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Sale 125
The New York Int'l Sale
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Lot 134 |
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Sasanian Kingdom. Queen Buran, 1st daughter of Husrav II, Silver Drachm (3.60 g), AD 630-631. AM (Amul?), RY 1 (AD 630). Bust of Buran right, wearing crown with two wings and korymbos set on crescent; ribbon on left shoulder, crescent and ribbon on right; star and star-in-crescent flanking crown; star-in-crescents in margin. Reverse: Fire altar with ribbons; flanked by two attendants; star and crescent flanking flames; triple border, star-in-crescents in margin. Malek & Curtis 29-73; Göbl type I/1; Mochiri 385; Paruck 477 corr. (mint); Saeedi 303; Sunrise 1005. Very Rare. Lightly cleaned, a few minor hairline scratches. Very Fine. Estimated Value $3,000 - UP
In 628, Buran's brother-husband Khavad II seized power by overthrowing and executing their father Khusru II, the reigning King of Kings, and slaughtering their brothers. An outbreak of plague killed Khavad II a few months into his bloody reign, leaving his eight-year-old son Ardashir III to succeed him. The violent discord within the House of Sasan undermined the already crumbling confidence of the Pahlav (Parthian), Parsig (Persian) and Nimruzi noble factions within the empire. After only two years in power, Ardashir III was killed in April 630 and the throne was usurped by the Nimruzi general Shahrbaraz. Shahrbaraz was overthrown in June of the same year by the Pahlav commander Farrukh Hormizd, who placed Buran on the throne as the legitimate heir.
Buran only lasted a few months before she was deposed by Shapur V, a son of Shahrbaraz who was almost immediately overthrown by the Parsig faction in favor of Buran's sister Azarmidokht. Once Azarmidokht was in turn overthrown by Rustam Farrukhzad, the son of Farrukh Hormizd, in June 631, Buran was again placed on the throne. In an effort to restore some semblance of stability to the empire, Buran negotiated a fragile truce between the Pahalv and Parsig factions and a power-sharing agreement with Rustam. As part of her attempts to shore up her reign, Buran also initiated a new diplomatic relationship with the Byzantine Empire. Unfortunately, none of this was enough to repair the deep divisions that existed in the Sasanian Empire. After a restored reign of only a year, in June 632, Buran was killed by the Parsig faction during a military revolt at Ctesiphon.
Despite the chaos of her reign(s), Buran was immortalized on rare silver drachms, which, unlike the coins of her sister, feature her own portrait on the obverse. These illustrate her desire to bring back the greatness of the failing empire through their Pahlavi legends that name her as "Restorer of the Race of Gods," a title that had not been used since the time of Shapur II (309-379).
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Lot 135 |
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Sasanian Kingdom. Queen Azarmidokht, 2nd daughter of Husrav II. Silver Drachm (4.12 g), AD 631. Shi (Shiz) or SI (Sirjan), RY 1 (AD 631). Bust of Azarmidokht right, wearing mural crown with frontal crescent, two wings, and star set on crescent; ribbon on left shoulder, crescent and ribbon on right; stars flanking crown; star-in-crescents in margin. Reverse: Fire altar with ribbons; flanked by two attendants; star and crescent flanking flames; star-in-crescents in margin. Göbl -; Mochiri 508; Paruck -; Saeedi -; Sunrise 1007. A major rarity in the series. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $12,000 - UP
Azarmadokht was a daughter of the murdered King of Kings Khusru II who was brought to power by the Parsig (Persian) noble faction in the summer of 630 after the overthrow of her sister Buran and the usurpation of Shapur V. She swore to rule after the manner of her strong and beloved father. This is reflected in her extremely rare coinage, which continued to feature the portrait of Khusru II. Nevertheless, things quickly fell apart.
A proposal of marriage by the influential Pahlav (Parthian) general Farrukh Hormizd might have healed the rift between the Parsig and Pahlav factions, but Azarmadokht refused and the Sasanian Empire was plunged into a new round of civil war. Farrukh proclaimed himself King of Kings with the throne name of Hormizd V, but was soon assassinated by allies of Azarmadokht. He was succeeded by his son Rustam Farrukhzad, who raised an army and fought his way to the Sasanian capital at Ctesiphon. Once the city was captured, Rustam deposed Azarmadokht and restored Buran to power in June 631. In order to prevent her from ever being used to challenge Buran again, Rustam ordered Azarmadokht to be blinded and later had her executed.
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