Sassaniden. Yazdgard I (r. 399–420 AD). Drachm Reverse: A fire altar, symbolizing the sacred Zoroastrian flame, flanked by two attendants. (Zonder Minimumprijs)

Sasanian Empire: Yazdgard I (r. 399–420 AD) Silver Drachm. Obverse: A finely detailed, draped bust of Yazdgard I facing right, crowned with an ornate headdress featuring a korymbos (spherical ornament) and a crescent on the forehead. The king’s facial features and intricate crown design highlight the advanced artistry of the Sasanian mints.

Reverse: A fire altar, symbolizing the sacred Zoroastrian flame, flanked by two attendants. The flame rises prominently, emphasizing its central role in Sasanian religious iconography. In the upper left field, a pellet is set between two crescents, while in the upper right field, a crescent appears above a pellet. These details add symmetry to the composition and reflect the mint's meticulous craftsmanship.
References: SNS III, pl. 46,9.
Yazdgard I, often called "Yazdgard the Sinner" by later Zoroastrian sources but revered in some Christian accounts, ruled during a transformative era for the Sasanian Empire. His reign was characterized by a policy of religious tolerance, particularly toward Christians and Jews, a stance that earned him both praise and criticism from different factions within his realm. Yazdgard’s openness to non-Zoroastrian communities marked a departure from earlier, more rigid religious policies, reflecting his pragmatic approach to governance in a culturally and religiously diverse empire.

This silver drachm embodies the dual aspects of Yazdgard's rule: the obverse portrait reinforces his royal authority and divine favour, while the reverse celebrates the Zoroastrian faith that underpinned the Sasanian state. The fire altar, a recurring motif in Sasanian coinage, symbolizes the eternal flame of Zoroastrianism, underscoring the empire's religious identity despite Yazdgard’s broader policies of tolerance.
Weight: 4.06 Diameter: 28 mm