The Drachm: a Persian numismatic guide
The drachm — Parthian and Sasanian silver, the most-collected denomination in Iranian numismatics. 28 catalogued examples spanning Seleucid Persia, Parthian (Arsacid) Empire, Sasanian Empire.
In short
The drachm is the standard silver coin of Parthian and Sasanian Iran — about 3.7–4.2 g of good silver — and the single most collected denomination in Iranian numismatics. The Drachm is a Persian and Iranian denomination represented by 28 catalogued examples dated 261 BCE – 785 CE. The drachm — Parthian and Sasanian silver, the most-collected denomination in Iranian numismatics. Examples here are struck in Silver, Billon at mints including Magnesia on the Maeander, Ecbatana / Antioch, Bactra and 17 more.
- Catalogued
- 28
- Eras
- 4
- Metals
- 2
- Denominations
- 3
Key facts
| Catalogued pieces | 28 |
|---|---|
| Date range | 261 BCE – 785 CE |
| Eras represented | Seleucid Persia, Parthian (Arsacid) Empire, Sasanian Empire, Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic |
| Metals | Silver, Billon |
| Denominations | Drachm, Tetradrachm, Abbasi |
| Mints | Magnesia on the Maeander, Ecbatana / Antioch, Bactra, Antioch on the Orontes, Ecbatana, Seleucia-on-the-Tigris, Ecbatana, Rhagae, Seleucia on the Tigris |
| Issuers | Antiochos I Soter (Seleucid), Antiochus III, Diodotus I (Greco-Bactrian), Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Antiochus VII Sidetes, Euthydemus I, Mithradates I, Mithradates II |
| Parthian drachm | ~3.7–4.0 g, 18–21 mm, bust left |
| Sasanian drachm | ~4.0–4.2 g, 28–32 mm, bust right |
| Sasanian reverse | Fire altar with two attendants |
| Dating | Regnal year + mint from Kavad I onward |
Parthian and Sasanian drachms compared
A Parthian drachm is a compact coin, roughly 18–21 mm across and 3.7–4.0 g, showing the king's bust to the left in a diadem or tiara with a Greek legend around a seated archer on the reverse. Legends grow more blundered over time as Greek literacy fades at the mints.
A Sasanian drachm is dramatically different in fabric: 28–32 mm across but still only about 4.0–4.2 g, so it is broad, thin and prone to edge splits. The king faces right in a personal crown, and the reverse shows a fire altar with two attendants, with Pahlavi legends and, from Kavad I, a mint signature and regnal year.
How to date and attribute one
For Sasanian coins, read the reverse: the regnal year sits in the left field and the mint abbreviation in the right. Add the year to the king's accession date for a CE year. Where the legend is worn, attribute by crown type — the crowns are personal to each king and are the standard identification tool.
For Parthian coins, use the portrait direction, headgear (soft tiara versus diadem), beard treatment and the reverse legend's degree of blundering; the Sellwood typology remains the reference framework.
Buying advice
Worn Sasanian drachms are among the cheapest genuine ancient silver on the market. Pay the premium instead for a full flan with complete border, a legible mint and date, and untouched toning. Avoid coins with modern smoothing in the fields — visible as an unnaturally flat surface between the letters.
Seleucid Persia · 312 – 141 BCE
Era overview →Parthian (Arsacid) Empire · 247 BCE – 224 CE
Era overview →Sasanian Empire · 224 – 651 CE
Era overview →Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic · 651 – 1258 CE
Era overview →Frequently asked about Drachm
- What is a drachm?
- A silver coin of the Greek weight tradition, adopted in Iran by the Parthians and Sasanians at roughly 4 g; it was the everyday silver unit for some eight hundred years.
- How can you tell a Parthian drachm from a Sasanian one?
- Parthian drachms are small and thick with the king facing left and a seated archer reverse; Sasanian drachms are broad and thin with the king facing right and a fire altar reverse.
- What is a Drachm?
- The Drachm is a Persian and Iranian denomination represented by 28 catalogued examples dated 261 BCE – 785 CE. The drachm — Parthian and Sasanian silver, the most-collected denomination in Iranian numismatics. Examples here are struck in Silver, Billon at mints including Magnesia on the Maeander, Ecbatana / Antioch, Bactra and 17 more.
- How many Drachm pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
- 28 items, dated 261 BCE – 785 CE, spread across 4 eras: Seleucid Persia, Parthian (Arsacid) Empire, Sasanian Empire, Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic.
- Which metals were used for Drachm coinage?
- Silver, Billon. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
- Where were Drachm coins minted?
- Recorded mints include Magnesia on the Maeander, Ecbatana / Antioch, Bactra, Antioch on the Orontes, Ecbatana, Seleucia-on-the-Tigris.