1923.] Numismatic Supplement No. XXXVI. N. 9 
Description of the Drachm. 
Metal.—Silver. Size.—l in. Weitght.—52 grs 
Obverse.—The bust of Narses to dared wearing a crown 
ornamented with foliated branches, projecting from three 
different points in the circlet ; with fillets floating behind and 
surmounted by the traditional globe. The hair is dressed in 
plaits ; a moustache and a short curly beard crnataene ina 
pendant j jewel: an ear- ring and the bust draped. Grénetis 
ent Commencing in front of the bust, (Mazdayasn) 
bagi Narsehi malkan mal a Airan mind-chitri min yazdan, 
“ Mazda- -worshipping divinity Narses, gor the kings of 
Eran, of spiritual origin from the sacred bei 
Reverse.—The fire altar supported, on the left side, by the 
king wearing crown and globe as on the obverse, and to the 
right, by the priest with the ordinary coronet; both have 
Swords inclined towards the altar and are facing the fire. 
To the left of the fire, the frohar symbol; and to a right, 
the taurus symbol. Grénetis. No egend, Pilate I, 
A portion of the coin is broken in front of the ae 
V. Another Drachm of the rare type of Shapur UU. 
_ In describing a similar type of drachm of this king 
(N iiacienestac ‘Supplement, XXX, p. 262) I remarked that while 
the Sasanian coins follow aioe or less fixed types, they 
exhibit a pronounced variety in legends, the study of which is 
& matter of continual interest. This Sener is further sub- 
Stantiated by the drachm deadeiied below 
_Hormazd II (303- ~310) was the first to take the epithet 
vohia “excellent ” on his coins. His son, Shapir II (310-379), 
ee at “TA -i Bostan (see De Sacy, Mémoirs. 1793, 
p. 5; — es et Coste, hes age en Perse, Vol. IV, Plate 6). 
altae 4 sintitlde to ‘ad ‘de wpicted’-o on the coins of ieee shir 1. 
So far as I know this is the only coin of the third type bearing 
the epithet vohia “ excellent. 

