THE

NUMISMATIC
CHRONICLE
AND

ROYAL

JOURNAL

OF

NUMISMATIC

THE
SOCIETY

Edited by
JOHN WALKER
F.S.A.
C.B.E.,
D.HTT.,F.B.A.,
M.A.,
Museum
Keeper
ofCoins
, British
E. S. G. ROBINSON
F.S.A.
M.A.,
D.LITT.,F.B.A.,
C.B.E.,
and
C. H. V. SUTHERLAND
D.LITT.,F.S.A.
M.A.,
Museum
ofCoins
, Ashmolean
Keeper
SEVENTHSERIES
VolumeIII

LONDON
THE

ROYAL

NUMISMATIC
1963

SOCIETY

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A SASANIAN

HOARD
FROM
By A. D. H. BIVAR

HILLA

[SEEPLATESXVI,XVll]
THE FIND
The hoard of Sasanian coins describedin thepresentnote has been
of Mr. JohnHansmanof
preservedforrecordingthroughtheefforts
theKhuzistanDevelopmentService,in southernIran.The coinswere

Fig. 1.
fragile1
purchasedby him theirconditionbeing thenextremely
froman Iraqi dealerwho statedthattheyhad been foundat Hilla,
whichis themoderntowncloseto thesiteofancientBabylon,in Iraq.
ofvendorsareto
statements
It goes withoutsayingthattheunverified
be receivedwithcaution.In the presentcase, however,the contents
Moreoverthereseems
thisstatement.
ofthefindin no waycontradict
and thevendor'saccount
to be no possiblemotiveforprevarication,
need not be regardedas untrustworthy.
1 Fewofthecoinswere
ofa large
when
first
seen.Cleaning
partofthehoard
legible
ofMr.H.W.M.
thesupervision
under
attheInstitute^of
wasundertaken
Archaeology
at theDepartment
of
wascleaned
byMr.K. A. Howes,
portion
Hodges;another
British
Museum.
CoinsandMedals,

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158

A. D. H. BIVAR

It enhancestheinterestof thefindthatthedate of depositcan be

verycloselyfixed,and also thatthe coins wererecoveredcomplete
withtheiroriginalcontainer,thesmallglazedjar, unbrokenand complete withlid, illustratedin figs.1 and 2.1 Closely dated Sasanian

Fig.2.
potteryis decidedlyrare,and so it is hoped thatpublicationof this
examplemaybe helpfulto excavatorsconcernedwithsuchmaterial.
I am grateful
to theowner,Mr. Hansman,forentrusting
me withthe
of
the
and
to
Dr.
John
of
the
publication
find;
Walker,
Department
of Coins and Medals at the BritishMuseum,not onlyforeffecting
our introduction,
but also forhis advice on manypointsof method
and readingduringmyexaminationof thecoins.
All of thecoins are silverdrachmae,and withone exceptionthey
are issuesof the Sasanian dynastyof Iran. The exceptionbelongsto
1 Forthedrawing
I amobliged
toDr.F. R. Allchin.

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A SASANIAN HOARD FROM HILLA

159

one of the Hephthaliteprincesof easternIran, a rulerbetterknown

forhiscoin seriesof east Iranianfabric,of whichspecimensare very
crownis surmountedby the effigy
of
common.1His characteristic
a water-buffalo's
head, and his name, legible on the easternseries
but wantingon the presentexample,is givenin Pahlavi scriptas
ofthisnamewiththoseofHephthaNpkyMLK' The correspondence
literulersknownfromhistoricalsources2and its owner'shistorical
role are stillfarfromclear.The presentfindhelps,none theless,to
reinforcethe beliefthat Npky MLK ' was one of the Hephthalite
princes;thatis to say, a rulerof thatgroup of Huns dominantin
easternIran duringtheperiodof theSasanian kingsPeroz(a.D. 45784), Balash (a.D. 484-8), and Kavadh I (a.D. 488-531).Now coins of
'
NpkyMLK in the Sasanian fabric(as opposed to the entirelydifferentfabric characteristicof Afghanistan)are decidedlyscarce.
Therefore,
althoughthepresentspecimenbearsno legibledesignation
of mint,it is a welcomeadditionto thescantymaterialon thisruler.
Apartfromthisisolatednon-Sasaniancoin, the hoard represents
the Sasanian rulersPeroz, Kavadh I, Khosrau I, and Hormizd IV
(a.D. 579-90). Thereis onlya singlecertainpiece of thislast ruler,
no. 60, and it bears theregnaldate 'HDY '(Year) one'. Beingwith
one possibleexceptionthelatestcoin in the hoard,it demonstrates
neatlyenoughthatthe depositwas put away veryshortlyafterthe
firstyearof HormizdIV, i.e. A.D. 579. No. 61 is possibly,ifnotquite
certainly,a piece of the same ruler'sfourthyear,A.D. 583. If this
is accepted,it providesthe earliestpossibledate forthe
attribution
deposit.
One ofthechiefproblemsofthelaterSasaniancoinage,and one to
whichthepresentnote mustdevotesome space,is theidentification
of themint-monograms
whichthecoins bear on theright-hand
side
of the reverse.Thesemonogramsrepresentthe names of mint-cities
in abbreviatedform,but theirinterpretation
is not alwaysstraightthe
contributions
to
their
made by
forward,despite
understanding
a numberof writers.3
It is a criterionof correctinterpretation
of
*Coinsofthelater
1 Cf.A.Cunningham,
NC1894,
267:pl.XII,2.
Indo-Scythians',
2 Itispossible
toconstruct
thefollowing
:
table
provisional
dynastic
Toramana
Mihirakula
, i,293)
(Rajatarangini
Khingila
i,346)
Narendraditya
(Rajatarangini,
Lakhana
inRajatarangini
Udayaditya
(butcalledNarendraditya
iii,383)
3 A. D.Purvaditya
derMnzen
mitPehlevi-Legenden
Mordtmann,
'Erklrung
' ZDMGviii,
373-496
andNachtrag
1854,1-209;xii,1858,1-57;xix,1865,
, 679,wasthepioneer

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160

A. D. H. BIVAR

the monogramsthattheirdecipherment
should resultin the actual
Sasanian names of citiesexistingin the period- citiesof sufficient
to possess mints,suchas headquarters
consequenceadministratively
towns of provinceand kra. Many of the fancifulinterpretations
whichonce held the fieldare thusruledout. The carefulpublication
of a range of hoards of establishedoriginwill help to extendthe
sincein anypartoftheSasanian
numberofconfirmed
interpretations,
local
mintsshouldnaturallytendto
empirethe issues of important
fewSasanian hoardshave in factbeen
predominate.Comparatively
recordedup to the presenttime.1For thisreasonthepresentcontributionis to some extentexploratory.As materialis accumulated,
and the jigsaw begins to take shape, the location of the obscurer
mintswill tend to be clarified,and more extensiveconclusionscan
be expectedto emerge.
One of the problemsin cataloguinga findof Sasanian coins is to
devisea systematic
sequenceof the mints.Since neitherthe reading
northeiridentification
ofthemint-monograms
is generallyagreed,it
is not possibleto lay down a definitive
alphabeticalor geographical
The only escape fromthis difficulty
is to followthe
arrangement.
procedureused in the studyof Book-Pahlavi;to arrangethemonogramsin theorderoftheSemiticalphabet,but so that,wheretwo or
moreof the originalSemiticcharactersare represented
by the same
thisambiguousformis placed underthefirstof
Pahlavi letter-form,
its possible values. The resultingalphabeticalorder,used in the
catalogue below, approximatesto that of H. S. Nyberg in the
desPehevi.However,sincethenumismatic
Glossaryto his Hilfsbuch
Sasanian
Coins
F. D. J.Paruck,
butnot
, Bombay
1924,gavea complete
attempt.
E.Herzfeld,
ofreadings
'NotesontheAchaemenid
critical
uptohistime.
survey
always
TINC1936
first
andsomeSasanian
utilized
theevidence
mint-names',
,413-26,
coinage
bullae.
Several
newidentifications
madebyJ.Walker,
A Catalogue
oftheSasanian
of
Museum
intheBritish
Coins
coins
theMuhammadan
, i: Arab-Sassanian
, apply
equally
R.Bellinger,
'A NoteontheSasanian
Alfred
series.
Mint
totheSasanian
monograms',
animportant
contributed
Review
further
Numismatic
discussed
1946,
48,
identification,
*
R.Gobi,Aufbau
derMnzprgungen'
inFranzAltheim
andRuth
onp.165below.
Staat
a handy
contributed
Einasiatischer
of
, Wiesbaden,
1954,
51-128,
Stiehl,
survey
ofthemint-monograms
isnotalways
buthistreatment
thesubject,
uptodate.Seealso
derSasaniden
imKniglichen
DieMnzen
thesamewriter's
Mnzkabinett
Haag, The
1962.
Hague
1 Oneofthebestknown,
ofTepeMarinjan,
doesnotraise
thequestion
ofmint4Lethat
Trsor
deTepeMaranjan',
inR. Curiel
andD. Schlum(R. Curiel,
monograms
Afghanistan,
A hoardofverysimilar
montaires
Trsors
1953,103-30).
berger,
herewaslisted
tothatconsidered
byMrs.Malikzdeh
Bayn,
composition
'Tafoqq
Ssn'Majalleh-yi
iiiandiv,
sado bisto nuhsikkeh-yi
Bstnshins
darbreh-yi
inthevicinity
ofSr,Mazandarn
27-32.Found
itisinterestProvince,
Tehrn,
1338,
'M (for
andGW(Gurgn),
itcontains
coinsofmint-marks
notpresent
Amul)
ingsince
find.
inourownmore
westerly

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A SASANIAN HOARD FROM HILLA

161

-u (alep) fromjv (het),

Pahlavi of our periodgenerallydistinguishes
the latteris hereallowed to retainits normalplace in the orderof
mintthe Semiticalphabet.It now seemscustomaryto transliterate
monogramsin capitals,a practiceotherwisereservedfortheAramaic
of Pahlavi.Althoughonlyone ofthe
ideogramsin thetransliteration
monogramsis actuallyan Aramaic ideogram,the monogramsparfollowedthe
take of the natureof ideograms,and I have therefore
themby capitals.
practiceof representing
MINT

NOTES1
I

Proposedreading:'B
Abarshahr
Proposedidentification:
Catalogue no. 7.
Abarshahrin Khorasan,the citynow knownas Nishapur,is the
of thismonogram,and seemsunobjectiontraditionalinterpretation
is
able.2 It would be possibleto read 'Y, but Ern-Khurra-Shpr
for
at
IV
below.
It
be
to
accounted
already
might possible bring
into the reckoning,3
and therewereindeed
Ern-sn-kard-Kavdh
But strongerevidence
otherSasanian names beginningsimilarly.4
would be needed to displace a recognizedmint,even thoughits
situationis ratherremote.
II
'W
U! Proposedreading:
*Hormizd-Ardashir
(Ahvaz)
Proposedidentification:
nos.
and
10.
8, 9,
Catalogue
This monogramis sometimestakenas a variantof Uli ('RT),
confidentlyattributableto Ardashir-Khurra(now Firuzabad) in
Fars. At thesame time,apparentlypointlessvariationsin themonogramof a singlemintare notveryacceptable,and otherpossibilities
The letterscould be read 'W, whichformthe
are worthconsidering.
initiallettersof theword' whlmzdy
(Ohrmizd),and could thusrepresenta place-namebeginningwiththiselement.In thecontextof the
by as many as threecoins would be
presenthoard representation
feasibleforHormizd-Ardashir
(nearbySusa has four),but thereare
variousotherpossibilities.
1 Definitely
aremarked
with
anasterisk
doubtful
attributions
(*).
* Paruck,
85.
Sasanian
coins
, 130.Gobi,'Aufbau',
4Achaemenid
8 Herzfeld,
420.
andSasanian
Mint-names',
Coinage
4 Seven
Ernahr
somepossible
arelisted
, 330,with
duplication.
byJ.Marquart,
C 1987
M

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162

A. D. H. BIVAR
III

bX'i Proposedreading:'RT
: Ardashir-Khurra
Proposedidentification
Catalogue no. 11.
The monogramis traditionally,
attributed
to
and no doubtrightly,
the well-knowndistrictin Fars, the headquarterscityof whichwas
knownas Gr and subsequentlyFiruzabad.
IV
"</'U Proposedreading:'HM
Hamadan
Proposedidentification:
Catalogue nos. 12 and 13.
of thismonogram
All authoritieshavingacceptedthe attribution
as indicating
Hamadan in Media, itmaybe regardedas beingbeyond
doubt.
V

|*iui Reading: 'YL'N

Identification:
(forSusa)
rn-Khurra-Shapur
Catalogue nos. 14, 15, 16, 17.
of thismonogramto Susa in Khuzistanis demonThe attribution
stratedthanks to the discoveryof an inscribedbulla by Dr. R.
Ghirshman.1
VI
BY
Reading:
Identification:
Bishapur,in Fars
nos.
18, 19, 20, 60.
Catalogue
of thismintwas provedby an inscribedbulla
The identification
and thefull
on whichboththeabbreviation,
illustrated
by Herzfeld,2
are foundtogether.
spellingof thename (Byhpwhly)
-

VII
*BN
reading:
^ Proposed
Uncertain
Identification:
Catalogue no. 21, perhaps52.
1 'Cinqcampaignes
Revue
Assyriologie
Suse(1946-51)',
defouilles
xlvi,
1,1956,
in1936,
cf.*Achaemenid
known
toHerzfeld
wasinfactalready
6.Theidentification
hecitesnoevidence.
andSasanian
425,though
Mint-names',
Coinage
2 Herzfeld,
op.cit.418,fig.6.

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A SASANIAN HOARD FROM HILLA

163

Anotherdifficult
monogram,in respectof which it is hard to
Gobi's
identification
withBanjihir(Panjshlrin Afghanistan).
support
This place was not certainly
underSasanian controlin theperiodof
Khosrau I; and is excessivelyremotefromour find-spot.If the
read BN, thistendsto suggesta place-name
charactersare correctly
KXo
intheKarnamak1
as
1 j whichallowsof
occurring
'
thereadingBrt rthyr
withour mono, and coincidessatisfactorily
the evidenceforthisplace2is stillinadequate.
gram.Unfortunately
Apparentlyit lay in the Persian Gulf area, and was perhaps the
headquartersoftheSasanianprovincein Qatf,on theArabianshore.
An identification
is not justifiedin the absence of confirmatory
evidence.
VIII
*GB
Reading:
Uncertain
Identification:
nos.
: 22, 23, 24, 25.
Catalogue
is traditionally
read as ZR, and attributed
This mint-monogram
to Zaranj in Segistan.3The presentwriterfeelsthestrongest
doubtof
the existenceof any basis foreitherthe readingor the attribution.
The firstcharacterseemsindisputably
G, and could onlybe takenfor
Z if a corruptionis assumed. A mintknown fromthe reformed
of whichthe Sasanian equivalenthas not so far
Umayyadcurrency,
been recognized,is Jay,the twincityof Isfahan.4One possibilityis
thatthe presentmonogrammightsupplythisname. However,the
numberof coins seemsto be too largeto represent
a mintso remote
at Hilla, an argumentwhichappliesall the
fromour allegedfind-spot
more, of course,to Zaranj. The question should thereforebe left
evidence.
open pendingfurther
IX
-JtfReading: D'
: Drbgird(in Fars)
Identification
26 and 27.
nos.
Catalogue
Anotherwell-established
identification.
1 Krnmak-
Artakhshr-
66.
Ppakn
(ed.Nosherwn,
14,Section
Bombay,
1896),
2 Assembled
Ernahr
thecorrupt
forms
,42,whoresolves
byJ.Marquart,
given
by
i ^ r*.
TabariandHamzaas
*
8 e.g.Paruck,
Sasanian
Coins
93.
, 190;Gobi,Aufbau',
4 There
another
combination
ofletters
which
couldequally
is,however,
represent
seebelow,
p. 167.
Jay,

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164

A. D. H. BIVAR

X
*DYN'W
juyj Proposedreading:
: *Dinavar (in Media)
Proposedidentification
Catalogue no. 4.
The attribution
of thisratherproblematicmonogramto Dinavar
in Media is thatof Mordtman.1
Whateveritsexplanation,thismonooccurs
on
of
Kavadh
I and seemsto reflectsome
coins
gram
only
administrative
purelytemporary
arrangement.
XI
CI** Reading: HWC
*The provincialcapital of KhuziProposedidentification:
stan,perhapsJundai-Shapur
Catalogue nos. 28 and 29.
The readingof this monogrampresentslittledifficulty,
but the
leavesroomforconsiderablespeculation.
matterofitsinterpretation
Herzfeldsuggestedthat the abbreviationwas forXzistn-vr
,2
i.e. thelater Sq al-Ahwz,modernAhvaz, in Khuzistan.He was,
thatthistownwas normally
however,not unawareof the difficulty
knownin theSasanian periodas Hormizd-Ardashir;
it wouldnotbe
plausibleto maintainthata singletownwas at thesameperiodknown
names on the officialcoinage,althoughof
by two entirelydifferent
coursetheexistenceof parallelofficialand colloquial place-namesis
well known. A possible alternativeto Herzfeld'sview, therefore,
adopted here,is to regardthe monogramHWC as an
provisionally
example of the practiceof designatinga provincialcapital by the
name of the provinceas a whole. Justas the monogramSK(STN)
to designatethecapitalcityof Segistan,Zaranj, so
seemsfrequently
in thepresentinstancethe citydesignatedcould be Belabad/JundaiShapur,whichat least in theearlySasanian periodwas a royalresidence and also theprovincialcapital of Khuzistan.3
1 *Erklrung
. . .' ZDMGxix,1865,
derMnzen
402.Later,
hesuggested
however,
thealternative
ZDMG xxxiii,
DYW'N,cf. 'Zur Pehlevi-Miinzkunde
reading,
123.
1879,
2 4Achaemenid
andSasanian
TINC1936.425.
Coinage
Mint-names',
3 hrysn
'theprovincial
of Belbd',is named
as the
cyByVb'd,
headquarters
ofMani'slastimprisonment
in a Parthian
scene
Andreas
andHenning,
fragment,
4Mitteliranische
Manichaeica
ausChinesisch-Turkestan
III', SbPAWxxvii,
1934,16
C 27).
(frg.

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A SASANIAN HOARD FROM HILLA

165

XII
Reading: WH, WYH
Identification:
Veh-Ardashir
Catalogue nos. 30, 31, 32, 33/34,35, 36, 37.
The statisticalpredominanceof thismonogram(ifindeedthetwo
formsrepresenta singlemint)is a common featurein findsfrom
of theidentification
Mesopotamia.It providesa strongconfirmation
madebyA. R. Bellingerin 1946.1That is to say,themintrepresented
is one of thoseconnectedwiththeSasanian capitalof Ctesiphon.As
in Parthiantimes,thecity'schiefmintcould have stoodin theformer
knownto the
cityof Seleuciaon thewestbank of theriver,a district
Sasanians as Veh-Ardashir.Also in favour of this theoryis the
prominenceof thismonogramon Sasanian gold, whichwould issue
largelyfromthe capital. Yet it is worthyof remarkif two distinct
outlinesshould representa singlemint; and this calls for further
study.Note mustbe takenon theone hand of Gobi's suggestionthat
theshorterformof themonogramrepresents
theSasanian capitalof
Khuzistan,Belabad/Jundai-Shapur,
spelt in Middle Persian Why'
.2 On the otherhand, alternativespellingsof the
ndywk-hypwhry
name of Veh-Ardashirwere certainlycurrent,e.g. the variants
and Wh-lthtr
on bullae reproducedby Maricq.3Each
Wyh-lthtr
formofthemonogramcould represent
one ofthesespellings.Further
hoard evidencewill be requiredbeforethe identification
of these
monogramscan be finalized.
c

XIII
Reading: WLC
: Georgia
Proposedidentification
Catalogueno. 38.
This abbreviationappearsto represent
the Sasanian name forthe
provinceof Georgia in the Caucasus region,of whichthe Pahlavi
inscriptionsnow attestthe full spelling Wlwc'n,and the Greek
a.4 The name and situationof theprovincialcapital
equivalent'Irjpi
seemto be unattested
fortheSasanianperiod,butundertheUmayyad
*A NoteonSasanian
1 Alfred
R. Bellinger,
Numismatic
Review
Mint-monograms',
48.
1946,
2 4Aufbau',
85.FortheMPspelling
seeM.Sprengling,
Iran
Third
, 12,and
Century
pl.321.
deCtsiphon',
267-8.
'Vologesias,
xxxvi,
l'emporium
1959,
Syria
4 Cf.
M. Sprengling,
Iran
Third
, 12,1.30;47,1.12.Ibid.7,1.2and9,1.25
Century

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166

A. D. H. BIVAR

was Tifls.1The remotesituationof thismint

caliphatethemint-city
fromour find-spotat Hilla agreeswell withthe circumstance
of its
a
coin.
onlyby single
beingrepresented
XIV
L'M
iui Reading:
Identification:
Ram-Hormizd
Catalogue no. 39.
or any othercity name commencing
Ram-Ardashir,
Although
there
withthe same element,would presenttheoreticalalternatives,
is littledoubt thatRam-Hormizdin southernKhuzistanis the best
choiceforthismonogram.This townhas retaineditsSasanian name
downto thepresentday as Rm Hormuz.It was theheadquartersof
a kra, 'administrative
district',undertheArabs,and no doubtalso
under
the
Sasanians.
previously
XV
** Proposedreading:*LG
: Uncertain
Interpretation
no.
53.
Catalogue
This maybe no morethana blunderedversionof the succeeding
monogram,but the die is so sharplyengravedthatit seemsbest to
listit as a separateitem,in case otherexampleseventuallycome to
light.
XVI
LD
3^ Reading:
: Ray (in easternMedia)
Interpretation
nos.
40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, possibly53.
Catalogue
of thesemonogramsis due to Herzfeld.2By some
The attribution
writersthe two formsare regardedas graphicvariants.The full
Sasanian spellingforthiscityis Ldy? Some notemustbe takenofthe
a distinctmint,since
possibilitythatthe secondformmayrepresent
atp.73,1.3.Gobi,*Aufbau',
occurs
TheGreek
Wyrrt.
orthography,
givetheParthian
*
imN oderO desReichs'.
but
vermutlich
did
this
not
localize
mint, saysunsicher,
93,
1 Cf.BMCMii {Arablxxvi.
andpost-reform
coins),
Umaiyad
Byzantine
2 C. G. Miles,A Numismatic
Numismatic
Society:
History
ofRayy(American
ofthedecipherment.
thefullhistory
Studies
no.2) 1-4,gives
Numismatic
8 Attested
a
of
no.
drachma
Sasanian
also
oncoins,
coins
,
e.g.Paruck,
pl.v, 129;
II inmypersonal
Hormizd
collection.
v jA

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A SASANIAN HOARD FROM HILLA

167

it could standequallyforGdy, a Sasanian spellingof the city-name

If two mintswereinvolved
Jayattestedin the Pahlavi inscriptions.1
thismighthelpto explaintheunusuallylargenumberofcoinsin this
group. On the other hand the heavy preponderanceof coins of
Madnat al-Salm (Bagdad) and al-Muhammadya(Ray) in findsof
the'Abbsid periodcould wellrepresent
an economicpatterncarried
downfromSasaniantimes,whenthedominantmintsmayhave been
Veh-Ardashirand Ray. It seemsbest,therefore,
forthe presentto
the
two
forms
thus
together,
place
followingthe exampleof Miles;
and at thesametimeto bear in mindthepossibility
thattwo distinct
mintsmaybe hereinvolved.
XVII
Hi Proposedreading:*LYN
Uncertain
Proposedidentification:
Catalogue no. 46.
Thisis a monogramwhich,thoughpoorlystruckon thisspecimen,
seemsto coincidewithone well represented
in findsfromnorthern
ofKirkukand Arbil.Bothreading
Iraq- thatis to say,in thevicinity
and interpretation
are, however,stillextremely
uncertain,and evidenceforthe Sasanian city-names
of thisarea is ratherscanty.The
elucidationof thismonogrammusttherefore
await a further
find.
XVIII
ML
Reading:
Identification:
Marv
no.
47.
Catalogue
ThoughMY forMys'n (Mshn) has been suggestedas a possible
themostsatisfactory
identification
forthismonogramis
alternative,
thatwithMarv,in Khurasan.2Once more,theremotesituationofthe
proposedmintis in keepingwithits representation
by onlya single
coin.
XIX
1a> Reading: SK
Identification:
Provinceof Segistn/Sstn,
no doubt often
theprovincialcapital of Zaranj.
representing
Catalogueno. 48.
1 M. Sprengling,
op.cit.p. 12,1.33.
2 A fuller
formof thisPahlavimonogram
dirhams
of
appearson Umayyad
Marvofthereformed
cf.BMCMii (Arabandpost-reform
series,
Byzantine
Umaiyad
179.
coins),

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168

A. D. H. BIVAR

The attribution
is due to Walker.1It is confirmed
by a drachmaof
Bahram I in the Paruck Collectionat Delhi,2whichexpands the
abbreviationto Skstn,as also do drachmaeofShapurII publishedby
the late J. M. Unvala.3As often,the only outstandingissue is the
withintheprovince.
precisesituationof themint-city
XX
pfcJ Reading: ST
Identification
: Istakhr(in Fars)
Catalogue nos. 49, 50.
was proposed many years ago by
The correct identification
Olshausen,4and has metwithgeneralacceptance.
XXI
PL
Proposedreading:
: Furt-Maisn(-Mshn)
Proposedidentification
nos.
52.
51,
Catalogue
is thatof Herzfeld,5
to correspondwithal-Furt,
The attribution
whichappearson coinsofthereformed
Umayyadseries.It is perhaps
the
Sasanian
to thesamemint
certain
that
notquite
monogramrefers
is
not
in
but the suggestion
lacking probability.
TABLE SHOWING

DISTRIBUTION

BY PROVINCES

Note: Conjectural
attributions
are markedwithan asterisk
(*)
Province
Asuristan

Mint
Veh-Ardashir

Khuzistan

HWC,perhaps
Belabad/
Jundai-Shapur
*Hormizd-Ardashir
8,9, 10
12,13,14,15
Susa/Eran-Khurra-Shapur
39
RamHormizd
*Furt-Mshn
51,52

Mshn

Nos.
Catalogue
*30,*31,*32,33,34,35,
36,37.
28,29.

1 BMCM i (Arab-Sassanian
cxxix.
coins),
4Observations
a F. D. J.Paruck,
RN1936,
surcinqmonnaies
71-86.
sassanides',
8 'SomerareSasanian
147-50.
andArab-Sasanian
coins',NC 1957,
4 'Auszge
ZDMGii,1848,
115.
ausBriefen
desDr.Mordtmann',
6 4Achaemenid
andSasanian
TINC1936
Mint-names',
, 425.
Coinage

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A SASANIAN HOARD FROM HILLA

Province
Media

Mint

169

Nos.
Catalogue
41
40, , 42,43,44,45,*53
16,17
3

Ray
Hamadan
Dinavar
(seealso*GBbelow)
Fars
18,19,20,60
Bishapur
Istakhr
5,49,50
26,27
Darabgird
11
Ardashir-Khurra
47
Khurasan
Marv
7
*Abarshahr
Sistan
48
SK(stn)presumably
representingprovincial
capital,
Zaranj
38
WLC,presumably
representGeorgia
ingtheprovincial
capital
55
Uncertain
Provinces*BN
21,perhaps
*GB
22,23,24,25
53
*LG
LYN
46
STATISTICAL AND GENERALCONCLUSIONS

It willbe seenthatthemintwhichaccountsforthelargestnumber
ofpiecesin thehoardis themetropolitan
with
mintofVeh-Ardashir,
If
in
the
hoard
came
from
as
fact
Hilla, stated,this
eightspecimens.
is entirely
as we shouldexpect.The nextlargestgroupis thatof Ray.
Thereis some doubthere,sincea variantformof themonogramso
attributed
may actuallybelongto Jay(Isfahan). Ray was,however,
an importanteconomiccentrein the 'Abbsid period,and its prominencealso in thetimeof KhosrauI is understandable
enough.The
uncertainminthereread as *GB is represented
by no less thanfour
coins. In view of the distance,it is scarcelycrediblethatthe 'traditional' identification
of thismonogramwithZaranj in Slstncan be
correct.This viewwas alreadysuspecton epigraphicgrounds,but it
is not easy to replaceit withthe correctidentification.
Susa is also
four
a
number
the
coins,
by
represented
emphasizing commercial
of
so
that
even
at
late
a
date.
It was never,indeed,the
city
importance
Sasanian administrative
of
capital Khuzistan,perhapsowing to a
traditionof separatismwhichlongprevailedamongstitspopulation,
but it seemsto have been a prolificmint.Bishapuris likewiserepresentedby fourcoins,and thepossible *Hormizd-Ardashir
by three,
as is also Istakhr.Sincethefirstwas a provincialheadquartersin this

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170

A. D. H. BIVAR

period,and also the closesttownin Fars, its prominenceis understandable.Uncertainties

thesecondplaceexcludeitfrom
surrounding
discussion.Istakhrwas of course one of the greatestcitiesof Fars,
a provincewhichcan be seento have playeda prominent
partin the
of
to
the
Sasanian
supply coinage
empire.
The more weaklyrepresented
mintsindicate,for the most part,
eitherremotecities,or someoftheminorcommercialcentres.In each
case thedistribution
ofthealleged
thecorrectness
appearsto confirm
since
is
the coins
a
that
strongimpression conveyed
find-spot,
were put away at a point close to the intersectionof two great
routes,the one leadingfromCtesiphonvia Hamadan and Ray to
Khurasan, while the second ran once more from Ctesiphon via
the citiesof Khuzistanto Fars and Sstn. The appearanceof the
monogramof Georgia,apparentlysomewhatrare,is an interesting
feature.
More elaboratestatisticalconclusionscan hardlybe drawnfrom
thedistribution
of monogramsin a singlehoardof modestsize. It is,
when
a
substantialnumberofsuchhoardsare recordedand
however,
that
the
obscurermonogramscan be expectedto fallinto
published
A
which has inhibitedthe recordingof Sasanian
place.
difficulty
from
theirveryvolume,is the problemof devisinga
hoards,apart
meaningful
sequenceforlistingthesecoins,whenboth the readings
and theinterpretations
oftheirmonogramsareso oftenproblematical.
The purposeof thepresentnoteis to emphasizethatit is possibleto
devisean interimsolutionto thisproblem.This,thoughadmittedly
to some extentimperfect,since any method of classifyingcoinis
legendswhen these are blunderedor of doubtfulinterpretation
bound to have deficiencies,
may provide some encouragementto
thosefacedwiththe task of listingfindsof Sasanian silvercoins. It
is probable that the studyof the Sasanian mint-monograms
has
reachedthe limitof progresson purelytheoreticallines of inquiry.
The theoreticalconclusionscan now be veryusefullysupplemented
bydeductionsfromthecompositionofhoards.Thesecan oftenassist
in determining
suchquestionsas whethera mintwas situatedin the
fareast or theextremewestoftheSasanian empire,and theevidence
of hoards is naturallymuch strengthened
when it can be applied
None
the
the
evidence
of
thepresenthoardalone
less,
cumulatively.
seems sufficient
to invalidatethe traditionalidentification
of the
now
read
as
*GB
with
in
and
with
that
monogram
Zaranj Sstn,
read BN withPanjshlr,also in Afghanistan.

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A SASANIAN HOARD FROM HILLA

171

Thereis a pointof numismaticinterestwhicharisesin connexion

withtwo of thecoinslistedin thepresentfind,nos. 8 and 46. This is
theappearanceat 6 o'clock in thereversemarginofgroupsofpellets.
In the firstexamplethereare two, and in the second four,pellets.
The occurenceof these pellets,in varyingnumbers,has been recordedby otherwriters.1
Theyare not confinedto theissuesof any
one mint,norto thoseof any one year,and theircomparativerarity
makes it unlikelythattheyconstituteda routinesystemof officina
marks,since parallel officinaewould tend to issue approximately
have to be
equal volumesof coinage. More evidencewill therefore
collectedbeforethesignificance
ofthesedie-markings
becomesclear.
Besidesthecoins,thereweretwo otherobjectsin thehoardwhich
call fora briefnotice.One is thefoldedstripof silver,item62 in the
catalogue,whichweighs53*14gm. and measures2-1 inchesby 2-1
inchesoverall.Unhappilyitbearsno inscription
or otherdistinguishingmark[Pl. XVII. 62]. The seconditemis theshallowjar in which
the hoard is reportedto have been found,and which,as already
mentioned,was purchasedwithit by Mr. Hansman [figs.1 and 2].
It measures5f by 2f inches,and bears extensivetracesof a bluegreenglaze upon the inside.The outsidemay also once have been
similarlyglazed. If so, the glaze has theredisintegrated
throughthe
effects
of corrosion,exposingthebufffabricof thepottery.Indentations inside thejar, and also on the inside of the lid, indicatethe
points of attachmentof the three-armedearthenwarespacers by
meansof whichthejars werestackedone upon anotherin the kiln.
These spacersare extremely
commonfindsin thevicinityof ancient
kilnsin Iraq, sincewhenfiring
was completetheyservedno purpose
and had to be thrownaway.
We have seenthatthehoard musthave been put away in or soon
afterthe fourthyear of HormizdIV (a.D. 583). It is of quite small
size, and thereis no need to postulateany far-reaching
political
reason, of war or public disorder,for example,to account for its
abandonment.It may be taken as the savingsof some relatively
humbleperson,a peasantor smalltrader,hidden,probablyenough,
forreasonsofa personalnature,and neverreclaimed.The soil ofthe
Middle East mustconceal thousands,if not millions,of such deposits, each evidence of some unrecordedindividual hazard or
tragedy.
1 J.de Morgan
in Bab.Trait
iii (Monnaies
orientales
i, 3; Dynastie
sassanide),
17and18.
23;lxviii,
pl.lxvii,

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172

No.

A. D. H. BIVAR
Size
Wt.

CATALOGUE

OF COINS

Obverse

Reverse

Hephthalites
1

MLK' (?contemporary
ofKhosrau
I)
Npky
r.wearing
1-2 Headofking,
between
twoguardians.
wingedFire-altar
3-67
crown
Uncertain
surmounted
to r.,
bybuffalo's
inscriptions:
head,and withdiadem-tiesblundered;
toi., *
behind
from
shoulstreaming
facecV GDH
ders.Before
*glory'.
Outside
border,
single
PI.XVI.
at3,6,and9 o'clock.
crescents
Sasanians

Peroz(a.D.459-84)
between
twoguardians,
108 Headof king,r.,wearing
first,Fire-altar
bodiesunnaturally
crown
3-44
elon342). their
(asParuck
wingless
head.Crescent
on gatedandreduced
Starbehind
to double
Beforeface, lineofdots,
each shoulder.
fromoutsidedown-Tor.,(mint)
iJL)
reading
Phl,inscr.
wards,
Pyriyvc). To 1.,(date)obscure.
PI.XVI.
Symbols.
I (a.D.488-531)
Kavadh
With
reverse
border
c/a).
single
(' Aufbau'
M
Head of king,r. Beforeface,Fire-altar
between
twoguardians,
Kw't'pzwn(y).
insingle
border.
3-59
To r.,(mint) ^
Symbols:
wI w
To 1.,(date)<j>)dh.
(17)
Margins: *
v
v
With
double
reverse
border
(4Aufbau'
c/).

11
Head of king,r. Before
between
twoguardians,
face,Fire-altar
3-0
obscured.
indouble
border.
legend
Broken Symbols:
Tor.,(mint)
seeMint*DYN'W,
w|(?)
noteX.
To 1-,(date)scsy.(33) Pl.XVI.
as no.3.
Margins:

11
Portion
of king'shead.'BeforeFire-altar
between
twoguardians,
Kw'tpzwny
1-II
Phl,legend,
. indouble
border.
face,
Tor.,(mint) onlypreserved.
Symbols:
Fragment
only pCseen.
1.,(date)
pncsy.
(35)
preserved.
)To

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A SASANIAN HOARD FROM HILLA

173

Size
Wt.
Obverse
Reverse
1-15 Head of king,r. Beforeface,Fire-altar
twoguardians,
between
double3-19
Phl,legend,
Kw't*pz[
indouble
border
(partly
3KI3C
Symbols:
struck).
wI(?)
To r.,(mint)
ST, see Mint-note
XX.
as no.3.
Margins:
To 1.,(date)sy.(36)
Khosrau
I (a.d.531-79)
4Aufbau'
fallinthecategory
(Allthecoinsofthisruler
c/y).
1-2 Bustofkingto r. Legends
twoguardians.
7
not Fire-altar
between
3-92
clearindetail.
I,
To r.,(mint)
'B,seeMint-note
Broken Margins:,
To 1.,(date)probably
(15)
pncdh.
%

No.
6

u
Similar
occur
Pl. XVI.
onallsubmargins
coinsofthisruler.
sequent
1-25 As above.Before
of Asabove.
face,traces
Phl,legend
3-35
II.
Tor.,(mint)
'W,seeMint-note
Hwslw[.
To 1.,(date)ptcl.
(47)
at6 o'clock.
twopellets
Margin:
Pl. XVI.

9 Fragment
Details
lost.
1-58

10
11

12

13
14

15

ofcoinonly
Right-hand
portion
with(mint)
'W,for
preserved,
II.
which
seeMint-note
: one pelletvisibleat
Margin
? second
6 o'clock;
lost.
Details
lost.
ofcoin
Fragment
Right-hand
portion
upper
0-93
with(mint),
onlypreserved,
II.
seeMint-note
'W,forwhich
1-3 Heavilycorrodedand indis-Fire-altar
between
twoguardians.
3-76
To r.,(mint)
tinguishable.
'RT,seeMint-note
Corroded
III.
To 1.,(date)dWcdh.
(12)
1*1 Bustofkingto r.; before
face,Aspreceding.
3*72
Phl,legend:
Behind,To r.,(mint)
wslwy.
'M,seeMint-note
IV.
*pzwn'
To 1.,(date)hpdh.
(17)PL XVI.
1-2 Areaheavily
and r. Aspreceding.
corroded,
3-10
'M.
margin
pierced
bycorrosion. To r.,(mint)
To 1.,(date)sy.(36)
1-2 Bustofkingto r.; before
face,Aspreceding.
3-64
Phl,
legend
behind,To r.,(mint)
:Hws[lw]y;
'YL'N,see MintnoteV.
*pzw[.
To 1.,(date)wysty.
(20)
PL XVI.
1-4 As preceding;
before
face,Phl. Aspreceding.
3*98
'YL'N.
legend:
Hwsl[.;
behind,
*pzw[' To r.,(mint)
To 1.,(date)nwcwyst.
(29)

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174

A. D. H. BIVAR

Size
No. Wt.
Obverse
16 1-2 Legends
anddetails
obscure.
3-80

Reverse
Aslast.
To r.,(mint)
'YL'N.
To 1.,dateuncertain.

17

1-2 Lower
ofroyal
withAslast.
bust,
portion
1-65
To r.,(mint)
'YL'N.
partofPhl,legend,
[w]slwy.
To 1.,datewanting.
Fragment
M
18
Bustofkingto r.; before
face,Aslast.
2-95
traces
ofking's
name.Behind,To r.,(mint)
BYS,seeMint-note
VI.
'pzwn.
To 1.,(date)chly.
(40)
Pl.XVI.
19

1*1 Aslast;'before
face,
; be- Aslast.
wslwy
3-67
.
BY.
To r.,(mint)
hind,pzwn
To 1.,(date)dw'chl.
(42)
20
1-1 Lower
ofroyal
bust.Be- Baseoffire-altar,
andright-hand
portion
2*53
fore
face,
Hwsl[.
guardian
only.v
BY.
To r.,(mint)
Fragment
To 1.,datewanting.
M
21
Bustofkingto r.; before
twoguardians.
between
face, Fire-altar
3-23
Phl,legend,
; behind,To r.,(mint)
*BN,seeMint-note
Hwslwy
VII.
*pzw[To 1.,(date)scsy.(33) Pl.XVI.
22

23

24
25

26

27

M
Areaheavily
encrusted.
BehindAslast.
3-56
To r., (mint)'JZJ~, perhaps
head,Phl,legend
'pzw[.
identical
with
number.
following
To 1.,(date)stdh.
(18)Pl.XVI.
1-1 Bustofkingto r.; before
face,Aslast.
3-57
Phl,legend,
; behind,To r.,(mint)
Hwslwy
*GB,seeMint-note
'
VIII.
'pzw[.
To 1.,(date)pnc[wyst
] (?25).
PI.XVI.
M
Areamuchencrusted,
butto r., Aslast.
3-19
*GB.
H]wslw[y
, and to 1.,'p[ are To r.,(mint)
To 1.,(date)
Broken legible.
pnchl.
(45)
1-1 Bustofkingto r.; before
face,Aslast.
1-85
*GB.
head,'pzwn.To r.,(mint)
wsl[andbehind
Corroded Coincorroded
above To 1.,(date)only-c-visible,
through
shoulder
ofking.
similar
tolast.
Perhaps
1-1 As last,butobverse
muchcor- Aslast.
3-81
roded
andobscure.
To r.,(mint)
D' seeMint-note
IX.
To 1.,(date)/cdh.(11)Pl.XVI.
1-1 Bustofkingto r.,in neatsmallAslast,with
someincrustation.
andwellpreserved.
Be- To r.,(mint)
D'
3-71
style,
foreface,Phl,legend
intact,To 1.,(date)hpdh.
(17)
jHwslwy.
Behindthe head,
also
intact.
'pzwn,

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A SASANIAN HOARD FROM HILLA

No.
28

29

30
31
32
33

34
35
36
37
38

39

175

Size
Obverse
Reverse
Wt.
twoguardians.
1-1 Bustof kingto r.; legends
not Fire-altar
between
3-53
clear,butbefore
face,Tor.,(mint)
HWC,seeMint-note
wholly
andbehind
head XI.
Hw[isvisible,
ThiscoinbrokeacrossTo 1.,(date)scwysty.
(23)
ypzw[.
andthepieces
PI. XVI.
during
cleaning,
havebeenjoinedtogether.
1-2
anddate.
Aslast,butareafinely
Aslast,including
mint
preserved,
2-79
notched.
though
margins
deeply
Broken Before
face,
, andbeHwslwy
'pzwrt
hind
allletters
head,
,with
clear.
1-2 Bustofking
tor.,butlegends
ob- Fire-altar
between
twoguardians.
To r.,(mint)
3-76
scure
Wl,seeMint-note
XII.
To 1.,(date)htdh.
(18)Pl. XVI.
ob- Aslast.
1-2 Bustofking
tor.,butlegends
and To r.,(mint)
scure.
Themargin
broken
2-33
WI1.
To 1.,(date)hst[wyst
Broken notched.
]. (? 28)
1-2 Bustof kingto r.,withdetailsAslast.
Beforeface,To r.,(mint)
wellpreserved.
3-98
WIJ.
. (31)
Phl,legend
Behind,To 1.,(date)yesy
Hwslwy.
PI. XVI.
notched.
'pzwy.
Margin
slightly
1-2 Bustofkingto r.,withdetailsAslast.
Before
3-49
face,To r., (mint)
WYI1,see Mintmostly
preserved.
Pahl.legend:
; behind, noteXII.
Hwslw[
broken,
'pzwn.Margin
upperTo 1.,(date)sy.(30) PI.XVI.
right.
Aslast.
1*2 Obverse
corroded.
heavily
WYH.
To r.,(mint)
2-23
To 1.,(date)chly.
Corroded
(40)
some-Aslast.
1-2 Bustofkingtor.;legends
WYH.
butbefore
face To r.,(mint)
whatobscure,
3-31
canbe madeout.UpperTo 1.,(date)pnchl.
Broken ]s/h>[
(45)
broken.
andleft
margin
M 5 Bustofkingto r.; before
face,Aslast.
WYH.
To 1., To r.,(mint)
3-02
usuallegend:Hwslw[.
To 1.,(date)notfully
Broken obscure.Upper right-hand
legible,
perbroken.
hapspnewyst.
(25)
margin
withadjabust.
ofroyal
0-7
Lower
Right-hand
guardian,
portion
cent(mint)inscription
1-12
only,
WYI1.
Fragment
Fire-altar
between
twoguardians.
butattribu1-2
Areabadly
encrusted,
I notindoubt.Tor.,(mint)
3-13
tiontoKhosrau
WLC,seeMint-note
XIII.
To 1.,(date)chichi.
(44)
Pl.XVI.
twoguardians.
between
1-2
Bustofkingto r.; before
face,Firealtar
3-72
Phl,legendHws[
L'M,seeMint-note
; behindTo r.,(mint)
'
XIV.
'pzw[.
To 1.,(date)illegible.
Pl.XVII.

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176
No.
40

41

42

43
44
45
46

47

48

49

50

51

A. D. H. BI VAR

Size
Reverse
Wt.
Obverse
between
twoguardians.
M
Bustofkingto r.; before
face, Fire-altar
To r., (mint)OJ perhaps
3-53
Phl,
definitely
legend
wslwdy.
similar
tothose
Behind,
*pzw[.
following.
To 1.,(date)ST. (6) Pl.XVII.
115 Bustofkingto r.; before
face,Aslast.
311
usuallegend:
Behind,To r.,(mint)
LD, seeMint-note
wslwy.
Broken *pzw[. Right-hand
margin XVI.
To 1.,(date)dw*cwyst.
broken
(22)
away.
inscr.
tor.obscured.Aslast.
1-1 Aslast,but
.
Tor.,(mint)-see
ofthis
discussion
3-36
To 1.,'pzwn
inMint-note
XVI.
monogram
To 1.,(date)nwcwyst.
(29)
Pl.XVII.
As
last.
butlegends
1-15 Usualobverse
type,
Tor.(mint)
asno.42.
3*62
obscured.
monogram
badly
To 1.,(date)clsy.
(34)
and Aslast.
1-1 Obverse
corroded,
heavily
To r.(mint)
asno.42.
1-62
broken.
monogram
margins
To 1.,(date)chlsy.
Broken
(34)
ob- To r.,(mint)
1-2 Bustof kingto r.; legends
LD, seeMint-note
head'/?[. XVI.
behind
scured
3-60
except
To 1.,(date)hptsy.
(37)Pl. XVII.
ob- Aslast.
1-2 Usualobverse
type.
Legends
behind
head: ]zw[. Tor.,(mint)
discussed
3-61
monogram
scure,
except
XVII.
notched. inMint-note
left-hand
Broken Upper
margin
To 1.,(date)clsy.
(34)
In margin
at 6 o'clock,4 pelPl. XVII.
lets.
between
twoguardians.
and detailsFire-altar
1-17 Obverseencrusted
To r.,(mint)
3-79
obscure.
ML,seeMint-note
XVIII.
To1.,(date)csy.
(34)Pl. XVII.
11
Bustofkingto r.; before
face,Aslast.
Phl,legend:
2-86
Behind,To r.,(mint)
SK, seeMint-note
wslwy.
broken. XIX.
. Lower
Broken *pzw[
margin
To1.,(date)sy.
(36)Pl. XVII.
As
but
last.
somewhat
1-15 Obverse
abraded,
faceof kingHws![; To r.,(mint),
before
2-57
ST,seeMint-note
XX.
head'pzwn.
behind
To 1.,(date)hptcl.
(47)
well Fire-altar with right-hand
ofroyal
1-2 Lower
bust,
portion
2-33
King'snamewant- guardian.
preserved.
ST.
Fragmenting,saveforfinal]y; behindTor.,(mint)
To 1.,datewanting.
head'pzwn
preserved.
twoguardians.
between
alldetailsFire-altar
tor.,with
Bustofking
M
Beforeface,To r.,(mint),
wellpreserved.
3-77
PL,seeMint-note
be- XXI.
Phl,legend:Hw[s]lwy;
To 1.,(date)ftpdh.
(17)
hind,
'pzwn.

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A SASANIAN HOARD FROM HILLA

No.
52

53

54
55

56
57
58
59

60

177

Size
Obverse
Wt.
Reverse
well Aslast.
1-2
Bustofking
tor.,with
details
Before
PL.
3-26
face,Phl. To r.,(mint)
preserved.
to 1. To 1.,(date)sc.sy.
Broken legend:
Legend
wslwy.
(33) PI. XVII.
and
Left-hand
wanting.
margin
partofareabroken.

anddoubtful
coins
I
Fragmentary
ofKhosrau
1*1 Bustofkingto r.; before
between
twoguardians.
face,Fire-altar
Pahlavilegend:jHwslwy.
3-48
Be- To r.(mint)
*LG,seeMint-note
XV.
obscure.
hind,
To 1.,(date)blundered,
perhaps
Pl. XVII.
hptwyst.
(27)
mar-Heavilycorroded,
1*15 Obverse
and legends
corroded;
heavily
1-51
obscure.
gin and area brokenand wholly
Fragmentnotched.
butcoinde- Fire-altar
1-2 Obverse
between
twoguardians.
corroded,
Tor.(mint)
2-17
ofKhosrau
I.
uncertain
finitely
monogram,
'B orY.
Corroded
To 1.,(date)cly.
(40)
1-15 Bustofkingto r.; before
face,Aslast.
2-43
Phl,legend:
. behind,To r.,(mint)
uncertain.
Hw[sl.
To 1.,(date)incomplete.
.
*pzw[
Fragments
1-05 Upperpartof crown,
withr., Left-hand
and date,
guardian
2-20
hpdh
Hw[s and1.,'p[ .
(17)only.
Fragment
M
guardianand date,
Upperpart of crownmuchLeft-hand
Tracesof*p[.
1-39
corroded.
y'cchl
(41)only.
Fragment
1-05 Upper
with
and date,
guardian,
partofcrown,
legendLeft-hand
1-55
tor.,ws[.
clchl
(44)only.
Fragment
Hormizd
IV (a.d.579-590)
between
twoguardians.
1-2 Bustofkingto r.; before
face,Fire-altar
Phl,legend:
Mar- To r.,(mint)
3-84
BY,seeMint-note
*whl[mzdy.
VI.
gins:
'HE>Y.(1) Pl.XVII.
To (date>
V*

V
Area Fire-altar
corroded.
twoguardians.
1-15 Obverse
between
heavily
andlower
twice
2-54
marginTo r.(mint)
pierced,
uncertain.
*-''U
/j , '
Corroded notched.The characteristic
>,
/a' di
rp
l> (date)
LB
'
To
XVIL
Pl"yvit
(4)
decorations
of this
marginal
be distinguished.
rulercannot
Thecalligraphy
ofthereverse
nonethelessseems
tonecessitatethisattribution.
C 1987
N

61

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A. D. H. BIVAR

178
No.
62
63

Size
Wt.

Other
objects
in thelaboratory.
It is ofirregular
2-1sq. Foldedsheetofsilver,
opened
ordesign.
Pl.XVII.
53-14
andbearsnoinscription
shape,
ofblue-green
traces
51X2| Earthenware
lid,bearing
jarwith
glazeoninside.
(SeeFigs.1 and2.)

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NUM. CHRON. 1963, PL. XVI

SASANIANHOARD FROM HILLA(i)

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

NUM. CHRON. 1963,PL. XVII

SASANIAN
HOARD FROM HILLA (2)

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