Persis

Persis_Map

Coins| of the Kingdom of Persis for sale| in the Forum| Ancient| |Coins shop.

Allotte de la Fuÿe, F. "Etud sur la Numismatique de la Peride" in Corolla Numismatica (1906), pp. 63 - 97.
Alram, M. Iranisches Personennamenbuch: Nomina Propria Iranica In Nummis. Osterreichischen Akademie Der Wissenschaften. (Wien, 1986).
Classical Numismatic Group. "An American Collection fo the Kings of Persis" in CNG Auction 90, Internet and Mail Bid Sale, 23 May 2012, pp. 162 - 173.
De Morgan, J. Monnaies orientales: numismatique de la Perse antique. (Paris, 1927-1933).
Hill, G. Catalogue of the Greek Coins in the British Museum: Arabia, Mesopotamia and Persia. (London, 1922).
Klose, D. & W. Müseler. Die Münzen aus Persepolis von Alexander dem Großen zu den Sasaniden. (Munich, 2008).
Mitchiner, M. Oriental Coins: the Ancient and Classical World. (London, 1978).
Gyselen, R. ed. New Evidence for Sasanian Numismatics: The Collection of Ahmad Saeedi. (Leuven, Belgium, 2004).
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Volume 2, Asia and Africa. (London, 1979).
Sear, D. Greek Imperial Coins and Their Values. (London, 1982).
Tyler-Smith, S. "A parcel of Persis drachms, half drachms and obols" in Numismatic Chronicle 164 (2004), pp. 253 - 271.

Persis was located in what is now southern Iran. "Persians" settled the area as early as the 8th century B.C. From the time after its conquest by Alexander the Great, Persis was most often quasi-independent, under the hegemony of a Seleukid or Parthian king. Immediately following Alexander's death, Persis was subject to the Seleucid Kingdom. About 290 B.C., Persis regained independence. The coins produced during this period were Greek-inspired, but inscriptions were Aramaic, symbolic of Persis' rejection of the Greek ruling class. Sometime between c. 250 and 223 B.C., the Seleucids regained control. Mithradates II later incorporated Persis as a sub-kingdom of Parthia. Under Parthian domination, the coins and appearance of the kings depicted on them assumed the Parthian style. The last King of Persis, Artaxerxes, defeated the Parthians and founded the Sassanian Empire.


FIG. 360.

The coinage of the Kings of Persis consists in individualized portraits of the rulers on the obverse, and often the rulers shown in a devotional role on the reverse, before a sacred edifice or a fire-alter. The style of the coins is often influenced by Parthian coinage, particularly in respect to the dress and the headgear of the rulers. A reverse legend in Aramaic, using the Aramaic script, gives the name of the ruler and his title ( mlk': King), and often his relationship to a preceding ruler. The coin legends are written from right to left, wrapping the central scene in a counterclock-wise manner.

the earliest coins have been assigned to Bagadates I, circ. B.C. 222(?). There are also coins of his successors, Oborzes, Artaxerxes I, Autophradates I, Darius I, Darius II, Oxathres, Artaxerxes II.

The following coins may also be noticed here, though their connection with Persis is not certain:—

Bearded bust r. in satrapal headdress.
Aramaic inscription.
[End of fourth century B.C.]
Quadriga r. driven by satrap whose head resembles the head on the obv. Aramaic inscription in exergue.
AV 135.9 grs.
Brit. Mus. [Head, B. M. Guide to Coins of Anc., Pl. XXVIII. 15; N. C., 1879, Pl. I. 2.]

The inscription has been variously read as Phahaspes, Phrataphernes, etc. Marquart (Corolla Num., p. 77) reads Vahshu Variur. The rev. is apparently suggested by a gold stater of Philip II of Macedon.

Aramaic inscription Head of Athena r. in helmet. Aramaic inscription Nike standing l. with wreath and palm.
AV 132.8 grs.
Brit. Mus., from Payne Knight Coll. [N. C., 1879. Pl. I. 3.]

1 The Sassanian coinage, mainly in silver, covers the whole period of Sassanian rule down to the Arab conquest of Persia, A.D. 651. (For bibliography see Vincent A. Smith, Catalogue of the Coins in the Indian Museum, Calcutta, Oxford, 1906, vol. i, pp. 219, 231. A rude imitation of a gold stater of Alexander the Great. Marquart ( l. c.) reads the rev. inscription Vahshuvar.

ANDRAGORAS.


FIG. 361

Bearded head r. wearing taenia (King, or Zeus?). (Fig. 361) ΑΝΔΡΑΓΟΡΟΥ (in ex.). Quadriga driven r. by Nike, who is accompanied by an armed warrior.
AV 131.9 grs.
[B. M. C., Greek and Scythic Kings, Pl. I. 1.]
Female head r., wearing turreted crown. ΑΝΔΡΑΓΟΡΟΥ Athena standing l., holding owl, and supporting spear and shield.
AR Attic tetradrachm 255.8 grs.
Brit. Mus. [Op. cit., Pl. I. 2.]

An Andragoras was made satrap of Parthia by Alexander the Great, circ. B.C. 331 (Justin, xii. 4). Another Andragoras, satrap of Parthia for Antiochus II, Theos, was overthrown by Arsaces I, circ. B.C. 250 (Justin, xli. 4). These coins may belong to one of those satraps. (For literature see B. M. C., Parthia, p. xxx n.)