My first thread: Sasanid? Arabo-Sasanid? Or fake??

[divus]

Hello all together!

This is my first activity on the American coins forum and I hope I will do everything properly.

I am very interested but really not an expert in Oriental coinage and only armed with some (very) small basic knowlegdge.

I have found this interesting coin which I can't identify.

Seems like an Arabo-Sasanian drachm. What makes me headaches is the missing crescents/stars on reverse.

Is is genuine?
Is it an "barbarized" imitation?

[Robert_Brenchley]

Khusro II, mint BYS (Bishapur). The marginal lettering in the overse means approximately 'Wonderful', referring, obviously, to Khusro.

[divus]

Hi Robert,

thank you!

So this coin is Sasanian not post-sasanian?
Is it a scarcer type without these crescents/stars on reverse?

[Manzikert]

Hi divus, Robert

The obverse marginal legend is actually 'bismallah', in the name of Allah, and the date appears to be year 48, so this would *seem* to be an early Islamic issue using the types of Khusru II. Walker illustrates a Bishapur year 48 coin on pl.IV, no.6.

However, I have never seen (and can't find in Walker's 'Arab-Sasanian' catalogue or any other of my references) a coin without the stars and crescents on the reverse. Also, the engraving is a bit too sloppy, and there is a general 'fuzziness' to the coin, so I suspect it is a (probably modern) forgery.

The person to take a look at it and give you a more definite answer (I certainly don't claim to be an expert on these myself) would probably be Tom Mallon-McCorgray whose email is tkmallon-mccorgray@grifterrec.com and whose page on Sasanian coins is at http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/sasania/sasanian.html

Best wishes

Alan

[divus]

Salve Manzikert,

thank you!

By the way, I have forgotten the technical data:

silver (?, sounds like),
weight 5,02g (pretty heavy... too heavy?)
diameter ca. 27mm.

[Howard Cole]

This does look a Khusraw type from the Bishapur mint, maybe year 51.  But the weight condems it as a fake.  A coin that weight 5.02 grams would not appeared clipped on the obverse as this coin does.  Clipped coins are usually around 2 to 3 grams.  A full weight Arab-Sasanian coin is usually around 3.2 grams, with the heavy ones coming in at a little under 4.2 grams for the Bishapur mint (the heaviest Khusraw type from this mint is listed at 4.07 listed in SICA Vol. 1).

[divus]

Hello Howard,

thank you!
I have already had the feeling, that this is not genuine coin...

Thanks to all for your comments!

[tkmallon]

Probably a fake.  Looks wrong.  Ideogram GDH engraved strangely. Could be a contemporary imitation, I guess.  I'd have to see it up close.  Can't remember ever seeing an A-S drachm without star/crescents in the reverse margin.

What it alleges to be: Arab-Sasanian, Khusro II type, BYSh, year 48
legend: bism allah rabbi

tom mallon-mccorgray

[Howard Cole]

Hi Tom,

I didn't even notice that there were no stars and crescents on the reverse margins.  Another point agianst this coin.

Howard

[DruMAX]

here is one I have for the same king...I would have the slightest clue if it were fake or not.

[Howard Cole]

Yes, this is a real one.  I believe the mint is BYS and the date might be either 29 or 26 (not really sure, but someone will correct me.)

[arsia]

I agree with Howard, Mint Place is Bishapur, Year 26
regards
Arsia