SASANIAN KINGS. Ardashir I, 223/4-240. Drachm (Silver, 25 mm, 4.32 g, 3 h). Crowned and draped bust of Ardashir I to right; legend along the dotted rim, running anticlockwise from 11 h to 1 h, ‘mzdysn bgy ʾrthštr MRKAn MRKA ʾyrʾn MNW ctry MN yzdʾn’, i.e. ‘mazdēsn bay Ardaxšēr 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’, i.e. ‘ādur ī Ardaxšēr’ (‘Fire of Ardashir’ in Pahlavi). Göbl type III/2. SNS I, type IIIa/3b. Rare. Areas of weakness and with minor scratches, otherwise, about extremely fine.