Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 PhD candidate of in History of Iran before Islam, Department of Science and Research, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Professor Department of history. Faculity of Literature and Humanities. Shahid Beheshti University
3 Associate professor of History, Department of history of Iran, Islamic Azad University, Thran, Iran
Abstract
In the financial system of the Sassanid era (224-651 AD), in addition to the two monetary units of dinar (gold) and dirham (silver), there were other less valuable units, which even in some parts of Iran compared to the two mentioned monetary units, were more popular in economic transactions. By examining these small coins, which were made of low-weight silver, copper, brass, and bronze, we will come to some interesting points. These points are the insertion of special motifs and symbols that were never used on dinars and dirhams; Large patterns of the sun, moon, star, and burning bonfire on the coin, which undoubtedly symbolize a certain subject and belief. We know that the sun and the moon, which are Zoroastrian gods based on Avesta, were minted on small coins in a place where motifs such as the profile of the crown prince, the queen, and even the god of Zoroastrianism such as Ahura Mazda in the gold and silver coins of Sasanian muskokat. By examining small muskokat such as Pashiz and studying Sassanid Pahlavi texts, the religious book of Avesta, which are full of depictions of religious symbols, as well as examining the historical events of some Sassanid kings, we conclude these motifs indicate religious beliefs and ideas. In the meantime, it is not only these motifs that give importance to these low-value coins, but also the use of the names of the mints. Now, we will examine all the motifs, symbols and mints and introduce them.
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