A fine Sasanian-Tabaristan silver hemidrachm. The obverse features the bust of a Sasanian king facing right, wearing a crown with wings. The bust is framed in a circular motif with four stars, framed in crescents, evenly spaced along the exterior. He presents classic Sasanian characteristics such as the beard and moustache. The reverse features a fire altar with two facing attendants. Some encrustations to the reverse. Tabaristan was an ancient region located along the Caspian Sea. The Sasanian coins were distinctive in that the royal headdress was always shown on one side and the fire altar with attendants on the other. Over time little changed to the coins, the king’s face was still depicted as human however the attendants became more stylised, much like these coins. The fire altar is a symbol of Zoroastrianism, the first religion known to be practised in Western Asiatic history. The first Sasanian ruler, Ardashir I, devoted himself to the religion and had the fire altar added to the coin. The coins served as a form of propaganda to promote both religious and political views. Diameter: 2.4cm Weight: 2.00g Provenance: Ex Cambridgeshire private collection, acquired 1970s.