History and coinage of the Sasanian queen Boran (AD 629-631)

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History and Coinage of the Sasanian Queen Bōrān (AD 629-631) Author(s): HODGE MEHDI MALEK and VESTA SARKHOSH CURTIS Source: The Numismatic Chronicle (1966-), Vol. 158 (1998), pp. 113-129Published by: Royal Numismatic SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/42668553Accessed: 27-02-2015 12:21 UTC

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History and Coinage of the Sasanian

Queen Bõrân (ad 629-631)

HODGE MEHDI MALEK AND VESTA SARKHOSH CURTIS

[plates 33-7]

In a recent volume of this journal the coinage of the Sasanian king Kavād II (ad 628) was considered in some detail.1 Twenty-three different mint signatures were identified for this ruler, of which sixteen were confirmed by illustrations. It was anticipated that further signatures would come to light and indeed a drachm with AT (probably representing Ādurbādagān) has been found in a private collection.2 This article, dealing with Borān's coinage, follows on from the previous study of Kavād II's coins. Börän and her coinage has long been of interest of historians and numismatists alike. She was the first Sasanian queen to rule in her own right and is referred to in both Persian and Arabic texts. Her coinage is scarce, and she and her sister Azarmidokht3 are the only queens found alone on Sasanian coins.4

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

After the death of Kavād II in about September 628, his infant son, Ardaxšlr (Ardashir), succeeded to the throne. Being only seven years old, he had little influence, and power was in reality left in the hands of the great nobles and in particular Meh-Ādur Gušnasp, who was appointed regent.

Acknowledgements. The photographs of the drachms of Bõrân in the British Museum are published by courtesy of the Trustees. We are grateful to Tamashagah-i Pul, Tehran (and its director, Mrs Parisa Andami) and the Bonyad-i Mostazafin for permission to publish details of their drachms. Muzeh Melli, Tehran provided photographs and assistance through Mrs Elahé Askari. Mr François Thierry provided a list of drachms in the Bibliothèque Nationale. Dr A. Nikitin provided a list of the relevant coins in the Hermitage and Moscow collections. The dinar is published courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Dr M. L. Bates provided details and photographs of the drachms in the American Numismatic Society, provided courtesy of the ANS. Dr B. Kluge provided details of the coins in the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. Collectors, including Dr M. I. Mochiri and Mr W. B. Warden, have also provided photographs of coins in their collections. Dr David Wolfe assisted on metrology.

H. M. Malek, 'The coinage of the Sasanian king Kavād II (ad 628)', NC 155 (1995), pp. 119-29. 2 Sureña collection, London.

Ph. Gignoux, ' Azarmlgduxť, in Encyclopaedia Iranica 3 (1989), p. 190. The only other queen depicted on Sasanian coins is the wife of Vahrām II, but her portrait

is only found alongside that of the king.



114 H. M. MALEK AND V. S. CURTIS

Šahrbarāz, the great general of Husrav II (Khusrau Parvîz, ad 590/1-628), was left in control of the army, which was needed to protect the border regions from attack not only from the Byzantines, but also the Khazars in the north and the Arabs in the south. Ardaxšlr' s reign had an untimely end when he was killed in Ctesiphon together with his regent and nobles by Šahrbarāz and his army. According to some accounts Ardaxšlr III was murdered by Husrav Perõz (Khusrau Firuz). Šahrbarāz is said to have come to power and proclaimed himself king.5 Šahrbarāz was soon deposed and may have been in power for as short a period as two months.6 In the east Husrav III, a son of a prince Kavād, the brother of Husrav II, was briefly recognised as king, but was killed before he could reach Ctesiphon.7 Bõrân, the daughter of Husrav II, was appointed the first Sasanian queen to rule in her own right. Almost certainly she was not the wife of Šahrbarāz as recited by Armenian historians.

The different historical sources are not entirely consistent nor particularly accurate about the rule of Bõrân, when it started, how long it lasted, and in what circumstances she died. Most of the sources state that she was a daughter of Husrav II, and hence a sister of Kavād II who had succeeded their father in ad 628. She would therefore have been the aunt of Ardaxšlr III, who succeeded his father in September 628. It is possible that Borān came to the throne in about the summer of ad 629, although some commentators put her reign as commencing in ad 630.8 In any event her accession should not be placed before June 629 in the light of the fact that Ardaxšlr Ill's coins are known for regnal year one and two.9

According to the Iranian epic, the Shahnameh of Firdowsi,10 Borān was put on the throne by the Sasanian nobility who, after the murder of Ardaxšlr III, were unsuccessful in their search for a new king. She arranged for the execution of Khusrau Firuz (Husrav Pêrõz), who was said to have been the murderer of Ardaxšlr III. A similar account is given by the Arab historian al-Thaalabi.11

The Iranian historian Mirkhund adds more detail. He describes her as a

5 A. Shahbazi, 'Ardaxšlr III', in Encyclopaedia Iranica 2 (1987), pp. 381-2, puts this event as falling in April 629. R. N. Frye, in The Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanian Periods , Cambridge History of Iran 3(1) (Cambridge, 1983), pp. 170-1 refers to Šahrbarāz seizing power in June 629 after having marched on Ctesiphon, presumably with the consent of Heraclius. 6 The Chronicle ofTheophanes Confessor , ed. C. Mango and R. Scott (Oxford, 1997), p. 459. 7 A. Christensen, L'Iran sous les Sassanides (2nd edn, 1944), p. 498.

Th. Nöldeke, Tabarī : Geschichte Der Perser Und Araber Zur Zeit Der Sasaniden (1879), p. 433, puts her reign as starting in summer 630 and ending in autumn 631. 9 It is fairly clear that he acceded to the throne in September 628. Regnal year two would then have commenced on 17 June 629. This would place Borān's accession after June 629.

10 Firdowsi, Shahnameht completed at the beginning of the 11th century AD, describes the reign of Borān, whom he names as Pūrāndukht, in 23 double verses: vol. 7, pp. 2232-3. 11 Al-Thaalabi, Tďrikh-i Thaalabi , trans. M. Faza'ili (Tehran, SH 1368), p. 469, devotes only one page to her reign, and names her Pūrān.



HISTORY AND COINAGE OF QUEEN BÕRÂN 115

wise and just woman, who had bridges and roads repaired.12 She is inaccurately reported as having returned the True Cross (taken from Jerusalem in ad 614 by Husrav II) to the Byzantines and in return asked to have the followers of Šahrbarāz and others involved in Ardaxslr's murder executed. In fact the True Cross had already been returned as part of the peace agreed between Kavād II and the Byzantine emperor Heraclius.

The sources differ as to whom she appointed as her chief minister. According to the Arab historian al-Tabarl she appointed Fosfarrūkh,13 the author of the successful plot to overthow Šahrbarāz, to the post of vizier (wuzurgframadär).14 According to Sebēos, Farrukh-Hormizd, Prince of Adurbādagān, was put in charge of government by those who had toppled Šahrbarāz. He was killed by guards at the Court, presumably at Borān's behest.15

The relationship between the Sasanians and the Byzantines during Borān's reign was peaceful, no doubt a welcome respite after the long war between Husrav II and Heraclius. Some sources refer to the dispatch of an embassy to Heraclius led by the catholicus Išo'yab III and other dignitaries of the Iranian Church. The purpose of this mission was to resolve matters in issue between the two empires. It is again inaccurately recorded that this led to the restoration of the True Cross.16

Whether Bõrân was particularly powerful is doubtful. The monarchy had been weakened by internal disputes. Kavād II had killed all his brothers and ruled for a short period. His son succeeded him as a minor and was killed. Šahrbarāz was not of royal blood and he was soon deposed. The nobles appointed a woman queen as no male descendants of Husrav II were left. No source refers to her as powerful and indeed al-Tabarl states that no order of hers was carried out before she was deposed.17

The various traditions differ as to the length of her reign, ranging from six months to two years. In fact it is likely that she reigned for a little more than

12 Muhammad b. Khavand Shah Balkhi, Ruzat al-Safa , ed. A. Zaryab (Tehran, SH 1373), pp. 196-7. 13 Al-Tabarl, Tďrtkh al-rusul wďl-mulůk , ed. M. J. de Groeje (Leiden, 1879-1901) 1, p. 1064.

A similar account is given by Mirkhund, who does not name the vizier. Sebēos, Sebēosi episkoposi i H er akin, ed. K. Patkanian (St Petersburg, 1879), p. 28: an

Armenian source not particularly reliable for this period - he even asserts somewhat improbably that Bõrân had been the wife of Šahrbarāz.

M. Chaumont, 'Bõrân', in Encyclopaedia Iranica 2 (1987), p. 366, referring to the Anonymous Syriac Chronicle and the Chronicle of Seert. Theophanes, the Byzantine historian, quite correctly places the return of the True Cross prior to Borān's accession, see The Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor , ed. Mango and Scott, p. 459. 17 Al-TabarT, 1, p. 2119. Al-Tabarî, 1, p. 2163 in describing the events of AH 13 (ad 634) incorrectly refers to Bõrân succeeding her sister Āzarmīdukht as queen. His chronology is out of place at that point. Borān's reign had ended well before ad 632.




a year and perhaps the 1 year and 4 months referred to in a number of texts. This is consistent with the numismatic evidence considered below.18

The circumstances of her death are similarly uncertain. According to Firdowsi and al-Thaalabi she died after a severe illness, whereas other sources indicate more plausibly that she was murdered,19 a common fate for rulers in the late Sasanian period from ad 628.

COINAGE

Denominations As with Kavād II, the only coin denomination for ArdaxšTr III is the silver

drachm and this is found for regnal years one and two. There are also drachms of regnal years two and three with a beardless portrait for a limited number of mints which are thought to be of Husrav III.20 No coins are known for the usurper Šahrbarāz. As with all Sasanian rulers known to have struck coins, the principal denomination under Bõrân was the silver drachm, of which 163 examples are listed in the catalogue below.21 No silver fractions are known for her, nor indeed for any other ruler after the obols struck during the reigns of Kavād I (ad 484, 488-97, 499-531) and Jāmāsp (ad 497-9). There is a scarce bronze issue, known in only three specimens, all of the mint WYHC, year 1, and they follow the same basic design as the silver drachms. Between Husrav II (ad 590/1-628) and Yazdgird III (ad 632-51), Bõrân is the only ruler known to have struck bronze coins. The mintage of bronze in the late Sasanian period appears to have been low to judge from the number of extant examples and they could not have played any significant role as currency.

There is a gold issue of Bõrân, known from only one example in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Pl. 37, 167). This dinar, of regnal year 2, is discussed further below. Its intended weight was probably around 4- 15-4-20 g, but one cannot be certain as the coin has been used as jewellery.22 This is a festive issue and was not intended for general circulation. No other gold issues are known for the period after regnal year 34 of Husrav II (ad 623).23

18 Firdowsi - 6 months; Theophanes - 7 months; al-Thaalabi - 8 months; al-Taban, Bal'ami and Mirkhund - 1 year 4 months; Sebēos - 2 years. 19 Anonymous Syriac Chronicle and Chronicle of Seert. The latter names the murderer as Pêrõz, general of the army. Al-Tabarī, 1, p. 2119, simply states that she was deposed. 20 Drachms of this beardless type are known for AYLAN, KL, ST and WYHC for year 2. Year 3 is only known for WYHC: Malek (1993a).

Gobi (1971), the standard textbook on Sasanian coinage, is now very much dated. It provides no breakdown of the individual mints found for each ruler. As regards Borān's coinage it only lists the silver drachm, without reference to gold and bronze issues. 22 This coin is considered in Gobi (1983a ), Kuntz and Warden (1983) and Mochiri (1985). 23 There is an example of this coin of regnal year 34 in the Hermitage and this is of the same style as the Borān gold dinar. Since 1993, there have been large numbers on the market of gold



HISTORY AND COINAGE OF QUEEN BÖRÄN 117

Design The drachms and bronze issue follow the same basic design. The obverse

shows the bust of the Sasanian queen turned to the right and the reverse depicts a Zoroastrian fire altar and two attendants. A double/triple row of pellets surrounds the royal portrait, and astral signs of a crescent and star (three on the obverse and four on the reverse) are placed on the outer margin of her coins.24 Börän wears a round cap with three jewels or rosettes and a diadem, the latter consisting of two rows of pellets (possibly pearls) tied around her forehead with segments visible. The outer edge of the round cap is decorated with a row of pellets, perhaps representing pearls. At the top her crown terminates in a pair of feathered wings, a symbol of Verathragna, the god of victory. Placed between the wings is a crescent and globe. Three long bejewelled braids of hair - two on the left and one on the right - fall from beneath the cap. Bõrân wears a double necklace with a drop pendant placed in the centre. Her costume is decorated with a star and crescent symbol placed on each shoulder and a crescent appears above her left shoulder. More astral signs can be seen : a star and crescent at the top right of the crown and a single star to the left of the crown. Two diadem ties emerge from behind the shoulders.

On the reverse a Zoroastrian fire altar and two frontally standing attendants are placed within three rows of pellets. The astral signs of a star and crescent occur in the margin at 12 h, 3 h, 6 h and 9 h. The altar has a base in three parts and a thin vertical shaft. Two diadem ties that curve upwards are attached to the altar shaft. The actual fire container with the emerging flames consists of four parts. A crescent is placed to the right of the flames and a star appears to the left. The mint signature is on the right side and the regnal year on the left.

The drachms with the SK mint signature are of a cruder style. The three rosettes or three jewels on the round cap are reduced to three large pellets (or occasionally, three small circles). There are no segments visible in the two rows of pellets which represent the diadem around the cap. The drop pendant in the centre of the two rows of pearls is considerably reduced in size or not visible.

For the gold issue the bust of the queen is facing instead of profile. The crown is the same as on the silver coinage. There are no segments visible in the two rows of pellets at the base of the cap. To the left and right of the

issues purportedly of Husrav II's regnal year 36 in perfect condition (apart from two worn examples which appeared on the market in 1995 from the same purported hoard). These weigh between 3-9 g and 4-3 g, which is an improbably wide weight range given their condition. They are of doubtful authenticity. 24 These symbols represent the moon and sun respectively. According to Ammianus Marcellinus, xxiii, 6-5, the Sasanian king considered himself 'brother of the sun and moon'.




crown is a star. Above each shoulder is a rosette. The breast ornamentation consists of two rows of pearls with a central pendant of three items of jewellery and her plaited hair flows either side. On the reverse there is the standing figure of the queen wearing the same crown. To the left and right of the crown is a star and crescent. Flowing either side of her body is a ribbon.

Legends The legends on the drachms and bronze issue of Bõrân are short. On the

obverse to the right of the queen's bust is <^1» bwTn (Bõrân); behind the bust is the standard formula from Husrav IPs general drachm issue

r& GDH ' pzwť (xvarrah abzūd) broadly translated as '(may her)

splendour grow'. On the reverse to the right is the mint signature; to the left is the regnal year:

->ilh>9ywk' (year 1) Hifto tlyn (year 2)

tlť (year 3)

As with Husrav II's own gold dinars, the legend on the gold dinar of Bõrân is more elaborate. On the obverse to the right of the queen's bust is « bwTn (Borān); behind the bust is '

pzwn (abzūn) meaning 'increase' or 'prosperity', on the reverse to the left is the legend bwTn tlwyn which may be read as ' Borān [year] two ' on the assumption that tlwyn is a date for year two, although it should have been written as tlyn.25 Some support for this reading is to be found by a comparison with dinars of Husrau II of regnal years 33 and 34, where the king's name and regnal year are also to be found on the reverse to the left of the standing monarch. The legend to the right on Borān's dinar has been interpreted differently by numismatists. Gobi26 has transliterated the legend as follows :

gyKn MN GDH nyw hlť I

which may be translated as ' she who makes the earth strong with her (royal) splendour'. The problem with this interpretation is that it is difficult to discern the letter k in the last word. Kuntz and Warden27 were only able to read the second part as ntw GDH nyw bwlťt (xvarrah nēw bardār), meaning

' good bearer of fortune '. Bivar28 has suggested that the word unread

25 For a contrary reading, see Mochiri (1985), who considers that the second word is more properly trwyn (tarvin, meaning victorious). It is difficult to conceive that it would have been appropriate to call Borān, who is not known for any major military successes, victorious. 26 Gobi (1983a), p. 101.

Kuntz and Warden (1983). Bivar (1986), pp. 696-7.



HISTORY AND COINAGE OF QUEEN BÕRÃN 119

by Kuntz and Warden may be gehānat 'your world (is the)' and the remainder may be better translated as 'bringer of brave glory'. Mochiri29 has an altogether different interpretation in that he has read the legend as Z Y yzďn twhmk W gwhlťl referring to Bõrân as being 'de race divine et resplendissante'. Despite the difficulty of the legend and differing views, it is suggested that a reading along the lines of Bivar is to be preferred: gyh'ntw GDH nyw bwlťt (gehānat xvarrah new bardār) 'your world is the bringer of brave glory'. There is no mint signature on the gold dinar, but it may be surmised that it was struck at one of the major mints. It is possible that it was struck at the same mint as that denoted by WYHC, particularly as that seems to have been the mint with the greatest output (apart from SK) and it is the only known mint for bronze issues as well as the standard drachm denomination.

Mint signatures Although there is a significant number of mint signatures known for

Bõrân, they are fewer than those known for the end of Husrav II's reign. All the signatures found for Bõrân (apart from AMWY) are from mints with significant outputs under Husrav II. There is a degree of overlap between the mints known for Kavād II, ArdaxšTr III and Bõrân, but there appears to have been a considerable drop in the number of mints operating under Bõrân. All drachms are scarce save for those with SK. References in numismatic literature to various mint signatures for Bõrân should be used with caution, save where examples have been illustrated.30 Some fifteen different mint signatures are cited in works on Sasanian coins or are known from other sources.31 This is considerably more than indicated in previous works on Sasanian coins. The catalogue at the end of this article provides a corpus of Borān's coinage based upon the principal European, American and Iranian collections and accessible published sources (see Table 1). All the coins listed below are drachms, save where otherwise indicated.32

1. AM - bJJ (PL 33, 1 and 3) This signature most probably denotes Āmul in Tabaristān, as evidenced by the

29 Mochiri (1985). 30 For example, Steve Album list 68 (August 1990), no. 136 refers to a drachm of mint signature AYL, year 3. In fact that signature is SK. 31 The lists of mints of Bõrân in previous works are very incomplete. Valentine (1921) listed only two signatures (SK and WHYC). Both Paruck (1944) and the more recent Sellwood, Whitting and Williams (1985) listed eight signatures. 32 The present article being a review of Borān's coinage as a whole is not the place for a detailed discussion of the attribution of mint signatures. Each signature is only very briefly discussed below and it should be recognised that the attribution of a significant number of signatures remains both uncertain and controversial. The attribution of individual mint signatures is considered in more detail elsewhere: see Gyselen and Kalus (1983); Malek (1993b), pp. 240-2 and the references cited therein; Malek (1993); Mochiri (1977).




Table 1

Coins of Queen Bõrãn by mint and year listed in the Catalogue

AR DRACHM AE AV CHALKOI DINAR

Mint Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 1 Year 2?

AM 6 AMWY 1? APL 1 ART 1 AW 5 DL ? GW 2 HL 2 KL 2 1 LD 2 MY 5 SK 45 60 ST 1? 5 WLC 4 WYHC 18 2 3 None 1 Total 44 59 60 3 1

fact that it is not known for the Arab-Sasanian series for the period when Tabaristān remained autonomous from the 'Umayyads. It is not found for Kavād II, but is recorded for Ardaxsîr III. Six examples are listed for Bõrãn with regnal year 1 in the catalogue below.

2. AMWY The only example with this signature is recorded for year 1 as having been found during the Susa excavations. Unfortunately it was not illustrated and thus should be regarded as being subject to confirmation. It is not possible to give a definitive view as to what place the signature denotes. The signature is not recorded for any other ruler.

3. APL (PL 33, 8) This signature most probably denotes Abrašahr (Nishāpur) in Khurasān. It is not found for Kavād II, but is recorded for Ardaxšlr III. Only one example with regnal year 1 is listed for Bõrãn in the catalogue below.

4. ART lo wu (PL 33,9) This signature denotes Ardaxslr-Xvarrah (Ardashir-Khurra), Fars, as is confirmed by the existence of official seals with the abbreviation in the middle and name in full near the rim. Only one example with regnal year 2 is listed for Bõrãn in the catalogue below.

5. AW UJ (PL 33, 12) This abbreviation most probably denotes Ohrmazd-Ardaxšlr (Hormizd- Ardashir, now modern Ahwäz) in Khuzistān. The signature is noted under




Kavād II (but not confirmed), but is often found on drachms of Ardaxšlr III. Five examples are listed below for regnal year 2 of Bõrân.33

6. DL 33 This signature is often confused with KL and although recorded for regnal year 2 of Bõrân, this reading should be regarded as doubtful in the absence of any illustrated example. It is not known for any other Sasanian monarch after Husrav II. The mint place has not yet been established, although Dārābgird has been suggested by Gobi.

7. GW U> (PL 33, 15) The attribution of this signature is uncertain. Although Gurgān has been suggested, it is probable that this is not correct; Qum is a possible reading in view of a drachm of Yazdgird I with the word gwdmy 34 . The signature is known for Ardaxšlr III and been noted without illustration for Kavād II. Two examples are listed below for regnal year 1 of Bõrân.

8. HL (PL 34, 17) This abbreviation denotes Herat and is not known for any ruler after Husrav II apart from regnal year 1 of Bõrân. Two examples are listed in the catalogue below.

9. This signature most probably represents Kirman. It is not recorded for either Kavād II or Ardaxšlr, but is found for both regnal years 1 and 2 for Bõrân. Three examples are listed in the catalogue below.

10. LD '< This signature is generally regarded as being the abbreviation for Ray in Khurāsān and is found for both Kavād II and Ardaxšlr III. Two examples with regnal year 1 are listed for Bõrân in the catalogue below.

11. MY - (PL 34, 27) This signature probably denotes Mešān (Meshān) in Khuzistān and is found for both Kavād II and Ardaxšlr III. Five examples with regnal year 1 of Bõrân are listed in the catalogue below.

12. SK (PL 34, 60-3; PL 35, 64, 73, 87, 108-9) This signature represents Sakastān (Sistān) in the east.35 Although not found for Kavād II and Ardaxšlr III, large numbers of examples are known for both Bõrân and the last Sasanian king Yazdgird III (ad 632-51). A large hoard of drachms of regnal years 2 and 3 reached the market in about 1986, running into hundreds of examples, and this may have affected the perception of the relative scarcity of the different mint signatures under Bõrân.36 Subsequently, in 1996, a small hoard reached the Tehran market and 12 drachms from this have been noted in the catalogue. The style of drachms for SK under both Bõrân and Yazdgird III is crude compared with those found for other mints. It is possible that the issues for

33 Gurnet (1988), p. 82 refers to both years 1 and 2 for AW, but without illustrations. 34 Gyselen (1983). But see Mochiri (1996), pp. 71-3 which rejects Gyselen's reading and maintains that Gurgān is probably represented by GW.

For a useful discussion of this signature see Gurnet (1992). Mordtmann (1880) did not note any coins of Bõrân with the mint signature SK, but only

with KL and WYHC. Since the 1980s, drachms coming to light with SK have been predominant in relation to those with other mint signatures.




year 3 are posthumous, given the brief reign attributed to Bõrân in the historical sources and the absence of that year on coins with other signatures. Forty-five and sixty examples are listed in the catalogue below for regnal years 2 and 3 respectively.37 The large number of die varieties observed for these issues indicates that the amount of drachms struck by this mint was considerable.

13. ST (PL 35, 137) This abbreviation most probably refers to Stakhr (Staxr) in Fārs and is known for both Kavād II and Ardaxšlr III. The only example recorded for year 1 of Borān, found during the Susa excavations, has not been illustrated and hence should be regarded as being subject to confirmation. Five examples are listed in the catalogue below for regnal year 2.

14. WLC (PL 36, 140-142) It is a matter for conjecture as to what place this signature denotes. Although not known for Kavād II, it is found for Ardaxšlr III. Four examples are listed in the catalogue below for regnal year 1 of Borān.

15. WYHC OM3 1 (PL 36, 144, 152, 153, 155, 162 and 165) This abbreviation represents a major mint in the late Sasanian period, but its attribution is still to be conclusively established. Numismatists have suggested various places : Veh-az-Amid-Kavād (Arrajan, in Fārs) ; Veh- Ardaxšlr (Southern Iraq); Visp-šad-Husrav (Media); Nišābuhr (Nishāpūr). The importance of this mint under Borān is reinforced by the number of drachms of regnal year 1 and the fact that the only bronze coins of Borān are from this mint. Eighteen drachms of regnal year 1 and two of year 2 are listed in the catalogue below along with 3 bronze coins of regnal year 1 .

Metrology The study of Kavād II's coinage revealed that the intended weight for

drachms must have been in the 4- 10 g to 4- 16 g range38 and this is consistent with recent analyses of hoards of Husrav II drachms.39 Fig. 1 is a histogram of the weights of Borān's drachms listed in the catalogue below for which weights have been noted, but ignoring the 4 clipped drachms weighing below 3 g. The 38 drachms weighing less than 3-95 g are obviously underweight and most of these examples show signs of wear or have been clipped. The mean weight of the 68 drachms in the 3-95-4-26 g range is 4-09 g with a standard deviation of only 0-07. From this and the distribution in Fig. 1, it may be suggested that the intended weight of drachms was no more than 4-12 g and probably within the 4-00-4-12 g range.

37 It is conceivable that some drachms may have been referred to in more than one entry where drachms have not been illustrated. It is not believed that the extent (if any) of any double counting is material. 8 Malek (1995). A sample of 50 drachms of Kavād II (excluding under-weight coins) had a weight range of 3*95-4*18 g and a mean of 4- 10 g, with a standard deviation of only 0 0476. 39 Elsen (1993), Gyselen & Kalus (1983) and Malek (1993), including the articles referred to therein.




Fig. 1. Histogram of weights of Borān's drachms.

Conclusion In contrast to Kavād II and Ardaxšlr III, who only struck silver drachms,

under Bõrân gold and bronze issues were also struck as had been done under her father Husrav II Drachms are known for years 1 to 3, albeit that year 3 is only found on coins for Sakistān (SK). Sasanian rulers dated their coins in accordance with regnal and not calendar years. Regnal years were based on the New Year. Thus if the New Year in ad 629 fell on 17 June 629 this is likely to have been before Bõrân came to the throne. Her coins from regnal year one would cover the period up to 16 June 630 and those of regnal year two would cover 17 June 630 to 16 June 631. Regnal year three would have started on 17 June 631 and by that stage the only mint striking coins was in Sakistān (SK). By then, Börän had already died. This is all consistent with those historical sources that ascribe a reign of over a year. It is probable that the coins of regnal year three are purely posthumous given that no coins of that date are known for the mints in the centre of the empire. The numismatic evidence cannot definitively assist in considering the precise dates of Borān's reign, but it points to her reign as having started in the year 17 June 629 to 16 June 630. In all probability her reign spanned 629 and 630 and it is conceivable that it went into 631.

Her reign could not have been completely chaotic for a large number of mints continued to strike coins. Further, unlike her immediate predecessors her coinage was not confined to the silver drachm.

For a reign where the historical sources provide a rather meagre picture, coinage is an important piece of evidence for the period. An examination of her features on the coins brings alive the first Sasanian queen to have ruled over the Sasanian empire, an empire that was in decline and too weak to resist the armies of Islam which were to comprehensively defeat the empire within about a dozen years of her death.




CATALOGUE

This catalogue lists all the coins of Bõrân referred to in the principal works on Sasanian numismatics, or in auction catalogues since 1980, as well as specimens in a number of major private and museum collections (American Numismatic Society, New York; Ashmolean Museum, Oxford; Staatliche Museen zu Berlin ; Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris ; British Museum, London; Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; Hermitage, St Petersburg; State Historical Museum, Moscow; Muzeh Melli, Tehran; and Tamashagah-i Pul (Money Museum), Tehran).

The catalogue is arranged by denomination (silver drachms, bronze chalkoi and gold dinar).

Silver drachms

Mint AM, year 1 1 . American Numismatic Society 1 940

209.1152 (Houston (1975), fig. G; Gobi (1983a), fig. 5). 410 g (PL 33, 1).

2. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris (Y1977.8). 419 g.

3. Mochín. Four holes. 3*59 g (PL 33, 3).

4. Private, Luxembourg (Sotheby, 3.5.1984, lot 309). 4 13 g.

5. Sureña, London (Sellwood, Whit- ting and Williams (1985), fig. 71; Spink, 12. 10. 1993, lot 459 ; Sotheby, 12.11.1980, lot 235). 3-85 g.

6. Susa excavations (Fuýe and Un vala (1934), p. 85; not illustrated).

Mint AMWY, year 1 7. Susa excavations (Fuýe and Un vala

(1934), p. 85; not illustrated).

Mint A PL, year 1 8. Mochiri (Mochiri (1977), fig. 74;

broken and piece missing). 2-75 g. (Pl. 33, 8).

Mint ART, year 2 9. Private, London (Spink's NCirc

(December 1997), no. 5491) 3-21 g. (Pl. 33, 9).

Mint AW, year 2 10. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

(Y1977.7). 4-21 g. 11. Mochiri (Mochiri (1977), fig.

1268a). 3-28 g. 12. Private, London. 310 g (Pl. 33, 12). 13. Private, Luxembourg (Sotheby,

22.7.1982, lot 52; Spink's NCirc (December 1982), no. 8616). 3*01 g (clipped).

1 4. Susa excavations (Fuýe and Unvala (1934), p. 85; not illustrated).

Mint GW, year 1 15. Muzeh Melli (Iran Bastan), Tehran

(missing; Mochiri (1977), fig. 1466). 4- 1 g (photo enlarged). (PI. 33, 15).

16. Private, Ticino (Sotheby, 3.5.1984, lot 310). 417 g.

Mint HL, year 1 17. Private, London (Spink's NCirc

(March 1988), no. 1014). 414 g (Pl. 34, 17).

18. Private, Luxembourg (Mochiri (1977), figs. 121 and 438). 4-25 g.

Mint KL, year 1 19. Berlin 378/1889 (Nützel (1892),

p. 199; De Morgan (1933), pl. 76, fig. 7).

20. Subhi Pascha (Mordtmann (1880), p. 144; not illustrated).




Mint KL, year 2 21. State Historical Museum, Moscow

(91546/477428 V.41535; De Mor- gan (1933), pl. 76, fig. 10; ex Zubov). 412 g.

Mint LD, year 1 22. De Morgan (1933), pl. 77, fig. 1. 23. State Historical Museum, Moscow

(91546/477430 V.41536). 4 07 g.

Mint MY, year 1 24. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

(Y1977.6). 4-26 g. 25. De Morgan (1933), pl. 76, fig. 8

CS.P.'). 26. Hermitage, St Petersburg (12414). 27. Private, London. 418 g. (PL 34,

27). 28. Susa excavations (Fuýe and Unvala


Mint SK, year 2 29. Album list 46 (June 1986), no. 127

(only obverse illustrated). 30. Album list 48 (December 1986), no.

198 (not illustrated). 31. Album list 57 (March 1989), no.

171. 32. Album list 73 (March 1991), no.

115 (not illustrated). 33. Album list 126 (June 1996), no. 66.

410 g. 34. Album list 136 (June 1997), no. 84.

4 09 g. 35. Astana, China (1964); tomb find

(Xia (1974), p. 110). 3-9 g. 36. Berlin 379/1889 (Nützel (1891),

p. 199; Paruck (1924), no. 477; De Morgan (1933), pl. 77, fig. 3). 3 03 g.

37. Berlin 94/1995. 412 g. 38. Brooks, Queensland (Colonial

Coins and Medals, sale 27, 19.2.1997, lot 289; not illustrated).

39. Classical Numismatic Group, auction 37, 20.3.1996, lot 790. 4 04 g.

40. Classical Numismatic Group, auction 41, 19.3.1997, lot 917. 410 g.

41. De Morgan (1933), pl. 77, fig. 4 CS.P.').

42. Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (CM. 79-1994); Annual Report 1994, p. 21. 412 g.

43. Gorny, auction 28, 2.2.1984, lot 3373 (chipped and corroded).

44. Hamidi (Persic Gallery, Torrance), list 25, no. 362.

45. Hamidi (Persic Gallery, Torrance), list 34, no. 154. 3-9 g.

46. Hermitage, St Petersburg (12416). 47. Hirayama, Japan (Tanabe (1993),

fig. 84). Clipped. 48. Janovski (Mochiri (1977), fig. 385). 49. Maker, auction 55, 7.11.1993, lot

559. 4 02 g. 50. Malter, auction 55, 7.11.1993, lot

560. 3-79 g. 51. Maker, auction 55, 7.11.1993, lot

563. 3-91 g. 52. Maker, auction 66, 14.8.1995, lot

604. 3-72 g. 53. Mitchiner (1978), fig. 1241. 54. Mochiri. 4-08 g. 55. Muller, auction 62, 19.5.1989, lot

1890. 2-57 g (clipped). 56. Peus, auction 328, 2.5.1990, lot 351.

4 08 g. 57. Peus, auction 330, 24.4.1991, lot

212. 4 08 g. 58. Peus, auction 333, May 1992, lot

517. 4 00 g. 59. Peus, auction 348, 2.5.1996, lot 362;

auction 349, 2. 1 1 .96, lot 262. 409 g. 60. Private, London. 412 g. (PL 34,

60). 61. Private, London. 413 g. (PL 34,

61). 62. Private, London. 3-68 g (repaired)

(PI. 34, 62). 63. Private, London. 3*60 g (encrusta-

tion) (Pl. 34, 63). 64. Private, London. 1*49 g (clipped

and holed). Countermark of si-




murgh at 2 h (Gobi 11/H) (PL 35, 64).

65. Private, Luxembourg. 4 06 g. 66. Private, Ticino. 4 03 g. 67. Private, Ticino. 402 g. countermark

of simurgh at 2 h. 68. Sotheby, 20.7.1983, lot. 99. 69. Sotheby, 26.3. 1987, lot 468. 70. Spink's NCirc (December 1983),

no. 9180. 71. Spink's NCirc (December 1997),

no. 5492. 410 g. 72. Tehran hoard (1996), no. 1. 4 05 g. 73. Warden, New Hope. 4 00 g. (PL 35,

73).

Mint SK, year 3 74. Album list 45 (March 1986), no.

110. 75. Album list 46 (June 1986), no. 128

(not illustrated). 76. Album list 46 (June 1986), no. 128

(not illustrated). 77. Album list 46 (June 1986), no. 128

(not illustrated). 78. Album list 48 (December 1986), no.

199 (not illustrated). 79. Album list 48 (December 1986), no.

199 (not illustrated). 80. Album list 48 (December 1986), no.

199 (not illustrated). 81. Album list 64 (March 1990), no.

49. 82. Album list 68 (August 1990), no.

137. Part of margin cut away. 83. Album list 98 (June 1993), no. 69

(not illustrated). 41 g. 84. Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

(30.6.1983). 3-67 g. 85. Azizbeglou. 86. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

(1967.86; holed and damaged). 3-73 g.

87. British Museum (1964-7-25, ex A. Stein collection; Gobi (1983a), fig. 6). 3-91 g. (PL 35, 87).

88. Classical Numismatic Group, auc-

tion 32, 7.12.1994, lot 224. Private, Kirksville. 4-12 g.

89. Classical Numismatic Group, auction 33, 15.3.1995, lot 450. 4 05 g.

90. Classical Numismatic Group, auction 33, 15.3.1995, lot 451 (Classical Numismatic Review 19:4 (1994), no. 135). 4-21 g.

91. Gobi (Gobi (1971), fig. 229). 92. Gorny, auction, January 1981.

4 09 g. 93. Gorny, auction 24, 14.3.1983, lot

118. 94. Gorny, auction 25, 14.6.1983, lot

132. 95. Gorny, auction 44, 3.4.1989, lot

496. 412 g. 96. Gorny, auction 56, 7.10.1991, lot

346. 4 06 g. 97. Gorny, auction 58, 9.4.1992, lot

510. 3*81 g (chipped at 12-2 h). 98. Gorny, auction 71, 3.5.1995, lot

452. 3-81 g. 99. Gorny, auction 76, 22.4.1996, lot

277; auction 79, 14.10.1996, lot 323. 3-61 g.

100. Hamidi (Persic Gallery, Torrance), list 24, no. 260.

101. Janovski (Mochiri (1977), fig. 386). 102. Maker, auction 55, 7.11.1993, lot

561. 4 01 g. 103. Maker, auction 55, 7.11.1993, lot

562. 410 g. 104. Mochiri (Mochiri (1977), fig. 387).

4-12 g. 105. Numismatic Fine Arts, auction,

14.12.1989, lot 741. 4 04 g. 106. Peus, auction 326, 1.11.1989, lot

459 (clipped). 107. Peus, auction 351, 23.4.1997, lot

442. 4 06 g. 108. Private, London. 4 07 g (PL 35,

108). 109. Private, London. Countermark of

simurgh at 2 h (Gobi 1 1 /G?). 314 g (PL 35, 109).

110. Private, Luxembourg (Sotheby,




18.7.1985, lot 390; Gorny, auction 22, 25.5.1982, lot 270). 3-99 g.

111. Private, Luxembourg (Album list 68 (August 1990), no. 136, erron- eously listed as AYL; clipped). 2-58 g.

112. Sotheby, 16.4.1980, lot 45. 113. Sotheby, 18.7.1985, lot 390. 114. Sotheby, 20.5.1986, lot 156

(clipped). Countermark of simurgh at 2 h.

1 1 5. Spink's NCirc (July 1982), no. 5634. 116. Spink's NCirc (May 1985), no.

2933. 117. Spink's NCirc (November 1985),

no. 7774. 118. Spink's NCirc (May 1990), no.

2402. 119. Spink auction, 12.10.1993, lot 460.

3-61 g. 120. Spink's NCirc (October 1995), no.

5495. 4 04 g. 121. State Historical Museum, Moscow

(91546/477431 V.41537; De Mor- gan (1933), pl. 77, fig. 5; ex Zubov). 4 07 g.

122. Tehran hoard (1996), no. 2. 3-21 g. 123. Tehran hoard (1996), no. 3. 3-71 g. 124. Tehran hoard (1996), no. 4. 3-84 g. 125. Tehran hoard (1996), no. 5. 3-98 g. 126. Tehran hoard (1996), no. 6. 4 01 g. 127. Tehran hoard (1996), no. 7. 4 0 1 g. 128. Tehran hoard (1996), no. 8. 4 02 g. 129. Tehran hoard (1996), no. 9. 4 02 g. 130. Tehran hoard (1996), no. 10. 4 04 g. 131. Tehran hoard (1996), no. 11. 4 06 g. 132. Tehran hoard (1996), no. 12. 4 08 g. 133. T'ien Tzu Yu hoard, China

(Houston (1975), fig. 5). 4-1 g.

Mint ST, year 1 134. Susa excavations (Fuýe and Unvala


Mint ST, year 2 135. Album list 56 (October 1988), no.

221; list 62 (January 1990), no. 98. Slightly clipped.

136. Classical Numismatic Group, auction 45, 18.3.1998, lot 720. 3-92 g.

137. Private, London. 4-02 g. (Pl. 35, 137).

138. Private, Luxembourg (Ex Azizbe- glou; Gobi (1971), fig. 228; Gobi, (1983a), fig. 4). 410 g.

139. Spink's NCirc (September 1987), no. 4977. 4-03 g.

Mint WLC, year 1 140. British Museum (C. Davies Sher-

born, 1938-2-16-1). 3-10 g. (Pl. 36, 140).

141. Mochiri. 3-78 g. (PI. 36, 141). 142. Private, London. 3-83 g. (PL 36,

142). 143. Private, Luxembourg (Mochiri

(1977), fig. 439). 3-39 g.

Mint WYHC, year 1 144. American Numismatic Society

1920.999.254 (Alram (1986), fig. 926). Wt. 416 g. (PL 36, 144).

145. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris (1965.367). 419 g.

146. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris (Y1975.8). 4-26 g.

147. Damascus hoard (al'Ush (1972), no. 1167). 3-30 g.

148. De Morgan (1933), pl. 77, fig. 2 CS.P.').

149. Foroughi (Mochiri (1977), fig. 440). 150. Foroughi (Mochiri (1977), fig. 441). 151. Hermitage, St. Petersburg. 152. Muzeh Melli, Tehran (no. 272; area

missing at 1-3 h obverse rim). 3-69 g. (Pl. 36, 152).

153. Muzeh Melli, Tehran (no. 284; broken and repaired). 41 g. (Pl. 36, 153).

154. Paruck (Paruck (1924), no. 475). 3-98 g.

155. Private, London. 4 00 g (Pl. 37, 155).




156. Spink's NCirc 104:8 (October 1996), no. 4541. 3-36 g.

157. State Historical Museum, Moscow (91546/477429 V.41534; De Mor- gan (1933), PI. 76, fig. 9; ex Zubov). 3-54 g.

158. Susa excavations (Fuýe and Unvala (1934), p. 85; pl. 3, fig. 10).

1 59. Susa excavations (Fuýe and Unvala (1934), p. 85; not illustrated).

160. Susa excavations (Fuýe and Unvala (1934), p. 85; not illustrated).

161. Tamashagah-i Pul, Tehran. 3*99 g.

Mint WYHC, Year 2 162. Private, London (looped). 3-72 g.

(Pl. 37, 162). 163. Private, Ticino. 415 g.

Bronze Chalkoi

Mint WYHC, year 1 164. Berlin (Guthrie 1876). 2-21 g. 165. Private, London. 2-72 g. (Pl. 37,

165). 166. Foroughi (Mochiri (1977), fig. 704).

Gold dinar

Mint unspecified, year 2 167. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

(Gobi (1983a), fig. 3; Kuntz and Warden (1983); Mochiri (1985); Alram (1986), fig. 927). 4-39 g. (PI. 37, 167).

REFERENCES

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Bivar, A. D. H. 'Sasanians, Kushano-Sasanians, Hepthalites', in A Survey of Numismatic Research 1978-1984 (1986), pp. 695-704.

Droum, E. 'Monnaies de la Boran ou Pourandokht reine sassanide', RN3 11 (1893), pp. 167-75.

Elsen, J. 'La masse théorique du drachm sassanide de Khosrow II (591-628)', Elsen List 153 (June 1993), pp. 16-22.

Fuýe, A. De la, and Unvala, J. M. 'Inventaire des monnaies trouvées a Suse', Mémoires de la Mission Archaéolgique de Perse 25 (1934), pp. 15-7, 24, 27, 66-76, 84-7, 94-5, 123-4, 129.

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Gyselen, R., and Kalus, R. Deux trésors monétaires des premiers temps de TIslam (Paris, 1983).

Houston, R. C. 4 A note on two coin hoards reported in Kao Ku', ANSMN 20 (1975), pp. 153-60.

Kuntz and Warden (1983). Kuntz, R., and Warden, W. B. 'A gold dinar of the Sasanian queen Buran', ANSMN 28 (1983), pp. 133-5.

Malek, H. M. 4 A seventh century hoard of Sasanian drachms', Iran 31 (1993), pp. 77-93.

Malek, H. M. 'Xusro II or Xusro IV: a reply', ONSN 137 (1993a). Malek, H. M. 4 A survey of research on Sasanian numismatics', NC 153 (1993b), pp.

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Sassanides (Tehran, 1977), vol. 2; revised (Leiden, 1983). Mochiri, M. I. 'A propos d'une médaillé d'or de la reine Boran', Studia Iranica 14

(1985), pp. 241-3. Mordtmann, A. D. 4 Zur Pehlevi-Münzkunde. V', ZDMG 34 (1880), pp. 1-162. Morgan, De J. '(Monnaies de la) Dynastie Sassanide', in E. Babelon, Traité des

monnaies grecques et romaines III (1933), pp. 543-733, pl. 44-128. Nützel, H. 4 Die Erwerbungen des Königl. Münzcabinets bis 1. April 1890', ZfN 18

(1892), pp. 199-200. Paruck, F. D. J. 4 The drachme of the Sassanian Queen Boran', Num. Suppl. no. 28

to JASB 13 (1917), pp. 43-5. Paruck, F. D. J. Sãsãnian Coins (Bombay, 1924); reprinted (New Delhi, 1976), 526

pp. Paruck, F. D. J. 4 Mint-marks on Sāsānian and Arab-Sāsānian coins', JNSI 6 (1944),

pp. 79-151. Sellwood, D., Whitting, P., and Williams, R. An Introduction to Sasanian Coins

(1985). Tanabe, K. Silk Road Coins: The Hirayama Collection, A loan exhibition at the British

Museum, 1st April to 31st May 1993 (1993), 116pp. Valentine, W. H. Sasanian Coins (1921). Xia Nai. 4Zongshu Zhongguo chutu de Posi Sashan chao yinbi', Kaoguxuebao 1

(1974), pp. 91-110.



MALEK AND CURTIS, QUEEN BÖRÄN (1)

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History and coinage of the Sasanian queen Boran (AD 629-631)

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