NUMISMATIC SUPPLEMENT No. XXXVII. 
ARTICLES 232-246. 
T 
Continued from ** Journal and Proceedings,” Vol. XVIII, 
New Series, No. 9. 
232. Some RARE AND UNPUBLISHED SASANIAN COINS. 
I. A Unique Hemidrachm of Shapir, son of Papak. 
Z.D.M.G., Vol. XXI for 1867), but we cannot tell whether 
these princes were all of one dynasty. 
The earliest mention of Persis is found in the Cuneiform 
time of Cyrus (B.C. 558), the founder of the Achaemenian 
he 
empire, Persis revolted almost about the same time as the 
Parthians and gained its independence. Few dates are harder 
to fix from the testimony of the ancient writers than that 
of the Parthian revolt. Justin appears to declare for either 
B.C. 256 or 250, and it is to the latter date that Rawlinson 
inclines. A fortunate discovery of George Smith (Assyrian 
Discoveries, 1875, p. 389) has given a satisfactory solution 
of the question. He found a record which proved that the 
Parthians made use of an era of which the 144th year corres- 
Ponded to the 208th of the Seleucid era, and which therefore 
must date from B.C. 249-48. It is probable that this is the 
date of the Parthian revolt. 
he emblems on the coins show that Persis was always 
loyally Zoroastrian. At Istakhr stood the famous fire-temple 
of Anghita, It was the marriage of its priest. Sasin, with 
@ Bazrangik princess, Rambehisht, which laid the foundation 
