Sasanian Empire/Kavad II - Ardashir III

k a v a d  I I  -  a r d a s h i r  I I I

k h u s r o  I I I

Kavad II

Shiroe, a son of Khusro II, was proclaimed king as Kavad II on the death of his father in the spring of 628 AD. He died in about September, either from the Plague or from being poisoned. As part of a peace agreement with the Byzantine emperor Heraclius, Kavad returned the True Cross (taken by his father from Jerusalem in 614). Pieces of it are still being sold today on eBay...

Denominations: d

Kavad II's coinage is known from 17 mints: AHM, ART, AT, AY, AYL, AYLAN, BYSh, DA, GD, LD, MY, NY, ShY, ST, WH, WYHC, and WLGW (?). The mints AW, BN, GW, LYW, T, WYH, and YZ are cited but are subject to confirmation.

Gobl I/1 issue: Year 2

168k JPG
Kavad II (628 AD)
AR Drachm
Mint: AYLAN
Regnal year: 2
31 mm.
4.10 gm.
Gobl SN I/1
Diameter of obverse dotted border=21 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=9h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.

[Kavad II] 23k JPG
Kavad II (628 AD)
AR Drachm
628 AD
Mint: AYLAN
Regnal year: 2
32 x 31 mm.
4.12 gm.
Mitchiner ACW 1224v.; Sellwood ISC 68; Gobl SN I/1 (plate XIV/224)
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=20 mm.
Die position=9h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy William B. Warden, Jr. collection.

[Kavad II] 24k JPG
Kavad II (628 AD)
AR Drachm
628 AD
Mint: AHM
Regnal year: 2
30 mm.
4.11 gm.
Mitchiner ACW 1224v.; Sellwood ISC 68; Gobl SN I/1 (plate XIV/223)
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=20 mm.
Die position=9h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy William B. Warden, Jr. collection.

[Kavad II] 33k JPG
Kavad II (628 AD)
AR Drachm
628 AD
Mint: BYSh
Regnal year: 2
31 mm.
4.01 gm.
Gobl SN I/1
Diameter of obverse dotted border=21 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.

[Kavad II] 30k JPG
Kavad II (628 AD)
AR Drachm
628 AD
Mint: ST
Regnal year: 2
33 x 30 mm.
4.01 gm.
Gobl SN I/1 (plate XIV/224)
Diameter of obverse dotted border=21 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.

Ardashir III

Son of Kavad II. Reign 628 - 630 AD. Year 1 = 628 AD. Ardashir came to power on the death of his father in the fall of 628 and was murdered about 9 months later in the early summer of 629. He was 8 years old.

Ardashir III's coinage is known from __ mints: ART, AYLAN, BN, BYSh, DA, GW, MY, NY, ST, WYHC, YZ and others.

Denominations: d

Gobl I/1 issue: 1st crown (wingless headdress type/years 1 and 2)

172k JPG
Ardashir III (628 - 630 AD)
AR Drachm
Mint: WYHC
Regnal year: 1
33 mm.
4.03 gm.
Gobl SN I/1
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=23 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.

156k JPG
Ardashir III (628 - 630 AD)
AR Drachm
Mint: MY
Regnal year: 1
31 mm.
3.89 gm.
Gobl SN I/1
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.

[Ardashir III] 24k JPG
Ardashir III (628 - 630 AD)
AR Drachm
629 AD
Mint: AYLAN
Regnal year: 2
31 x 33 mm.
4.17 gm.
Mitchiner ACW 1231; Sellwood ISC 69 (type I); Gobl SN I/1 (plate XIV/225)
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=9h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy William B. Warden, Jr. collection.

[Ardashir III] 30k JPG
Ardashir III (628 - 630 AD)
AR Drachm
628 AD
Mint: BYSh
Regnal year: 2
32 mm.
4.15 gm.
Gobl SN I/1
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=9h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.

[Ardashir III] 32k JPG
Ardashir III (628 - 630 AD)
AR Drachm
628 AD
Mint: ART
Regnal year: 2
31 mm.
4.01 gm.
Gobl SN I/1
Diameter of obverse dotted border=21 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.

[Ardashir III] 27k JPG
Ardashir III (628 - 630 AD)
AR Drachm
628 AD
Mint: NY
Regnal year: 2
32 x 33 mm.
4.14 gm.
Gobl SN I/1
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.

[Ardashir III] 29k JPG
Ardashir III (628 - 630 AD)
AR Drachm
629 AD
Mint: YZ
Regnal year: 2
34 x 31 mm.
4.08 gm.
Mitchiner ACW 1227v., Sellwood ISC 69 (type I), Gobl SN I/1 (plate XIV/225)
Diameter of obverse dotted border=21 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=4h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:

[Ardashir III] 15k JPG
Ardashir III (628 - 630 AD)
AR Drachm
629 AD
Mint: BN
Regnal year: 2
26 mm. (clipped)
2.50 gm.
Mitchiner ACW 1227v., Sellwood ISC 69 (type I), Gobl SN I/1 (plate XIV/225)
Diameter of obverse dotted border=21 mm.; diameter of reverse border=20 mm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:

[Ardashir III] 30k JPG
Ardashir III (628 - 630 AD)
AR Drachm
629 AD
Mint: ST
Regnal year: 2
33 x 32 mm.
4.14 gm.
Gobl SN I/1
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Alexander Akin collection.

Gobl II/1 issue: 2nd crown (winged headdress type/year 2 only)

100K JPG
Ardashir III
AR Drachm
629 AD
Mint: AY
Regnal year: 2
32 x 30 mm.
3.59 gm.
Gobl SN II/1; Mochiri ENIS II 436, 1110
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=9h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note:

[Ardashir III] 30k JPG
Ardashir III (628 - 630 AD)
AR Drachm
629 AD
Mint: DA
Regnal year: 2
33 mm.
3.64 gm.
Mitchiner ACW ; Gobl SN II/1 (plate XIV/226)
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.

[Ardashir III] 23k JPG
Ardashir III (628 - 630 AD)
AR Drachm
629 AD
Mint: ST
Regnal year: 2
32 x 30 mm.
3.95 gm.
Mitchiner ACW 1233, Sellwood ISC 70 (type II), Gobl SN II/1 (plate XIV/226)
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=20 mm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Prof. Charles E. Schulz collection.

[Ardashir III] 41k JPG
Ardashir III (628 - 630 AD)
AR Drachm
629 AD
Mint: WYHC
Regnal year: 2
34 mm.
4.19 gm.
Gobl SN II/1
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=23 mm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.

[Ardashir III] 22k JPG
Ardashir III (628 - 630 AD)
AR Drachm
629 AD
Mint: WYHC
Regnal year: 2
31 x 33 mm.
4.17 gm.
Mitchiner ACW 1238; Sellwood ISC 70 (type II); Gobl SN II/1 (plate XIV/226)
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=9h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy William B. Warden, Jr. collection.

[Ardashir III] 32k JPG
Ardashir III (628 - 630 AD)
AR Drachm
629 AD
Mint: YZ
Regnal year: 2
34 mm.
4.00 gm.
Mitchiner ACW 1233v., Sellwood ISC 70 (type II), Gobl SN II/1 (plate XIV/226)
Diameter of obverse dotted border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse border=24 mm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:

Shahrbaraz

Usurper. Reign 629 AD. No coins issued. Shahrbaraz was a general under Khusro II; he reigned for about 2 months.

Peroz II

Nephew of Khusro II. Reign 629 (?) AD. No coins issued.

Khusro III

Nephew of Khusro II. Reign 629 - 631 (?) AD. Khusro III may have only reigned for a few months.

Khusro III's coinage is known from 4 mints: AYLAN, KL, ST, and WYHC. Year 3 is only known from WYHC.

Denominations: d

Gobl I/1 issue: Year 2 (and possibly 3)

[Khusro III] 25k JPG
Khusro III (629 - 631 AD)
AR Drachm
630 AD
Mint: WYHC
Regnal year: 2
36 x 33 mm.
4.14 gm.
Mitchiner ACW 1250 (Khusro V); Sellwood ISC 73 (Khusro V); Gobl SN I/1 (plate XV/232 (Khusro V))
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: This is the largest Sasanian coin I've ever seen. Courtesy William B. Warden, Jr. collection.

[Khusro III] 29k JPG
Khusro III (629 - 631 AD)
AR Drachm
630 AD
Mint: WYHC
Regnal year: 2
34 x 32 mm.
4.11 gm.
Mitchiner ACW 1250 (Khusro V); Gobl SN I/1 (plate XV/232 (Khusro V))
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.

[Khusro III] 14k JPG
Khusro III (629 - 631 AD)
AR Drachm
630 AD
Mint: WYHC
Regnal year: 2
22 mm. (clipped)
1.83 gm.
Mitchiner ACW 1250v. (Khusro V); Sellwood ISC 73 (Khusro V); Gobl SN I/1 (plate XV/232 (Khusro V))
Diameter of obverse dotted border=n/a; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=9h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:

[Khusro III] 23k JPG
Khusro III (629 - 631 AD)
AR Drachm
630 AD
Mint: DL
Regnal year: 2
32 mm.
4.21 gm.
Mitchiner ACW 1250v. (Khusro V); Sellwood ISC 73 (Khusro V); Gobl SN I/1 (plate XV/232 (Khusro V))
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: According to Sears, DL is unknown after Khusro II; sometimes this signature is read as KL (although it is definitely a 'D'). Courtesy William B. Warden, Jr. collection.

[Khusro III] 22k JPG
Khusro III (629 - 631 AD)
AR Drachm
630 AD
Mint: DL
Regnal year: 2
34 x 33 mm.
4.09 gm.
Mitchiner ACW 1250v. (Khusro V); Sellwood ISC 73 (Khusro V); Gobl SN I/1 (plate XV/232 (Khusro V))
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: According to Sears, DL is unknown after Khusro II; sometimes this signature is read as KL (although it is definitely a 'D'). Courtesy Prof. Charles E. Schulz collection.

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