850-1050AD Gujarat 1 Drachm - Sassanian Empire: Heaven & Hell (Silver)
- Country: Gadhaiya - Gujarat, Northern India (Northern Dynasties)
- Type: Standard Circulation Coin
- Years: 800-1050AD
- Denomination: 1 Drachm
- Currency: Drachm (543-1390)
- Composition: Silver
- Diameter: 17mm
- Weight: 4.3g
- Edge: Smooth
- Obverse:Zoroastrian fire alter with three paths to Heaven across the Chinwad Bridge along the "Star Track, Moon Track, and Sun Track"
- Reverse: A soul being tortured in Hell with specific punishments according to Earthly crimes
These crude copies of Sassanian coinage also known as "Gadhiya Paisa" have Zoroastrian religious symbolism according to "Book of Arda Viraf", but are also commemorative of monumental, multicultural "stepwell" construction in the area of Gujarat.
It is believed that the level of abstractism and crudeness is higher in later coins of this type and the percentage of silver content is seen to have been reduced.
Refer to Plat XXV (11-16) in "Catalogue of the Coins in the Indian Museum, Calcutta - Vol. I(c) - Persian Medieval, South Indian and Miscellaneous coins" - by Vincent A Smith (1906)
Pre-history of the state:
The Sassanids, shortly after victory over the Parthians, extended their dominion into Bactria during the reign of Ardashir I around 230 CE, then further to the eastern parts of their empire in western Pakistan during the reign of his son Shapur I (240–270). Thus the Kushans lost their western territory (including Bactria and Gandhara) to the rule of Sassanid nobles named Kushanshahs or "Kings of the Kushans". Kartir, a high-priest that served as advisor to at least three of the early kings, instigated the persecution of non-Zoroastrians, that is, Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus and – in particular – the Manichaeans, who were primarily in and from the eastern territories. The persecution ceased during the reign of Narseh (r. 293–302). Around 325, Shapur II was directly in charge of the southern part of the territory, while in the north the Kushanshahs maintained their rule until the rise of the Kidarites. The decline of the Kushans and their defeat by the Sassanids led to the rise of an indigenous Indian dynasty, the Guptas, in the 4th century. In 410, the Hephthalites or Indo-Hephthalites conquered Bactria and Gandhara, thus temporarily replacing the Indo-Sassanids.
*Coin condition is based on our professional opinion. Pictures are representative of the coin that you will receive, actual coin may differ slightly, and serial numbers will vary*