Numismatic and History Discussion Forums > Parthian and Other Eastern Coins Discussion Forum

Reading Sasanian coin (Kavad + countermark)

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Graham S:
I'm trying to learn to read Sasanian coins and struggling a bit. The photos are (I think) a Kavad I, BN mint. The inscriptions seem fairly clear, but I can't read the date (all I have to go by is https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Sasanian%20Dates). I can't read the text with the ruler's name, either, but I don't know what that should say on Kavad's coins. 

There is also a countermark by Kavad's left shoulder. The square border is quite clear but the mark inside the border is not really visible - maybe an animal? Is there any known meaning to countermarks like this? I've looked on zeno.ru but there are no other examples for Kavad.

thanks
Graham

Michael C8:
Hi Graham:

I read it as BN Year 20.

I can see the countermark "square" in the margin at about 8 o'clock but no details so I can't help with the countermark.

Mike

Graham S:
Thanks Mike

Thanks for the '20' - though the last character being a horizontal line instead of a vertical one is a bit annoying,  seems you can expect the characters to vary randomly! Any idea what the inscription on the obverse says? It's too long to be just 'kavad'.

I've tried cleaning the countermark, but still can't make it out.

Graham

Michael C8:
Graham:

It's 2 words. Gobl renders it as Kavad (the first word starting from the right) followed by "strength" or "force".

Mike

Graham S:
Thanks Mike

It's a shame no-one reprints Gobl: even tatty copies cost a lot, and I've never found a digitised one.

Graham

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