Lot 3392

Description

Persis, Unknown King 1 or [Darius I] (1st century B.C.). silver drachm, (3.630 grams), obv. Darius I head to right with crescent above satrapal headdress, rosette before, rev. fire-altar, with superstructure in the form of stepped battlements, Ahura-Mazda hovering above king standing to right on left, bird perched on standard on right, (S.6195, BMC 1-8 [p,207], Alram cf.551 & type as NB 1 [Pl.18, NB1]). Good very fine and very rare.

The drachm with the rosette before on the obverse was noted by Alram from the example that was published in Peus Sale 313 [1985] lot 241. It is a variant of the known examples No.551 identified by Alram as Unknown King A. This ruler was either Darius I or a contemporary.