SASANIAN EMPIRE: Ardashir I. Circa 224-241 AD. AR Drachm (4.25 g). Obv: Bust of Bearded King Ardashir to right wearing diadem and close-fitting headdress with korymbos and no earflaps, Pahlavi legends around the bust. / Rev: Fire altar (worship in Zoroastrianism) with diadems/ribbons, pellets flanking altar shaft. Attractive example, Toned EF.

*Ardashir I was the founder of the Persian Sassanid Empire. He was also the last King of Persis as Ardashir V, until he founded the new empire. After defeating the last Parthian shahanshah Artabanus IV on the Hormozdgan plain in 224, he overthrew the Arsacid dynasty and established the Sasanian dynasty. Afterwards, Ardashir called himself "shahanshah" and began conquering the land that he called Iran.