Coins struck at Bishapur
1 catalogued coin and note attributed to Bishapur, with weights, legends, dates and Wikimedia-sourced images across Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic.
In short
Bishapur in Fars was founded by Shapur I to commemorate his victories over Rome, and its mint signature appears on Sasanian silver from the height of imperial confidence. Bishapur is a mint of the Iranian world represented in the Persian Treasury catalogue by 1 coin and note struck between 673 CE – 683 CE. Its output here covers Silver in the Drachm denominations, issued under Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad.
- Catalogued
- 1
- Eras
- 1
- Metals
- 1
- Denominations
- 1
Key facts
| Catalogued pieces | 1 |
|---|---|
| Date range | 673 CE – 683 CE |
| Eras represented | Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic |
| Metals | Silver |
| Denominations | Drachm |
| Issuers | Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad |
| Founder | Shapur I, after 260 CE |
| Region | Fars, south-western Iran |
| Commemorates | Victory over the emperor Valerian |
| Coin type | Sasanian silver drachm |
A victory city
Built with Roman prisoner labour after Shapur's defeat of Valerian in 260 CE, Bishapur combined Iranian planning with Roman construction technique, and its rock reliefs show the captured emperor before the mounted king.
Coinage from the city belongs to the same programme of imperial self-presentation: the Sasanian drachm's crowned bust and fire altar are statements of dynastic legitimacy as much as they are money.
Reading Sasanian mint marks
Sasanian reverses carry an abbreviated mint signature and a regnal year in Pahlavi. Learning a dozen common signatures — and the crown types that identify each king — is enough to attribute the great majority of drachms without reference works.
Because crowns change between reigns and sometimes within them, crown typology is the fastest single diagnostic in the series, and the standard entry route for collectors.
Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic · 651 – 1258 CE
Era overview →Frequently asked about Bishapur
- How do you identify a Sasanian mint?
- By the abbreviated Pahlavi mint signature on the reverse, read together with the regnal year and the king's crown type on the obverse.
- Why was Bishapur built?
- Shapur I founded it to commemorate his victories over Rome, reportedly using Roman prisoners as labour, and marked the site with rock reliefs showing the captured emperor Valerian.
- What coins were struck at Bishapur?
- Bishapur is a mint of the Iranian world represented in the Persian Treasury catalogue by 1 coin and note struck between 673 CE – 683 CE. Its output here covers Silver in the Drachm denominations, issued under Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad.
- How many Bishapur pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
- 1 item, dated 673 CE – 683 CE, spread across 1 era: Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic.
- Which metals were used for Bishapur coinage?
- Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
- Which denominations are associated with Bishapur?
- Drachm. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.