Armenian-Sasanian? The ZwZwN "mintmark" reconsidered

[Parthicus]

Armenian-Sasanian. AR drachm (2.97 g, 31 mm). Imitation of Sasanian drachm of Hormazd IV (579-590), Year 6, struck probably in the second half of the 7th century CE. On reverse, for mintmark, "ZwZwN' in Pahlavi script. Zeno 313913 (this coin); Steve Album Auction 46, lot 43 (May 18-21, 2023).

I previously wrote about another example of this coinage that I acquired in late 2019 (see https://www.cointalk.com/threads/sa...r-is-it-the-denomination.361981/#post-4578077 ). The unusual mintmark ZwZwN has been interpreted as possibly representing the denomination, the Aramaic-derived "zuz" (plural "zuzim") which is used in Jewish sources from the early centuries CE to describe the main denomination of silver coin, equivalent to a drachm or dirham. At that time, I concluded that "ZwZwN" was probably just a bonafide mintmark of Hormazd IV, possibly for the small city of Zuzan in Khorasan Province. However, after examining this new specimen and others, and further reading, I have changed my mind. I now believe that the "ZwZwN" coinage in the name of Hormazd IV was struck, probably in Armenia, well after the death of Hormazd IV with false dates, perhaps by local authorities without permission from the Sasanian kings or their Arab successors. There are some coins in the series that do closely resemble official issues of Hormazd IV, such as my previous coin, that may have been struck within the lifetime of Hormazd or shortly after his death. Later coins, such as the present example, deviate significantly from the normal official style, and a few late issues are known with additional Arabic inscriptions added to the design. (For examples, go to zeno.ru and use the search term "ZwZwN".) I therefore now consider this coin, and the previous one, as "Armenian-Sassanian" coinage.

However, I do still have questions about the alleged use of ZwZwN as a denomination rather than as a mintmark. Why would local Armenian issuers (whether official or not) suddenly feel the need to put the denomination on coins? Sasanian coins had been circulating in Armenia for centuries by this point, presumably everyone would have recognized the designs and would not need to be told "this is a zuz". I don't have an alternative for what ZwZwN might have been intended to stand for, but I'm still not convinced that it's the denomination. Regardless, this is an interesting coin that raises a lot of questions, and that might benefit from further research. Please post whatever you have that's related, or explain to me why I'm wrong about this coin.

[John Conduitt]

I find it hard enough to interpret Sasanian mintmarks without challenging theories!

But it’s an interesting idea. It’s not as if there weren’t lots of people copying them, so why not. I also agree it would be odd to add the denomination, as familiarity was why they chose to copy Sasanian coins. I don’t know if anyone (apart from the Chinese) added the denomination until 1000 years later, because coins were meant to be worth their weight in silver and it didn’t matter what was written on them.

Edited September 10, 2023 by John Conduitt

[DLTcoins]

It's all Steve Album's fault, apparently. In a Checklist footnote (3rd ed. 2011, p. 34, n60) he writes:

"At a numismatic meeting in London about 1980, I jokingly suggested that the type was a coin worth two zuz, the cost of a goat in a song in the Aramaic language still sung by children during the Jewish holiday of Passover. Although I never meant this as a serious suggestion, suddenly we all perceived the concept as potential reality. It is now widely accepted."

There seem to be some contextual clues which might help the series make sense. The immediate prototype has a mint-mark interpreted as MY:

https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=6773&lot=41

https://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=109363

A later version has a full Arabic (Muslim) Shahada in the obverse margin while retaining ZWZWN in the same location on the reverse:

https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=6773&lot=173

Another adds rabi' Allah to the reverse margin:

https://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=96964

Lastly, rabi' Allah replaces ZWZWN in right field:

https://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=153562

I'm not sure what to make of it all but it's a fascinating rabbit hole!

 

Edited September 10, 2023 by DLTcoins

[hotwheelsearl]

Uhhhh. Can you point out or outline on the image where this mint mark is? I can’t tell a thing from these coins 

[Parthicus]

Thanks @DLTcoinsfor the useful info and links.

@hotwheelsearl: The mintmark's not quite as clear as it could be on this specimen, but this illustration may help:

 

[hotwheelsearl]

2 hours ago, Parthicus said:

Thanks @DLTcoinsfor the useful info and links.

@hotwheelsearl: The mintmark's not quite as clear as it could be on this specimen, but this illustration may help:

 

Thanks. I thought those squiggles were parts of the fire attendants arms. Lol

[velarfricative]

On 9/9/2023 at 8:09 PM, John Conduitt said:

I find it hard enough to interpret Sasanian mintmarks without challenging theories!

But it’s an interesting idea. It’s not as if there weren’t lots of people copying them, so why not. I also agree it would be odd to add the denomination, as familiarity was why they chose to copy Sasanian coins. I don’t know if anyone (apart from the Chinese) added the denomination until 1000 years later, because coins were meant to be worth their weight in silver and it didn’t matter what was written on them.

It's quite standard on Islamic coinage to mention the denomination, for gold, silver, and bronze, beginning with the early post-reform period.

[Simo]

http://mafkf.hypotheses.org/files/2015/02/fig5.culture_materielle.jpg

Hi!

This one has been found in the monastery of Qusur, Failaka island, Koweit, and been thought as a testimony of a late Sasanian occupation (6 of Hormizd= 585). According to your discussion, it could be a testimony of the early Umayyad period, and of early umayyad human circulations between Armenia and the Gulf?

https://mafkf.hypotheses.org/qusur-culture-materielle-2

What do you think?

Best

Edited June 17 by Simo