Ancient Eastern coins

Ancient Eastern coins provide a fascinating insight into the powerful kingdoms and Empires that flourished east of the Greek and Roman worlds. Our collection focuses particularly on the Parthian and Sasanian Empires, which ruled Persia and extensive parts of the Near East for almost nine centuries. Parthian coins combine Iranian royal imagery with Hellenistic artistic traditions and Greek inscriptions, while Sasanian coinage is distinguished by elaborate crowned portraits, Pahlavi inscriptions and depictions of the Zoroastrian fire altar.

💡 Did you know? The Parthian kings continued to use Greek inscriptions on their coins long after Greek political rule in Persia had ended. Their Sasanian successors replaced these with Middle Persian inscriptions written in Pahlavi script, creating a distinctly Persian style of coinage that later influenced early Islamic silver dirhams.

Discover the rulers, beliefs and artistic traditions of ancient Persia – browse our collection of authentic Parthian, Sasanian and other Ancient Eastern coins and own a tangible piece of Eastern antiquity.