area is referred to as Wasīt. 23. Gōndī Šapur or Jūndi Šapur also known as Šapur Šahr has faded into the past. Almost nothing remains of the city except for an area presently known as the mound of Šah Ābād in Huzistān province in Iran. It is a well-known fact that during the Sasanian era, the city had a famed medical library and hospital operated by Christians. The library was set on fire by the invading Arab armies during the 7th century. (Tabari, Dinvari, Tha’labi). At some point the city was also known as Šah-Ābād according to Hamza Al-Isfahani. Ibn Al Gifti in his book Tārīkh al Hōkamā noted that this city was laid out in a pattern similar to Constantinople. This was most likely a reference to the use of the “Grid” layout of streets and city blocks following Greek and Roman traditions. It suggests the definite presence of foreigners in the city (Anīrān). Most if not all the physicians appointed to run this city’s medical institutions were Christians and remained so long after the Sasanians were gone. 24. Veh Andīv Šāpūr also known as Veh Antīoch Šāpūr: was in present Iran’s province of Huzistān. It is believed to have been an addition to Šuštar or a settlement near Gōndī Šapūr (Tabari)(CambridgeYarshater). Majmal Al -Tawārīkh notes the city being laid out in checker (grid) format. The pattern most likely indicates that it was planned by captured Roman engineers. Hamza Al Isfahani also confirms the grid layout of the settlement. Veh Andīv Šāpūr has also been considered as a replacement for the city of Beth Lāpāt which was the seat of a Christian diocese before the Sasanians came to power. Within decades of its creation Veh Andīv Šāpūr merged into greater Gōndī Sapur. (Cambridge-Yāršāter) 25. Balād Šāpūr was a city near Gōndī Šapūr (Majmal Al Tawārīkh & Istakhri). Hamza Al Isfahani refers to this city as Vōlaš Šāpūr. 26. Šuštar (an addition to an existing city founded by Ardašīr I) can be found In Huzistān province of Iran. The city houses the tomb of Daniel the prophet and is sacred to all three major religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Roman captives built a bridge and a dam at this city at the order of Šapur I (a selected UNESCO World Heritage Site). Šuštar was also noted to be Tastar by Hamza Al Isfahani. Also, according to Hamza, the city was laid out in the shape of a horse. A NCI ENT I R A N IA N NUM ISM ATICS 209 27. Bīšāpūr (Veh Šāpūr or Beh Šāpūr also known as Bēnā Šāpūr) exists as a major archaeological site from the Sasanian era in the province of Fārs (Persis) in Iran (Tha’labi). According to Istakhrī in his description of the province of Persis (Eqlīm-e Fārs), the original Bīšāpūr existed long before the Sasanian rise to power. It was destroyed by Alexander the Great and was rebuilt by Šāpūr I. This is also confirmed by Hamza Al Isfahani. The layout of the city showed major axis roads with perpendicular streets leading to semi-private and residential quarters. The city had both Persian and Roman planning principals present. 28. Šāpūr Khāst (Šāpūr Xāst) is attributed to Šāpūr I (Istakhri). The ancient castle of Šāpūr Xāst was the foundation of the giant citadel of Falak-al Aflāk in the city of Khorramābād in Luristan (Lorestan) province of Iran. Farahvashi suggests Xāst=Rise or Dawn. 29. Nīshapur (Nīv Šāpūr and presently Neyšāpūr): is located in present day Khōrāsān Razavi province of Iran. The City was reduced to rubble during the Mongol invasion of the 13th century CE but made a comeback later on. However, it never reached its Pre-Mongol status neither in commerce nor culture. Tabari attributes the foundation of this City to Šāpūr II as well. The strong intellectual heritage of the city is wellrecognized by two of its native sons and major poets, Khayyām and Attār (who perished in the Mongol slaughter). Archeological work on the city has began to focus on the Sasanian era as recently as 2004-2007 CE (Sasanika). There are references to another city named Firūz Šāpūr (Victorious Šāpūr) which might be a reference to this city or to Bīšāpūr. 30. Siraf (Auzinza) was a commercial port on Persian Gulf. A large portion of the Harbor was built by the Roman Engineers captured during the war with Rome. (Ibn Hawqal; Cambridge) HŌRMIZD OR HŌRMAZD I 270-271 CE 31. Rām Hōrmazd (Ārām Hormazd) is a city still under the same name 60 miles east of the present city of Ahwaz in Hūzīstan province of Iran. Both Tha’labi and Masudi mention the foundation of this city in the province of Hūzistān in southwest Iran. Hamza Al Isfahani attributed the foundation of this city to Ardashir I and called it Rām Hōrmazd Ardašīr. He notes that the name became abbreviated later to Rām Hōrmazd. According to Hamza, Hormazd I created the settlement of Vehešt Hōrmōz (known by locals as Xōvarnaq) in the region of Rām Hōrmazd (see Hormazd II below). The word Xōvarnaq has been mentioned many times by literary figures of medieval Persia as a term exemplifying palatial luxury and the high life. Given this meaning and reference, the local Xōvarnaq most liklely is the Arabized version of the Pahlavi/Avestan word Xvarenah meaning glory and splendor. Local beliefs and folk tales point toward the city being the burial place of Hormazd I. The area of his supposed tomb was visited by American archaeological teams in the 1950s and 1960s. The surge in the cultural revival of Iranian cities remaining from the Sasanian era during 1950s and 1960s is responsible for many discoveries in the areas including several Sasanian dams. 32. Dasgarāh or Daskareh also known as Dastgird or Dastgerd exists as a suburb and parts of the present city of Baquba between present-day Baghdād and Basra in Iraq which is built over it. It is also suggested as being between Baghdād and the now-vanished city of Wāsit (Tha’labi & Muqaddasi). According to Christensen Dastgerd was near the Hellenic city of Artamita or Artemita. This is the same city or compound that Heraclius engaged in a hard-fought battle with the Persians during the Perso-Byzantine wars of the 7th century eventually forcing Khosrau II to flee and finally be overthrown. BAHRĀM I (VARHRĀN I) 271-274 CE No new city has been attributed to him BAHRĀM II (VARHRĀN II) 274-293 CE No new city has been attributed to him 210 BAHRĀM III (VARHRĀN III): 293-? AD There has been much research into the brief rule of this monarch in conjunction with the rule of Nārsēh. There are many difficulties in attribution of the coins from this era due to the power struggle for the crown. In any case no new city has been attributed to him NĀRSĒH OR NĀRSĒ 293-302 CE 33. Khāwrazm or Xwār Razm(gāh)? This city pre-dates the Sasanians, However several Sasanian kings have been credited to have made improvements to the city and its fortifications specially Narseh. City is also known as Čač(Chāch) (Šahrestānihā ī Ērānšahr). This name is more than likely a reference to an addition or renovation to an already existing city possibly Tāškand (presently known as Tāškent in the Republic of Uzbekistan). An inscription of Šāpūr I refers to the area as Chāch which pre-dates the Sasanian era. Šāh Nāma (Shahnameh) also has references to the city of Chāch as a place where the strong archery bows that Rūstam used in firing the deadly arrow that killed his Tūrānian opponent Aškboos in an epic battle were made. The poem describing the battle refers to Rustam’s bow as a “Kham-e Čarkh-e Čāči” (meaning a bow made in the “wheel shape Čač”). The region has the archeological remains of several major round-form castles and fortifications (some of the earliest) that are considered masterpieces of military engineering for their time. The roundness of the fortifications and the outlying towers on the perimeter appear to be like a radiating sun, thus leading to the poetic Xwār (MacKenzie). Followed by the word Razm or Razm(gāh) (McKenze) meaning battleground (castle), it might be an explanation for naming the region Xwar Razm. Hamza Al Isfahani considered Ardašīr I to be the founder of this city. Čač was recognized as a minting center with its abbreviation described by both David Sellwood and Robert Göbl. HŌRMĪZD OR HŌRMAZD II 302-309 CE 34. The settlement of “Hōrmazd Behešt” as part of Rām Hōrmōz is attributed to Hormizd II by Ibn Balkhi in Fārs Nāma (Farsnameh). This might be the same as Vehešt Hōrmōz noted under the Hormizd I section earlier in this paper. The exact location is disputable. ŠĀPŪR II 309-379 CE 35. Kašvīn (Fig 1): Mint Abbreviation (KŠ) or (KA) exists as present-day Qazvīn, the capital of Qazvīn province in Iran. Given its proximity to the Caspian Sea and the ancient Silk Road, Qazvin has always had a strategic position in central northwest Iran. Many fortifications, including the famous castle of Assassins called Alamūt, are within a 20-mile range of the City. The military bases in the area also remind us of the precautions taken to be close to Daylamān province on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea where the tribes were traditionally restless and rebelious (Masūdi, Ibn al Faqih, Yāqūt). Based on his research of the works of medieval Persian and Arab historians (such as Barqi’s book Al Tebyān and Hamdallah Mōstōwfi’s Tārīkh-e Gōzīdeh), Bartold attributes Kašvīn to Šāpūr I. 36. Pērōz Šāpūr known as Anbār was near the City of Balkh in present-day Afghanistan. Its exact location is unknown (Dinvari and Ibn Balkhi). Currently there is a city near Balkh named Šabarqān (Šāpūrgān) which is considered the contender for the location. 37. Pērōz Šāpūr known as Anbār lay in Sawād which is in central Iraq (Dinvari, Tha’labi & Hamza Al Isfahani). The city was set on fire by the Emperor Julian in his invasion of Persia. He forceda the inhabitants who were a mixture of Arabs, Christians and Jews to take refuge at Ctesiphon. The refugees were relocated to a new city called Hadithā located south of present-day Mosul (Chisholm). The present-day cities of Ramadi and Falluja are built over and adjacent to ancient Anbār. 38. Irān Xwarrah Šāpūr is today’s Sūsā. Šāpūr II destroyed the old city and massacred its inhabitants after an uprising. He replaced the old city with a new one named after himself (Hamza Al Isfahani). The layout (grid?) of Šāpūr’s city is unknown. Given its proximity to the tomb of the prophet Daniel, Susa housed many Christians and Jews throughout its turbulent history. A NCI ENT I R A N IA N NUM ISM ATICS 211 39. Bōzōrg Šāpūr (Great Šāpūr): Formerly known as Akbarā or Akbarieh (Akbar meaning “Great” in Arabic, same as “Bōzōrg” in Persian) in Islamic era which became a part of the City of Baghdād in the following centuries (Ibn Balkhi and Hamza Al Isfahani). During the Sasanian era Baghdād was a village near the Capital of Ctesiphon. It was also a thriving place for commercial caravans to lodge and held a fair like event allowing all the goods by merchants of Silk Road to be displayed. It also possessed a large cemetery known as “Gabr” (Zoroastrian) cemetery (more than likely a “Tower of Silence”) which was recorded (it is interesting to note the interpretation of Gōr’s design earlier and Baghdad). The ancient Akbarieh was completely absorbed in to Baghdad and no trace of its past exists today. Similar replacement of Persian words with Arabic ones as seen here can be observed in the explanation of Asad Ābād noted under Ardašīr I. 40. Abaršahr ((Tha’labi) exists under the same name in the present-day Khōrāsān Razavi province of Iran. Hamza Al Isfahani attributes this city to Šāpūr I (Fig. 13). 41. Nīsībīs is present-day Nūsaybīn located at the border of Turkey and Syria. This was a re-population project after the Christians fled the city in the fear of conquest by Šāpūr II. According to Dinvari some 12,000 families were moved from Istaxr to Nisibis to re-populate the city with a more pro-Persian population than its former pro-Roman inhabitants who had fled the city. 42. Irānšahr Šāpūr was in the present-day province of Hūzistān in Iran. It was likely part of Šuštar created to house many of the inhabitants of Roman Syria captured during the wars. (Tabari) 43. Xwarrah Šāpūr or Farreh Šāpūr or Xōršāwar is a city that has been debated but not proven to be an addition to the present-day city of Pēšāwar in Pakistan (Tha’labi and Ibn Balkhi). The region of Pēšāwar was mentioned in the “Zend Avesta” as the seventh most beautiful place created by Ahura Mazda. It also became known as the crown jewel of Bactria. Both the Indo-Parthian kings and later the Kushans held control of the region until their defeat and destruction by Shapur II. The foundation of the actual city has been attributed to the Kushans. According to Yāqūt’s Mu’jam Al Bōldān, Xwarrah Šāpūr is either Lāhōre or near Lāhōre which is the capital of the Punjab in present day Pakistan. Pēšāwar and Lāhōre are approximately 500 kilometers (230 miles) apart. Recent archeological activities have uncovered the remains of many different eras from pre-Acaemenids, to Parthians, Kushans (who destroyed and rebuilt it) and eventually Huns, Sasanians and Muslims. 44. Šāpūr: Exact location is unknown. However, there is a small city known as Jābūr (Ibn Balkhi) on the Island of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. After the defeat of the Arab pirates, Šāpūr II created a military base with a naval force on Bahrain from which the Pirates had originally launched their attacks against merchant vessels as well as local villages along the shores of Persian Gulf. According to Tabari and Tha’labi, Šāpūr relocated many prisoners to Najrān (present-day Saudi Arabia) and Bahrain as well as to the city of Tawwaj (Miri) (between Bīšapūr and Rēv Ardašīr) in Fars province and in “Dārin”(near Nišapūr) in the province of Khōrāsān. In addition, the same texts record that the leaders of these tribes were relocated to the city of Pērōz Šāpūr (Anbār) in Sawād region (presently central Iraq). Unlike those that we have for the Roman prisoners of war, there are no records in terms of anything special or new for the areas housing these relocated populations 45. Mārtyrōpōlis is known in the region as “Mayyāfārīqīn” in present Turkey, near Iraq border. 46. Vāzān (Šahbāzān? or Šāpūr Bāzān?) (Hamza Al Isfahani) is located In present Iran’s western province of Luristan. 47. Hadīthā was a settlement built by Šāpūr II near Anbār in present-day Iraq to house the Roman prisoners of war (Hamza Al Isfahani). According to other reports the city was built to house the refugees from the city of Anbār after that city was destroyed by Julian the Apostate during his invasion of Persia. (see Pērōz Šāpūr above). A city with the same name exists on the bank of the Euphrates River. It is a strong farming community adjacent to the Haditha dam lake in Anbar Province of Iraq. The original name of the city was Parwand or Parvand (present-day Barwānā directly east of the current city whose name translates from Parwand = Enclosure for the captives (Farahvashi) (Fig. 21). 212 48. Abhar still exists under the same name near present day Zanjān (Yāqūt). There is another city called Hanbū Šāpūr that has been attributed to this king. Hanbū Šāpūr is an Arabized version of the name Khandaq Šāpūr or Xandaq-e Šāpūr (Moat of Šāpūr). It was a network of massive fortifications including moats and watch towers built between Basra and the Persian Gulf as a deterrent against the incursions of Arab tribes into the southern Mesopotamia and Sawād region. Such fortifications and concentration of troops bring about settlements nearby. In this case the region was already rich in urban settlement which these fortifications relied on heavily for basic needs and man power. ARDAŠĪR II 379-383 CE No new city or addition has been attributed to him ŠĀPŪR III 383-388 CE No new city or addition has been attributed to him BAHRĀM IV (VARHRĀN IV) 388-399 CE 49. Kermānšāh was an administrative city established to shorten the distance between Bīsūtūn and Dīnāvar (Cambridge). Dinavar became an active mint from Kavad I’s reign and continued to operate well in to the last years of Sasanian Iran. Yāqūt mentions Bahrām IV adding buildings to the city of Gavāšīr in Kermān (See Ardašīr I above). YAZDGĪRD I 399-420 CE 50. Yazd still thrives under the same name in central Iran. The city which sits on the edge of great salt desert is part of the “UNESCO World Heritage Sites” due to its environmentally friendly architecture that works beautifully in creating comfort for its residents in such a hot and arid climate. It is important to note that almost none of the medieval sources attribute this City to Yazdgīrd I. This might be due to their bias inherited from the Zoroastrians time due to Yazdgīrd’s pro-Christian policies (Fig. 12). 51. Sūsangerd (Šušāngīrd) in present-day Hūzīstān province of Iran was founded by Yazdgird’s Jewish wife and powerful queen Šušāndokht, the mother of Bahram (Varhran) V (Šahrestānihā ī Ērānšahr). BAHRAM (VARHRAN) V 420-438 CE 52. Marw’ul Rud exists with the same name in present-day Afghanistan (Šahrestānihā ī Ērānšahr). The mint located there became highly active at the time of Kavad I, Khosrau I and Hormizd IV. It was also a major military post where Bahram VI stopped while fleeing from Khosrau II’s assassins (Fig. 14). 53. Qōm exists with the same name in present-day Iran. It is the location of one of the largest centers of “Shīa” theological teaching. It also houses the monumental mosque and complex of a Shīa Saint. (Tārīkh-e Qōm or History of Qōm by Hasan b. Mohammad Qōmi). Mochiri presented a drachm minted here from Peroz with the mint abbreviation of GOM (Fig. 23). Steve Album also recognized the mint of GO or GW as being that of Qōm or Ghōm (Fig. 10). 54. Āšghar or Āšqar was as Tabari notes a small city and compound as well as a large farming area named Kaškār (Āšqar?). Its exact location is unknown. Tabari recorded that this was a place with a large number of stables for horses and other farm animals. It was near Ctesiphon and belonged to a prince named Nārsēh who was a cousin of Khōsrau II. In a series of skirmishes between the Persians and Arabs, the city fell to the Arabs around the same time as the siege of Ctesiphon was taking place. It is possible that the city had stopped functioning by then due to various reasons such as the flood of the Tigris that damaged the entire agricultural system of the region toward the end of the reign of Khosrau II. Tabari does not mention anything about a city named Kaškār built during the reign of Sapur II to house the deportees from the Syrian war A NCI ENT I R A N IA N NUM ISM ATICS 213 55. Kāškar: Kāšghar lies in present-day China very near the border of Afghanistan (Šahrestānihā ī Ērānšahr). The city is located within the province of Xianjing in China. Tha’labi mentions an agreement between Bahram V and the Hephtalite forces to establish a military fortification at the outer edge of the empire’s eastern border. 56. Bahram Avand Mah (Dinavar) is a city of in Mah province. It became an active mint during the reign of Kavad I notably toward the end of dynasty. There are some disputes as to the city being founded by Bahram V or perhaps much later (Ibn Hawqal) (Fig. 22). Dinavar was reduced to rubbies during Timur (Tamerlane) operations in the area in 14th centurey. YAZDGĪRD II 438-457 CE 57. Caspian Gate also known as Darband is present day Derbent in the Republic of Azerbaijan (Masudi). The historical records regarding Yazdgird’s operation and construction of the fortification are many and beyond the scope of this paper. The fortification which spanned land and sea was considered as a masterpiece of engineering and construction by medieval Persian and Arab historians. Some records indicate Khosrau I as responsible for the masterful defensive wall. 58. Eran Xwarrah Yazdgīrd was according to some on the eastern shores of the Caspian Sea, and according to others on the north-eastern frontiers of present-day Iran near Nivsapur. Given Yazdgīrd II’s large military activities in both the west and northwest against Romano/Byzantines, and on the eastern and north-eastern frontiers against the Hephtalites, the construction of military camps and fortifications as well as settlements seems very likely. The Gōrgān defensive wall was built or completed at the time of Khōsrau I. The installation was made up of many (a total of 33, Wilkinson) military fortifications and settlements along the wall and in strategic areas where Hephtalite forces could easy cross the Persian border. Yazdgīrd II’s military operations in the area should not be considered any different. PĒRŌZ 457/459-484 CE 59. Pērōz Rām or Rām Pērōz was an extension to the city of Ray (Rhages) and using the same name as Šahr-e Ray south of present-day Tehran. It was a major minting center for the Parthians and the Sasanians. (Tabari, Tha’labi) 60. Rōšan Pērōz (Rowshan Peroz) was considered to be an expansion the city of Gōrgān (Ibn Balkhi). Both Tabari and Tha’labi state this city to be somewhere between Gōrāgn and Derbent. 61. Rām Pērōz was in the present-day province of Sīstān in Iran. The exact location is unknown. Ibn Balkhi considered this city to be part of India. Medieval Persian and Arab historians when making reference to India typically mean the areas of Pēšāvar, Lāhōre or Kāšghar which were border cities of the Sasanian Empire with its eastern adversaries. This also might be a reference to sporadic military fortifications and settlements of Khōqand or Kōkand (Hamza Al Isfahani) in the Fergānā region of present day Uzbekīstan. The Fergānā (Ferghānā) region and valley have a long history of silver mining during the Islamic era; however, little is known of such activity during the Sasanian or Parthian era. From other records such as the seal of an āmārgar (census taker), Šahr-e Rām Pērōz stood as an addition to the Parthian capital of Nisā near present day Ashgābāt in the Republic of Turkmenistan. Pērōz tried to create new settlements to replace the losses of territory in battles with the Hephtalites (their capture of Gōrgān which they called “Gōrgō” (Bayāni)), among others. The creation of Ardabil opposite of Gōrgān on the other side of Caspian Sea more than likely was a strategic response to replace Gōrgān and other lost resources. 62. Šād Pērōz or Šahrām Pērōz (Ibn Balkhi, Tabari, Thalabi) was in the province of Azarbaijan and is presently known as Ardabil. Dinvari called Ardabil as Bād Pērōz (Everlasting Pērōz! or possibly Ābād Pērōz). Ardabil had a strategic position of being inland and close enough to the Caspian Sea. According to Masūdi the city was attacked and razed by the federation of Russo/Swedish (Vikings) ships in the 9th century. Istakhrī refers to the name of Ardabil as Ardavil. Naval and maritime activities in the Caspian Sea have been 214 recorded by the Roman historians since Parthian times. It was clearly an important point for commerce as well as for military back-up for Derbent and its fortifications in times of emergency. 63. Sepāhān was a military base built after the Jewish rebellion in the city of Jay. Eventually the two adjacent cities merged and became known as Isphahan or Isfahan (Ibn Balkhi). Isfahan became the Capital of Persia during the Seljuks’ rule and later on the Safavids. Archeological excavations indicate that the Jāmeh Mosque in Isfahan sits on the remains of a large Sasanian Fire Temple. Jameh Mosque is considered one of the most important architectural masterpieces in the entire Islamic world. The monument was damaged badly during the Iran-Iraq war air raids in the 1980s but since then it has been repaired. There are many other archeological ruins such as Ātašgāh (Fire Temple) located 8 kilometers west of the present city center that are indicative of a long Sasanian heritage of the city (Fig. 7 and Fig. 11). In addition to the above cities, there are several villages and settlements in Afghanistan such as Nakhjīr Pērōz (meaning “hunting (ground) of Pērōz”) near the Balkh/Herat axis which are not noted in any of the major historical records as being founded by this king. Hunting being the royal sport of almost all Sasanian kings including Pērōz, it seems possible he was actively building here as well. It seems possible as well given the large military activities of Pērōz in the east. Hamza Al Isfahani mentions several other possibilities in India which might be references to urban construction notably in Pesawar or Lahore. However, these need to be further verified. VALKAŠ (BALĀŠ) 484-488 CE 64. Sābāt was an addition to the capital of Ctesiphon (Hamza Al Isfahani). Tabari called this city Balāšwās (Balāš Avād?). Tha’labi called this city Balāšbād (Balāšābād). There are several notations by medieval Persian and Arab geographers as to this city having a very large number of fruit orchards of peaches and apricots that were exported. This area is currently known as Abū Halafiyeh. 65. Balāš Farr or Balāš Xwarrah was near Hulwan (present day Sarepol-e Zahab) in Western Iran (Tha’labi). Hamza Al Isfahani called this city Balāšgīrd or Balāšgerd. Tabari attributes the foundation of Hulwan to Kavad I. However, Hulwan’s existence predates the Sasanian era. 66. Balāšgīrd or Balāšgerd (Tha’labi) was located near the present-day city of Merv, which was the eastern capital of Sasanian Iran in the republic of Turkmenistan. As was the case with Pērōz, there are several other cities with associations to this king’s name in the south, central and western parts of Iran. However, no major historical record makes any mention of them. ZĀMĀSP ( JĀMĀSP) 496-498 CE No new city has been attributed to this King. As a peaceful end to his reign and abdication in favor of his brother Kavad I, Zamasp accepted the governorship of the province of Tabaristan and Armenia as well as the Caucasus region. According to several sources, his successor Kavad I made a series of additions to existing cities in the Tabaristan region. These unfortunately are not well-recorded. Zamasp as governor most likely was involved closely with these projects. KAVĀD (QŌBĀD OR GHŌBĀD) I 488-496 AD AND 498-531 CE According to Tabari and Dinvari, Kavād I built considerably more than any other Sasanian king. 67. Qōbādān (Kavadaan) lies at present in Badakhšan province of Afghanistan, North-East of Kabul province bordering China. The city is the birth place of the renowned medieval Persian historian and geographer Nāser Khōsrau (Tha’labi). 68. Arragān is at present known as Arrajān in the province of Fars (Persis) in Iran (Tha’labi). 69. Xwarrah-Kavād (Qōbād-Khurreh) is the present-day city of Behbahān (Veh az- amad-Qōbādān) in southern Iran (Tha’labi, Ibn Balkhi). Tabari mentions a city named Xwarrah Kavād as an addition to A NCI ENT I R A N IA N NUM ISM ATICS 215 the existing city of Ardashir Xwarrah or Gōr (Fīrūz Ābād). The nature of the addition is not known as it is typically difficult to add to perfect geometrical shapes such as a circle which in this case is the layout of Gōr. If this were an addition, most likely it started as a settlement outside the original city walls and was later incorporated. Hamza Al Isfahani refers to this city as being part of Arrajan. 70. Hūlwān (Ibn Balkhi) is currently known as Sarepol-e Zahab in Western Iran. It is an archeological site on the Perso-Mesopotamian border. It was known during the late Sasanian period as the location of royal hunting grounds with aristocratic hunting lodges. Once again is hard to determine the nature of the work as an expansion or addition. Hulwan dates back to pre-Sasanian era 71. Upper Veh Kavād was located in Northern Iraq (the Jazīreh region: Ibn Balkhi, Dinvari). Its exact location is unknown. Possibly it was near Mosul since that was an area where many Sasanian kings made additions to. 72. Lower Veh Kavād was located in Southern Iraq (the Sawād region: Ibn Balkhi, Dinvari). Its exact location is unknown. It is possible that this was an addition to an existing Hellenic city such as Bertha known today as Takrit. 73. Ābād Kavād (Ābād-Qōbād) was located between Gorgān and Abaršahr in North-Western Iran. It may have been an addition to the earlier-built Abaršahr (Hamza Al Isfahani). 74. Vōlašgerd or Khābū (Xwarrah Šāpur?) is near or part of the present-day city of Mosul in northern Iraq (Hamza Al Isfahani). It is possible the construction of this city started under Valkaš since it is named after him. Its other name Khāhbū suggests a reference to the city of Hānbū Šāpūr and a possible addition to it (under Šāpūr II as noted earlier). 75. Irān Šād Kavād was somewhere between Hulwan and Šahr-e Zoor on the present border between Iran and Iraq. Its exact location is unknown (Hamza Al Isfahani). 76. Qōbādbazn (Qobad Bazm?) was in the Qom region where good number of late Sasanian coins and other artifacts have been found. Its name Bazm=Festivity (Farahvashi). 77. Khābūr Kavād or Šāpūr Kavād (Khuda-Nameh) or Xwarrah Kavād? was near Mosul in present day Iraq (Hamza Al Isfahani). 78. Izad Kavād or Yazd Kavād (Khuda-Nameh) is the present-day city of Īzeh in Hūzīstān province of Iran. The city has been in existence since the Elamite period and was known then as Ayapir. Hamza Al Isfahan considers this city as part of the Sawad region in southern Iraq. The city houses the ruins of Tāgh-e Tavīle from the Sasanian period as well as others from subsequent periods. The city is considered the coldest city in the province of Hūzīstān. The cold climate within a province which is typically hot and humid made the city an ideal location for the summer residence of the aristocracy. In this it was similar to Hulwan. 79. Abar Kavād was situated between the provinces of Pars and Huzistan in Iran. The city was built to house the population relocated from Roman Syria (Dinvari and Tha’labi). Given the evidence of city planning in previous decades, most likely the city was laid out in grid form. 80. Abar Kavad (Abar Qōbād) is thought to be Abarkooh or Abarqū in Yazd province of Iran. It was/is sacred to Zoroastrian Persians as the place of the holy Zoroastrian tree called Sarv-e Abarqu believed to have been planted by the prophet Zoroaster. More research will be required for proper and exact attribution. The city houses one of the earliest mosques built in the aftermath of the Islamic conquest of Persia. The city is directly north of Istaxr by a distance of 100 mile (43-45 Parsang). 81. Kazeroun (Addition that Increased the size of existing City) 82. Erān-Āsān-Ke(a)rd-Kavād (Šahrestānihā ī Ērānšahr) was a city or region very near Hulwan (Sarpol e Zahab) in Western Iran. The name of the city means “Kavad made Iran peaceful” (Cambridge). It is indicative that this settlement and many others were created as a result of military operations to secure the region. 83. Subdivisions within the City of Sepāhān are present day Isfahan (Dinvari). 216 84. Sariyeh (Sari) and several other unnamed cities or additions are located in the Province of Tabaristan (Ibn Balkhi also Mar’ashi-History of Ruyan and Tabaristan). The local folklore attributes the foundation of the city of Sārī (the present capital of the coastal province of Mazandaran in Iran) to Kavad I. However, the city clearly predates the Sasanians given the archeological discoveries in nearby caves. In addition, Sari was rebuilt several times, the last time during the 10th century when the local governor had to create a new city as the old one lay in complete ruin due to a devastating earthquake. 85. Bōst was an addition to what is present-day Lašgar Gāh in Afghanistan. Given the numismatic evidence presented by Mochiri, the city’s earliest known drachm was minted during the time of Kavad I. The original city predated the Sasanian era (Šahrestānihā ī Ērānšahr) (Fig. 15). 86. Xōst is Khost in present day Afghanistan. The same as for Bost, the earliest evidence of the city’s coinage is a minted drachm belonging to Kavad I (Mochiri) (Fig. 16). In addition to the cities above, there are other cities and settlements attributed to this king and bearing his name. These cities are “Owlād Qōbād” in the western province of Luristan and Qōbād Bāghiān (meaning Gardens of Qōbād) in Western Azarbaijan on the border with presen-day Iraq. KHŌSRAU (KHŌSRŌW OR CHŌSRŌE) I 531-579 AD 87. Veh Antioch Khōsrau was a suburb added to the capital, Ctesiphon. Khōsrau relocated the inhabitants of Antioch to this new area. This addition was built as a duplicate of the original city Merchants who were used to trading in Antioch would be able to navigate the new city as easily as before. This enabled the flourishing of trade lost from the original city. Most of the prized silk workshops and their workers were relocated to the new city depriving the Byzantines of their temporary economical advantage over the Persians in processing silk (Hamza Al Isfahani). Given the Byzantine grid- iron layout of the ancient city of Antioch, the new one was also built based on the same grid-iron format. 88. Aspānvar and Visp Sad Khosrau were suburbs considered part of greater Ctesiphion/Veh Ardasir. Mochiri provided numismatic evidence of drachms for the mints that possibly originated in these two areas of the capital. 89. Khōsrau Šāpūr) was located in Māh province. More than likely the areas of development were Qasr-e Sirin and Khosrawi (Hamza Al Isfahani). 90. Darband (Derbent) received improvements and new fortifications (Tabari). 91. Aden (Ibn Balkhi) is at present in Yemen. It was built by Wahrāz the commander of the Sasanian army who captured Yemen. It was called Mashra’ e Aden which according to Ibn Balkhi meant “drinking water source for Aden.” In addition we also have evidence of fortifications and bridges built in the Sasanian style of construction and architecture (Nicole). 92. Zandvard was located between Basra and Wasīt (Dinvari). 93. Kaškar was made the capital of the regions of Bahrsir (Dinvari). The name is a reference to the region of Hōrmōzd Xwarrah and Mesene in southwestern Iran (See Shapur II and Bahram V). During the reign of Kavad I, a nearby dam over-flowed and broke creating flooding that damaged the area badly. Khosrau I made improvements on the city and the area. However, by the time of the Arab invasion, not much of the city was there except the royal family’s farms and related structures (Tabari). 94. Khōsrau Māh was an addition to a regional city that Dinvari called Jōwkhā (Jōxā) in the Sawād/Mesene region or southern Iraq. The area is adjacent to Sumerian city which is presently called Umma. 95. Large number of fortifications were added in Caucasia. Tha’labi recorded the number of these fortifications to be about 100. Khōsrau made sure that the region could be well-defended from the Byzantines and others by creating a standing army that lived and worked within these fortifications. Such a cautious approach to the defense the region was highly accurate as the counter offensive of Heraclius against Khōsrau II began in this area some 60 years later. A NCI ENT I R A N IA N NUM ISM ATICS 217 96. Nōbandagān was built in present-day province of Fars (Ancient Persis) in Iran (Tha’labi). From the name of the city (new captives) one can see that the city was populated by the deportees and those captured in war. Mōqaddasi stated the city had a great reputation in textile making probably the result of the many silk and fabric workshops that Khōsrau I captured and relocated from Byzantines. 97. Hejrā was on the Island of Bahrain (Tha’labi). The area might be in present Oman. More research will be required. 98. Ardabīl (Tha’labi) was an addition to an existing city built at the time of Pērōz. See the section related to Pērōz earlier in this paper. 99. In addition to the above, we also need to look closely at the major fortifications and defensive walls of Gorgan which according to some records had begun during the rule of Pērōz and according to others at the time of Pērōz’s father Yazdgīrd II. But it was Khōsrau I who enhanced and completed the project (a total of 33 forts and settlements-Wilkinson). Given the labor and military presence required, the construction of the wall was not just limited to the wall itself but to settlements and roads necessary to the development and protection of the region. HŌRMIZD IV 579-590 CE Most of the mints from this era are in the eastern provinces where the Sasanian General Bahrām Chūbin (Chōbin) and later Bahram VI waged a successful campaign against the Turks. Given the disastrous experiences of Peroz and Kavad I, Sasanian Iran began to build various military posts and related towns to reduce the marching distance of the troops, as well as to create a supply chain at the time of military engagements. Some of the cities, however, had never minted coins before. 100. Marw U Rud was an addition to the city created by Bahrām V. Numismatic evidence from Mochiri indicates the city minting drachms at the time of Hormazd IV (Fig. 14). 101. Zuzan (Fig 20): Mint abbreviation “ZOZNO”: Numismatic evidence by Mochiri indicates that the city was minting drachms at the time of Hormazd IV. The numismatic evidence has been disputed given the meaning of Zuzan being drachm. Steve Album and several others have noted that the series minted with this mint and the abbreviation “ALM” replacing standard “GDH” in back of the king’s head on the obverse were mostly minted after the Arab conquest of Iran. 102. Khōlm (Xōlm) (Afghanistan) (Fig. 18), 103. Gōrzavān (Afghanistan) (Fig. 17), 104. Roxvādeh (somewhere in western Pakistan) (Fig. 19), 102. Samarkand (Republic of Uzbekistan) (Fig. 24), 106. Čāč (Republic of Uzbekistan), 107. TZI (unknown mint) (Fig. 25, 27, 28) and 108. TAI or “TA”(unknown mint possibly Tus in Khōrāsān, Iran) have produced drachms IV. Numismatic evidence from Mochiri proves this for all of these minting centers/cities (Fig. 26?). KHŌSRAU II (APARVĪZ) 590-628 CE 109. Qasr-e Šīrīn exists under the same name in Iran’s province of Kermānšāhān. The area was an important summer retreat of the court. Folk tales attribute the city as a castle/court of Khosrau’s beloved wife Shīrīn. The proximity to Hulwan (Sarpole Zahab) also points toward a large number of fortifications built in the area. Many scholars date these to the Sasanian era. There are no new cities or additions to existing cities recorded for the remaining Kings of Sasanian Iran who came to the throne after Khōsrau II. 218 Observations and Conclusions: According to Table 1 which is the summary of the study above: The distance method is the “Range Method” which identifies the sphere or circle of influence for satellite or nonsatellite cities. The distances range from 70 to 80 miles which is about 20 “parsang (farsang)” each parsang being 3.5 miles or 5.6 kilometers. This formula is utilized many times in distancing cities from each other. For exact distances the ICBM method is the most favored (coordinates system); however, exactness is not the purpose as city planning does not rely on exact distances. The new cities were established based upon the shortest distance for communication and trade; but especially for the deployment of soldiers (acceptable marching distances per day) from one post to another. It was noted from Achaemenid times that goods with a weight of 130 to 220 lb could be moved by humans (without horse or mule) 6 to 9 miles a day which is about 2 to 3 parsang. The range method is also highly accurate when dealing with even plains (Asuristan-Sawad) rather than mountainous regions (Afghanistan and Caucasus). The archeological discoveries of the remains of Achaemenid currier stations between the Mamasanī and Deh Lūrān plains in Southwestern Iran indicate a distance of seventeen to eighteen kilometers (about 4 parsang) which could be travelled on foot in a day and on horseback in less than an hour (Wright & Neely). The spacing of the cities at the distance of 20 parsang (70 -75 miles or 110 kilometers) allowed for fast communication and delivery of almost within a day on horseback with stations between for changing the horses. The distance also allowed for delivery of money in the forms of bags of coins from one city to another if necessary. The total number of cities presented in Table is 109. Out of these there were 20 new minting centers. Most of the minting centers were created within the cities that existed prior to the rise of the Sasanids in Iran such as Ctesiphon, Ray, Dārābgīrd, Amōl, Gōrgān, Jay, Šūšā, Ecbātānā (Ahmadān) and many others. It is important to note that from 272 to 293 CE for 23 years (the reigns of Bahrām I, Bahrām II) and then from 379-388 CE for 11 years (the reigns of Ardašīr II and Šāpūr III) we have no record of any new city or addition. The total years with no urban development stand at 34 years. Out of 109 cities, 15 were in Asuristan (the Sawad region-Southern Iraq) and 14 were located in Hūzīstan (South-west Iran). These 29 cities sheltered enough of a labor force to increase the agricultural production of the region to the maximum and maintain a healthy and wealthy trade/economy for the empire. Many of these cities were created to house the deportees as well as soldiers captured in the many wars. Out of 109 cities, 7 were built in Pārs (Fārs) province with Istaxr as its spiritual capital (and Ardašīr Xwarrah as resurrected capital) and another seven in Kerman province. Some of the cities such as Nōbandegān also housed deportees and prisoners of war. Other centers given their religious status (Abar Kavād- Abarqū) were expanded without including Christians or other minority deportees. The three new minting cities (Ardašīr Xwarrah (Gōr), Bišāpūr and Rev Ardašīr) almost matched the existing centers such as Istaxr, Darabgerd and Karian/Karzin. We do not know if this increase also doubled the supply of drachms or simply distributed the task for the same number to allow for a timely output and better distribution. During the rise of the Greek City States the number of people required for founding a new city or populating a quarter was fifteen thousand (15,000). The number we have from the Sasanian era is twelve thousand (12,000). These people were relocated from Isrtaxr to Nisibis during the reign of Sapur II after the Christian population left in fear of the advancing Persians. Even though the numbers are not recorded for any other city, this number is close to the Hellenic norm used in the Greek city planning system. It is hard to determine who participated in minting plated coins or in the technique that was used. Many of the plated coins look fully official and not minted by dealers or by money exchangers as conterfeits such as those left from the era following the collapse of Sasanian Iran. According to Zoroastrian teaching and religious canons creating wrongful standards in weights and currencies was considered a high abomination and was to be dealt with severe punishment. (This was similar to Islamic laws legislated in the aftermath of the confiscation of drachms with low silver content by Moslem governors of conquered regions after the collapse of Sasanian Iran). Almost none of the cities with a considerable population of deportees and prisoners of war was selected as a minting center (except Gondīšapūr and possibly Bīšapūr). It is more than likely that deportees and prisoners of war were not subject to Zoroastrian religious A NCI ENT I R A N IA N NUM ISM ATICS 219 canons and thus could, at the direct order of the court and its officials, mint plated coins. This theory obviously needs further investigation. Several cities such as Kašvin (Qazvin) created under Šāpūr II, followed by Erān Xwarrah founded by Yazdgird II and Ardabīl created by Pērōz, substantially reduced the distances/stations from the minting centers of Amol, Shiz, Ray and Gorgan toward the northwest and northeast Iran. Such a measure provided a better organized system to pay troops for the massive fortifications of Darband (Derbent) and later the massive defensive wall of Gorgan which was backed by nearly 33 fortifications (Wilkinson). At the time of Hormazd IV, the need to create stable organizations such as minting facilities with related cities in the eastern provinces of Sakastan, Zavolistan and Kusansahr became apparent as the number of cities and minting centers began to increase. The coins from these areas known as eastern drachms were called “Bōghlī” or “Bōqlī” (Dinvari). The standard weight of one Mithqāl (4.25 gr) applied to all drachms from these regions (Dinvari). The mintage of these drachms continued well after the Sasanians were gone and until the reforms of Abdulmalik of Umayyids. During the Arab Sasanian era, the weights of these coins and their silver content began to change for the worse causing a major crackdown and mass collection and mass melting of all drachms in the region (Dinvari). As seen above, there are mint abbreviations that cannot be fully identified. For examples, GUY (Guyam?-Moshiri/ F1929), TA or TAI and others. Given the part appearances of such mints, the possibility of them being a mint center begin to give way to considering them as temporary mints that accompanied the kings, his entourage during campaigns. Such examples are seen at later centuries (16, 17, 18 and 19 centuries) which indicate the word “rēkab” (king’s camp). Coins on figures 16 and 19 might well fall under such categories which were minted during Bahram VI campaign in the East while he was a general under Hormizd IV. There is much more that can be added to Table 1 such as the layout of the cities and their urban plans. That will require having substantial records of the excavated cities from the Sasanian era. This effort is already being undertaken; however, it will be decades before we can get records of the layout of all these Sasanian cities given the budget restrictions on the part of local governments, war and chaos such as seen in Afghanistan where approaching cities such as Qobadiyan is extremely dangerous and at times proven deadly for researchers. Also the turmoil in Iraq does not leave much space for research and excavation in the areas that maintain most of the archeological remains of Sasanian Asuristan or Sawad which came to be known as Del-e Iranšahr or “Heart of Sasanian Persia”. A glimpse into the recent excavation at Pēšāvar in Pakistan and the discoveries of various layers on top of each other from the Indo-Parthians, the Kušans, the Huns, the Sasanians and the early Islamic era provide us with the highly complex task of discovery and identification of what is the Sasanian past. It would more than likely take decades even if the work could continue without interruption. 220 Mint Abbreviations In Pahlavi: AHMADĀN = AHM or AH KAŠVĪN (QAZVĪN) = KŠ or KA(?) ĀMŌL = AM KERMAN or KERMANŠAH = KR APARŠAHR (ABARŠAHR) = APR KHŌLM = XŌLM ARDAŠĪR XWĀRRĀH (GŌR)= ART MERV = MR ARRAGĀN = AR MARW U RUD = MRWRT or MRWORT ARDAŠĪR GĀN (SĪRJĀN)= SIR or SI MĀH and MĀHĀN = MA ARMENIA = ARM NISHAPUR (NĪV ŠĀPŪR) = NI ASPĀNVAR (CTESIPHON) = AS NIHAVAND = NIH AŪSRĪSTĀN = AS(?) PARWAND (HADĪTHĀ) = PW BIŠĀPŪR = BIŠ QŌM (GHOM) = GOM, GWM BALX (BALKH) = BLH or BLX QŌM (GHOM) = GO, GW BŌST= BST RĀM HŌRMAZD = RĀM ČĀČ = ČĀČŪ RAY = RD or RY DĀRĀBGĪRD = DA RĪV ARDAŠĪR or RĪŠAHR = RIV DINAVAR = DINAV RŌXVĀDEH = RXV FORĀT-E MESENE = PR SAMARKAND (SAMARQAND) = SMR GANZAK (GANJA) = GNZK SEPĀHĀN or ASPAHAN (ISFAHAN or ISPHAHAN) = AS GŌRGĀN – GO, GW ŠĪZ = ŠI GŌRZAVĀN = GRZ STAXR = ST GŪNDĪŠĀPR = GN TAWS (TOOS) ? = TA or TAI HERAT (HAREV) = HR TAPURISTAN (TABARISTAN) = TA (?) IN ISPAHBOD’S PERIOD = TAPURISTAN HŌRMAZD ARDAŠĪR, (AHWAZ) = AWH --------= TZI and TCI HUZĪSTĀN = HŪZ VISP SAD XOSROW (VISP SAD KHOSRAU) (CTESIPHON) = IMPERIAL COURT (CTESIPHON) = BBA WEH ARDAŠĪR= WH IRĀN XWARRAH ŠAPŪR (ŠŪŠĀ) = AI, AIR, AIRAN YAZD = YZ JAY = GD or GY ZŪZĀN = ZOZNO KARIAN or KARZIN = KA A NCI ENT I R A N IA N NUM ISM ATICS 221 Šāpūr I: 240-270 AD ARDAŠĪR I, 224-240 AD CURRENT REGION SASANIAN PROVINCE LOCATION WITHIN THE EMPIRE NATURAL HINDERENCE RELIGIOUS POWER FOREIGN CONFLICT ANIRAN ✓ Zor ✓ SW Hūzīstān 1 to 3.5 Mi / 1 Par ✓ Zor ✓ SW Asūristān South Iraq Ctesiphon ✓ 1 to 3.5 Mi / 1 Par Zor ✓ SW Asūristān South Iraq Āstā-bāz Ardašīr Near Forat-e Mesene Ahwaz ✓ 80 to 85 Mi / 22 Par Wahman Ardašīr Ahwaz ✓ 70 to 75 Mi / 20 Par 6 Hōrmaz Ardašīr (Ahwaz) 7 8 Ardasir Xwarrah (Gor) ✓ 270 Mi / 80 Par Veh Ardasir ✓ 270 Mi / 80 Par Wahman Ardašīr (Bahmanšīr) Ahwaz ✓ 70 to 75 Mi / 20 Par Vehešt Ardašīr (Basra?) Ahwaz ✓? ✓ Zor WAR PRISONERS 70 to 75 Mi / 20 Par DEPOTEES REFUGEES ✓ ✓ NATIVE RELIGOUSLY DIVERSE Ahwaz 4 (AWH) IRAN GEOGRAPHY TYPE Ctesiphon 5 ✓ DOMESTIC CONFLICT POWER STRYGGLE Āstā-bāz Ardašīr Near present day Ramādī WH POPULATION TYPE RANGE 3 ✓ MAJOR EVENT MINT CENTER Veh Ardašīr (Bahurasir) NAME Rām Ardašīr (near Basra) MINT ABBRIVIATION CITY NAME 1 2 MINT CENTRE NUMBER KING IMPORTANT NEARBY CITY ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Khuzistan, Iran SW Asūristān South Iraq ✓ Zor ✓ SW Hūzīstān Khuzistan, Iran ✓ Zor ✓ SW Hūzīstān Khuzistan, Iran ✓ Zor ✓ SW Hūzīstān Kerman ✓ SW Asūristān Hūzīstān South Iraq 70 to 75 Mi / 20 Par 9 Ardašīr Gān (Sirjan) ✓ SI Darabgerd ✓ 70 to 75 Mi / 20 Par ✓ Zor ✓ S Kerman Kerman 10 Ardašir Xwārrāh (Gōr) ✓ ĀRT Istaxr ✓ 70 to 75 Mi / 20 Par ✓ Zor ✓ S Pārs (Fārs), Persis Fars, Iran 11 Veh Ardašīr (Bardsīr) Kerman ✓ 30 to 35 Mi / 10 Par ✓ Zor ✓ S Kerman Kerman, Iran ✓ RI RSH ✓ Zor ✓ S Pārs (Fārs), Persis Fars, Iran ✓? Zor ✓ ✓? S Bahrain Qatar ✓? S Bahrain Bahrain ✓ ✓? S Pārs (Fārs), Persis Qešm Island, Iran 12 13 Rām Ardašīr (Rēw Ardašīr / Rīšahr) Fāwrān Ardašir (Fārwār Ardašir) Siraf 250 Mi / 70 Par Ardasir Xwarrah (Gor) ✓ 100 Mi / 28 Par Rām Ardasīr (Reyshar) ✓ 200 Mi / 57 Par Siraf Ram Ardasir (Reyshar) 120 Mi / 34 Par ✓ 220 Mi / 62 Par 14 Vehtan Ardašīr (Madinat Al Khatt) Siraf 140 Mi / 40 Par 15 Bōxt Ardašīr (Port) Sirjan 220 Mi / 62 Par 16 Bād-gīs (Vādgēs) Herat (Harev) ✓ 35-40 Mi / 10 Par ✓? ✓ ✓? E Harev Afghanistan 17 Pūšang Herat (Harev) ✓ 30-35 Mi / 10 Par ✓? Zor ✓ ✓? E Harev Afghanistan 18 Khōrzād Ardašīr Arbil 55 Mi / 14 Par ✓ Zor ✓ ✓? W Mōsūl, Nōdshīragān North Iraq 19 Būdh Ardašīr Arbil 35-40 Mi / 10 Par ✓ Zor ✓ ✓? W Mōsūl, Nōdshīragān North Iraq 20 Astar Abād Ardašīr 21 Asad Ābād ✓? AS ? ✓ ✓ ✓ Zor Zor Gorgan ✓ 10 Mi / 3 Par ✓ Zor ✓ N Tabaristan Gorgan Ahmadan ✓ 10 Mi / 3 Par ✓ Zor ✓ NW Māh Hamadan, Iran 22 Šād Šapur (Forāt-e Mesene)-Kaškār ✓ PR Hormaz Ardasir (Ahwaz) ✓ 65 to 70 Mi / 18 Par ✓ Zor / Mani ✓ ✓ ✓ SW Asūristān South Iraq 23 Gōndī Šapur ✓ GN Hormaz Ardasir (Ahwaz) ✓ 70 to 75 Mi / 20 Par ✓ Zor / Mani ✓ ✓ ✓ SW Hūzīstān Khuzistan, Iran 24 Veh Antīoch Šāpūr GN? Hormaz Ardasir (Ahwaz) ✓ 70 to 75 Mi / 20 Par ✓ Zor / Mani ✓ ✓ ✓ SW Hūzīstān Khuzistan, Iran 25 Balād Šāpūr GN? Hormaz Ardasir (Ahwaz) ✓ 70 to 75 Mi / 20 Par ✓ Zor / Mani ✓ ✓ ✓ SW Hūzīstān Khuzistan, Iran 26 Šuštar GN? Hormaz Ardasir (Ahwaz) ✓ 70 to 75 Mi / 20 Par ✓ Zor / Mani ✓ ✓ ✓ SW Hūzīstān Khuzistan, Iran 27 Bīšāpūr (Veh Šāpūr or Beh Šāpūr also known as Bēnā Šāpūr BISH Ardasir Xwarrah ✓ 70 to 75 Mi / 20 Par ✓ Zor / Mani ✓ ✓ ✓ S Pārs (Fārs), Persis Fars, Iran Rev Ardasir ✓ 250 Mi / 70 Par ✓ Zo ✓ ✓ ✓ Ardasir Xwarrah ✓ 100 Mi / 28 Par ✓ Zor / Mani ✓ ? ? S Pārs (Fārs), Persis Siraf, Iran Dinavar ✓ 90 Mi / 25-27 Par ✓ Zor / Mani ✓ ? ? W Māh/luristan Iran Gorgan ✓ 250 Mi / 70 Par ✓ Zor / Mani ✓ ✓ ✓ Abaršahr Khorasan, Iran 28 Siraf (Auzinza) 29 Šāpūr Xāst (Khorram Ābād), Falak ol Aflak fortification 30 Nīshapur (Nīv Šāpūr) ✓ ✓? ✓ SI or SR? NI Herat 230 Mi / 68 Par ✓ CURRENT REGION Zor / Mani SASANIAN PROVINCE ✓ GEOGRAPHY TYPE LOCATION WITHIN THE EMPIRE ✓ WAR PRISONERS ✓ Zor / Mani ANIRAN DEPOTEES REFUGEES Veh Ardasir ✓ NATIVE RELIGOUSLY DIVERSE 250 Mi / 70 Par 230 Mi / 68 Par NATURAL HINDERENCE Dastgerd ✓ IRAN RELIGIOUS POWER 32 Ahvaz POPULATION TYPE FOREIGN CONFLICT RAM DOMESTIC CONFLICT POWER STRYGGLE MINT ABBRIVIATION ✓ RANGE MINT CENTRE Rām Hōrmazd MINT CENTER CITY NAME 31 MAJOR EVENT NAME NUMBER Hōrmazd I: 270-271 AD KING IMPORTANT NEARBY CITY S Hūzīstān Fars, Iran ✓ ✓ SW Asūristān Baqūba, South Iraq ? ? NW Sōghdīānā Republic of Uzbekistan South Iraq NARSEH: 293-302 Xwārrazm (Čač) 34 Hōrmazd Behešt Exact Location Disputed 35 Pērōz Šāpūr (Anbār); Near present city of Ramadi Veh Ardasir ✓ Veh Ardasir ✓ 25 Mi / 7 Par Ahvaz ✓ 70 Mi / 20 Par Sapur II: 309-379 AD Šāpūr II: 309-379 AD 33 Hōrmazd II: 302-309 AD Bahrām I (Varhrān I): 271-274 AD, Bahrām II (Varhrān II): 274-293 AD, Bahrām III (Varhrān III): 293-? AD, Nārsēh or Nārsē: 293-302 AD 36 Bōzōrg Šāpūr (Akbarieh), Part of present Baghdad 37 Irān Xwarrah Šāpūr (Sūsā) 38 Irānšahr Šāpūr (Sustar) 39 ✓ ✓ CACU AIRAN Šāpūr ( Jabur) ✓? KASH Merv ✓ 470-475 Mi / 138-140 Par ✓ 85-90 Mi / 27 Par ✓ ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ ✓ SW Asūristān Zor ✓ ✓ ✓ SW Asūristān South Iraq ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ ✓ SW Hūzīstān Khuzistan, Iran ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ ✓ SW Hūzīstān Khuzistan, Iran ✓ Ahvaz ✓ 55 Mi / 15-16 Par Ram Ardasir (Reyshar) ✓ 200 Mi / 57 Par Siraf ✓? 120 Mi / 34 Par ✓ Zor ✓ Ray ✓ 100 Mi / 32 Par ✓ Zor ✓ 40 Kašvīn (Qazvīn) 41 Nīsībīs (present day Nūsaybīn) Budh Aradsir (Mosul) 100 Mi / 32 Par ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ 42 Mārtyrōpōlis (Mayyāfārīqīn), Present Silvan Budh Aradsir (Mosul) 220 Mi / 32 Par ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ S Bahrain Bahrain, Qatar NW Māh / Media Qazvin, Iran ✓ NW Syria (Sam) Turkey ✓ NW Syria (Sam) Anatolia Turkey, Diarbakir NE Abaršahr Khorasan, Iran E Kushansahr Afghanistan 43 Abarshahr Gorgan ✓ 280 Mi / 80 Par ✓? Zor 44 Pērōz Šāpūr, Near the City of Balkh Kabul ✓ 220 Mi / 60-65 Par ✓ Zor 45 Xōršāwar (Pēšāwar) Balkh Or Balx ✓ 150 Mi / 43-45 Par ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ E Kushansahr Pakistan 46 Vāzān (Part of Falk-ol Aflāk-Khorramābād?) Susa ✓ 70-75 Mi / 20 Par ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ W Māh Lūrīstān, Iran Veh Ardasir ✓ 135-140 Mi / 40 Par ✓ W Mōsūl, Nōdshīragān Masoul, Iraq Kašvīn (Qazvin) ✓? 50-55 Mi / 15-16 Par ✓ W Māh / Dylaman Qazvin, Iran W Māh Kermansah, Iran 47 47- Hadīthā (Parwand) 48 Abhar: under the same name near present day Zanjān (Yāqūt). ✓ ✓ AP PW ✓ ✓ Bahrām IV (Varhrān IV): 388-399 AD Ardašīr II : 379-383 AD, Šāpūr III, no new city or addition or renovation: 383-388 AD = 11 Years 49 Kermānšāh ✓? KR? Dinavar ✓ 40 Mi / 12 Par ✓ Zor ✓ ✓? ✓? Valkaš (Balāš): 484-488 AD SASANIAN PROVINCE CURRENT REGION LOCATION WITHIN THE EMPIRE 51 NATURAL HINDERENCE MINT ABBRIVIATION YZ ANIRAN S Pārs (Fārs), Persis Yazd, Iran SW Hūzīstān Huzistan, Iran SW Asūristān Wasit, Iraq Zor / Christ ✓ Šušāngerd Ahwaz ✓ 25-30 Mi / 7 Par ✓ Zor / Christ ✓ 52 Āšghar (Kašqar) Veh Ardasir ✓ 70-75 Mi / 20 Par ✓ Zor ✓ 53 Qōm ✓ GW & GO Ray ✓ 70 to 75 Mi / 20 Par ✓ Zor ✓ Ray Qom, Iran 54 Bahrām Āvand Māh (Dinavar) ✓ DIN Kermansah 40 Mi / 12 Par ✓ ✓ Māh Kermanshah, Iran 55 Marw’ul Rud (Morghab) ✓ MRWRT Herat (Harev Region) 56 Kāšghar (Kāšqar) Pesawar 57 Caspian Gate, also known as Darband Ganzak (Ganja) 58 Erān Xwarrah Yazdgīrd 59 ✓ WAR PRISONERS ✓ DEPOTEES REFUGEES 170-175 Mi / 50 Par NATIVE RELIGOUSLY DIVERSE ✓ RELIGIOUS POWER Jay-Sepahan FOREIGN CONFLICT DOMESTIC CONFLICT POWER STRYGGLE MINT CENTRE ✓ IRAN GEOGRAPHY TYPE RANGE CITY NAME Yazd POPULATION TYPE MINT CENTER NUMBER 50 MAJOR EVENT NAME Pērōz: 459-484 AD Yazdgīrd II: 438-457 AD Bahram V: 420-438 AD Yazdgīrd I: 399-420 AD KING IMPORTANT NEARBY CITY ✓? 180 Mi / 50-52 Par ✓? Zor ✓ Kušanšahr Afghanistan 450 to 500 Mi / 140 to 150 Par ✓ Zor ✓ ✓? ✓? E Chin Xianjing China ✓ 160 Mi / 45 Par ✓ Zor ✓ ✓? ✓? NW Albania Repub. Azabaijan Nivsapur ✓ 140 Mi / 40 Par ✓ Zor ✓ ✓? ✓? NE Abaršahr Khorasan, Iran Rām Pērōz (add to Ray) — under the same name as Šahr-e Ray south of present day Tehran and major minting center of Parthians and Sasanians. (Tabari, Tha’labi) Ray ✓ — ✓ Zor N Ray, Goyman Region Ray, Iran ✓ ✓ ✓ 60 Rōšan Pērōz (add to Gōrgān). Gorgan ✓ — ✓ ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ N Gōrgān (Khōrāsān) Gorgan, Iran 61 Šād Pērōz (Ardabil) Shiz ✓ 135-140 Mi / 40 Par ✓ ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ NW Adurbadagn Azarbaijan, Iran 62 Ram Peroz in Sakastan (Zaranj or addition to) Herat ✓ 240 Mi / 70 Par ✓ ✓ Zor E Sakastan Afghanistan 63 Sepāhān (ASPAHAN) 64 Sābāt 65 Balāš Farr (Balāš Xwarrah) near Hūlwān 66 Balāšgīrd or Balāšgerd Addition to the city of Merv Zabol ✓ AS 22 Mi / 7 Par ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Jay ✓ — ✓ ✓ Zor / Jewd ✓ ✓ Veh Ardasir ✓ 1 to 3.5 Mi / 1 Par ✓ ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ Kermansah 80 Mi / 23 Par ✓ ✓ Dastgerd 90 Mi / 25/26 Par ✓ ✓ — ✓ ✓ Merv ✓ Zor Zor ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓? ✓? S Aspāhān, Īsfahāna Isfahan, Iran SW Asūristān Madaen, Iraq ✓ ✓ W Māh Sar-e Pōl Zahāb, Iran ✓ ✓ E Margiana Republic of Turkmenistan Khōsrau (Khōsrōw or Chōsrōe) I, 531-579 AD: Kavād (Qōbād or Ghōbād) I: 488-496 AD and 498-531 AD DOMESTIC CONFLICT POWER STRYGGLE FOREIGN CONFLICT RELIGIOUS POWER NATURAL HINDERENCE NATIVE RELIGOUSLY DIVERSE DEPOTEES REFUGEES WAR PRISONERS LOCATION WITHIN THE EMPIRE SASANIAN PROVINCE CURRENT REGION GEOGRAPHY TYPE IRAN 80 Mi / 23/24 Par ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ SW Asūristān South Iraq ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ SW Hūzīstān Hūzīstān, Iran 67 Abar Kavād Ahwaz ✓ 68 Xwarrah Kavād (Behbahān) also known as (Veh azamad-Qōbādān) Ahwaz ✓ 100 Mi / 30 Par Ram Hormaz ✓ 20 Mi / 6/7 Par NAME POPULATION TYPE RANGE MAJOR EVENT MINT CENTER MINT ABBRIVIATION MINT CENTRE CITY NAME NUMBER KING IMPORTANT NEARBY CITY ANIRAN 69 Izad Kavād (Īzeh) Ram Hormaz ✓ 30 Mi / 8/9 Par ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ ? ? SW Hūzīstān Hūzīstān, Iran 70 Hūlwān (Major Addition) Dinavar ✓ 40 Mi / 12 Par ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ W Māh Lūrīstān, Iran 71 Vōlašgerd (Khābū), Part of Mosul Budh Ardasir, (Mosul) — ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ W Mōsūl, Nōdshīragān Mosul, Iraq 72 Irān Šād Kard Kavād, Part of Mosul Budh Ardasir, (Mosul) — ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ W Mōsūl, Nōdshīragān Mosul, Iraq — ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ W Mōsūl,, Nōdshīragān Mosul, Iraq 80 Mi / 23/24 Par ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ W Māh, Mōsūl, Nōdshīragān Sar-e Pōl Zahāb, Iran ? ? 73 Khābūr Kavād, Part of Mosul Budh Ardasir, (Mosul) 74 Erān-Āsān-Kard-Kavād (present Sar-e Pōl Zahāb) Kermansah ✓ DINAV ✓ Kermansah 80 Mi / 23/24 Par ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ W Māh Kermansah, Iran Istaxr ✓ 100 Mi / 30 Par ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ W Aspāhān, Īsfahān Yazd, Iran Ardasir Xwarrah ✓ 100 Mi / 30 Par ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ S Pārs (Fārs), Persis Fars, Iran Jay & Aspāhān ? ? Aspāhān ✓ — ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ ? ? S Aspāhān, Īsfahān Isfahan, Iran Istaxr ✓ 70-75 Mi / 20 Par ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ ? ? Qom ✓ 1-5 Mi / 1-2 Par ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ 75 Dinavar (Addition), Numismatic Evidence 76 Abar Kavad (Abarqū) 77 Arragān ✓? 78 Sepāhān (Subdivision) ✓ 79 Kazeroun (Addition) 80 Qōbādbazn 81 Sārīya (Addition to the City of Sārī) Amol ✓ 45 Mi / 13 Par ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ 82 Qōbādān (Qōbādiyān) (Badaxšān Province) Merv ✓ 1-10 Mi / 2-3 Par ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ AR? AS ? ? S Pārs (Fārs), Persis Fars, Iran N Ray Qom, Iran N Tabaristan Sari, Iran NE Khorasan Afghanistan 83 Bōst (Lašgar Gāh) ✓ BST Kandahar 80 Mi / 23/24 Par ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ ? ? E Sakastan Afghanistan 84 Xōst (new or addition) ✓ XCST Kabul 100 Mi / 30 Par ✓ ✓ Zor / Maz ✓ ✓ ? ? E Sakastan Afghanistan 85 Upper Veh Kavād Zor / Maz ✓ W? Mōsūl, Nōdshīragān North Iraq 86 Lower Veh Kavād Zor / Maz ✓ SW? Asūristān South Iraq 87 Veh Antioch Khōsrau Zor ✓ Asūristān South Iraq Veh Ardasir ✓ AS? ✓ VISP? Veh Ardasir ✓ 1-3 Mi / 87 1 Par ✓ ✓ ✓ SW 88 Aspānvar and Visp Sad Khosrau ✓ 1-3 Mi / 87 1 Par ✓ Zor ✓ SW Asūristān South Iraq 89 Zandvard Forat-E Mesene ✓ — ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ ✓ SW Asūristān South Iraq 90 Kaškār Veh Ardasir ✓ 70-75 Mi / 20 Par ✓ Zor ✓ ✓? ✓? SW Asūristān South Iraq 91 Nōbandagān Bisapur ✓ 70-75 Mi / 20 Par ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ ✓ S Pārs (Fārs), Persis South Iran 92 Hejrā (in Oman?), Record states in Bahrain Exact Location Unknown ✓ Zor ✓ S Bahrain Oman? 93 Aden — — ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ S Yemen Yemen 94 Khōsrau Māh ( Joxa), Adjacent to Umma (Sumerian City ruins) Ctisphon ✓ 10 Mi / 2 Par ✓ Zor ✓ ✓? SW Asūristan South Iraq, Iran 95 Caucasia (Fortification) Barda / Gandjak ✓ exact unknown 96 Derbent (Fortifications) Barda (Ganzak) ✓ Veh Ardasir 97 Ardabīl (Addition) Shiz ✓ 98 Khōsrau Šāpūr (Qasr-e Sīrīn) Kermanshah ✓ 99 Gōrgān (Fortifications) Gorgan ✓ 130-140 Mi / 40 Par 100 Mi / 30 Par ✓ Zor ✓ ✓? NW Albainia, Golciz - Lazia Repub. Georgia ✓ Zor ✓ ✓? NW Albainia Repub. Azerbai. NW Aturpadan Azarbai, Iran W Māh Kurd/Lur, Iran NE Gōrgān (Khōrāsān) Khorasan, Iran ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ Zor ✓ ✓ Zor ✓ ✓? ✓? Khōsrau II (AParvīz): 590-628 AD Zor ✓ ? ? E Kušanšahr Afghanistan ✓ Zor ✓ ? ? E Kušanšahr Afghanistan 102 Khōlm (Xōlm) ✓ XLM Kabul ✓ 90-100 Mi / 30 Par ✓ ✓ Zor ✓ ? ? E Kušanšahr Afghanistan 103 Gōrzavān ✓ GORZAN Kabul ✓ 190-200 Mi / 58-60 Par ✓ ✓ Zor ✓ ? ? E Kušanšahr Afghanistan WAR PRISONERS DEPOTEES REFUGEES NATIVE RELIGOUSLY DIVERSE CURRENT REGION ✓ ✓ ANIRAN SASANIAN PROVINCE ✓ 110-120 Mi / 38-40 Par IRAN LOCATION WITHIN THE EMPIRE 175-180 Mi / 50-52 Par ✓ NATURAL HINDERENCE ✓ Herat (Harev) RELIGIOUS POWER Herat (Harev) ZOZNO FOREIGN CONFLICT MRWRT ✓ DOMESTIC CONFLICT POWER STRYGGLE ✓ Zuzan RANGE Marw U Rud (Addition) MINT CENTER 100 101 NAME MINT ABBRIVIATION GEOGRAPHY TYPE MINT CENTRE POPULATION TYPE CITY NAME MAJOR EVENT NUMBER Hōrmizd IV: 579-590 AD KING IMPORTANT NEARBY CITY 104 Roxvādeh ✓ RXV Exact Location Unknown — ✓ ✓ Zor ✓ ? ? E Sakastan Afghanistan 105 Samarkand ✓ SMR Cacu ✓ 110-120 Mi / 38-40 Par ✓ ✓ Zor ✓ ? ? NE Sōghdīānā Republic of Uzbekistan ✓ 110-120 Mi / 38-40 Par ✓ ✓ Zor ✓ ? ? NE Sōghdīānā Republic of Uzbekistan 106 Čāč ✓ CACU Samarkand 107 TZO or TCI ✓ TZO Exact Location Unknown — Khorasan 108 TAI ✓ TAI Exact Location Unknown — Khorasan 109 Qasr-e Šīrīn Dinavar & KermanŠah ✓ Zor ✓ ✓? ✓? W Table 1.1 Key: Mi: Mile | Par: Parsang (3.4 Mile or 5.6 Kilomete) | ✓?: Possible given the pattern by records | ✓: Possible but no record Zor: Zoroastrianism | Maz: Mazdakism | Mani: Manichaenisim | Christ: Christianity | Jewd: Judaism Māh Kurd/Lur, Iran List of Figures Fig. 1. Mint KSh-Kasvin, Peroz Fig. 2. Mint Ram Hormazd, ruler Khosrau II Fig. 3. Mint Ahwaz, ruler Yazdgird I Fig. 4. Mint, Veh Ardasir, Ruler Zamasp Fig. 5. Mint Rev Ardasir, ruler Yazdgird II Fig. 6. Mint Sirjan, ruler Bahram V Fig. 7. Mint, Astarabad (possible), ruler Khosrau I Fig. 8. Mint, PR, ruler Khosrau II Fig. 9. Mint, Gondisapur, ruler Khosrau I Fig. 10. Mint Qom, Ruler Bahram V A NCI ENT I R A N IA N NUM ISM ATICS 227 228 Fig. 11. Mint, Jay, ruler Hormazd IV Fig. 12. Mint Yazd, ruler Khosrau II Fig. 13. Mint Aparsahr, ruler Hormzad IV Fig. 14. Mint Marwurud, rular Hormazd IV Fig. 15. Mint Bost, rular Khosrau I Fig. 16. Mint Xawst or Xost from Mochiri Fig. 17. Mint Gorzavan, ruler Yazdgird III Fig. 18. Mint Xolm from Mochiri Fig. 19. Mint Roxvad from Mochiri Fig. 20. Mint Zuzan, rular Hormazd IV Fig. 21 Fig. 22. Fig. 23. Fig. 24. Fig. 25. Fig. 26. Fig. 27. Fig. 28. Fig. 29. Fig. 24. [reverse-mint ART (?)] A NCI ENT I R A N IA N NUM ISM ATICS 229 Bibliography References: 1 Adams, R.Mc.C.; Land beyond Baghdad, Chicago, 1965 2 Afshar, I, Yazd; Historical and Archaeological evidences, Tehran 1990 3 Album S., Bates M., & Floor W. (1993), Coins and Coinage. 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