Persian Treasury
Metal

Billon coinage of Persia and Iran

Debased silver alloys struck in periods of monetary strain. 4 catalogued examples spanning Parthian (Arsacid) Empire, Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic.

Catalogued
4
Eras
2
Metals
1
Denominations
3

Parthian (Arsacid) Empire · 247 BCE – 224 CE

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Vologases VI Drachm

Vologases VI

208–228 CE

Vologases VI was the last Arsacid king; he was overthrown by Ardashir I, who founded the Sasanian Empire.

Elymais Tetradrachm of Kamnaskires V

Kamnaskires V of Elymais

c. 54–32 BCE

The Kingdom of Elymais — successor to ancient Elam in lowland Khuzestan — minted vassal coinage under Parthian overlordship. Their stylised portraits are some of the most distinctive of the period.

Characene Tetradrachm — Spasinou Charax

Attambelos I of Characene

1st century BCE – 1st century CE

The Kingdom of Characene at the head of the Persian Gulf was a Parthian vassal controlling Indian Ocean trade. Its coins debased steadily as silver gave way to lead-bronze. Image: related Elymaean billon tetradrachm.

Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic · 651 – 1258 CE

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Qarakhanid Multiple Dirham — Samarqand

Qadir Khan Yusuf

AH 415–425 / 1024–1034 CE

First major Turkic Islamic dynasty east of the Oxus. Their billon dirhams reflect the chronic silver shortage ('silver famine') that plagued the eastern Islamic world from the late 10th century. Image: related Ghaznavid gold dinar.

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