SASANIAN token 5th century AD
$15.00
SASANIAN, token maybe, no date (5th century AD), normal Sasanian coin types, bust might be Kavad, incuse impression of reverse, and maybe of the obverse, it’s hard to tell, clay, 26mm, broken in half, then one of the halves broken in four pieces, comes with a small bronze bracelet fragment. Probably this came from Pakistan. otherwise aG/F
Out of stock
Description
The basic Sasanian coin was silver, conventionally called “drachm.” There were a few local copper issues. Ancient clay “tokens” are occasionally found here and there in Eurasia. They are poorly written up.
A token is used like a coin but is not a coin. Rather, it stands for a coin without the value of the coin. Maybe its copper, but says its value is the same as a silver coin. Usually tokens were made privately, but sometimes governments got involved.
The word “exonumia” is used to describe all kinds of things that are “like” coins but are not coins. I wrote a blog post on that subject. Basic categories: 1. used like a coin but not issued by a national government, 2. looks like a coin but not made for spending, 3. other things that we are interested in.
