Drachm of Bahram IV
Unknown Artist
ca. 388–99 CE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Thickness 0.15 cm, Diameter 2.45 cm
Classification
Metalwork-Coins-Inscribed
Culture & Period
Sasanian · Sasanian
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Joseph H. Durkee, 1898
Accession Number
99.35.2965
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver drachm, minted during the reign of Sasanian king Bahram (ca. 388–399 CE), a glimpse into the grandeur of the Sasanian, which flourished in ancient Iran from 224 to 651 CE. As a standard unit of currency, the drachm trade across the Near East and served as royal propaganda, proclaiming the king's authority through its imagery. At just 2.45 cm in diameter and 0. cm thick, this delicate coin—struck from high-quality silver—fits easily in the palm, yet it embodies the power of an empire that rivaled Rome. The obverse likely features a dignified bust of Bahram IV, adorned in ...