SASANIAN KINGS. Ardashir I, 223/4-240. Drachm (Silver, 26 mm, 4.07 g, 3 h), phase 3, mint C (‘Ctesiphon’). Draped bust of Ardashir I to right, wearing a diadem and a close-fitting headdress with earflaps surmounted by a korymbos; around, ‘mzdysn bgy ʾrthštr MRKAn MRKA ʾyrʾn MNW ctry MN yzdʾn’ = ‘mazdēsn bay Ardaxšīr šāhān šāh Ērān kē čihr az yaz(a)dān’ (‘The Mazda-worshipping Lord Ardashir, King of Kings of the Iranians, whose essence is from the gods’ in Pahlavi). Rev. Fire altar; to left and right, ‘NWRA ZY ˗ ʾrthštr’ = ‘ādur ī Ardaxšīr’ (‘Fire of Ardashir’ in Pahlavi). Göbl type III/2. SNS I, type IIIa(4a)/3c(2b). Rare. Some scratches and staining and with minor doubling on the obverse, otherwise, very fine.