Three Preliminary Essays on Sasanian Numismatics

The beginning of studies on Sasanian numismatics goes back to the 18th century. Since then Sasanian numismatics has experienced different periods and schools and remarkably advanced by new approaches and methods. Today, many questions of Sasanian history and archaeology find numismatic answers. The present paper is arranged in three general parts, which, respectively, provide an introduction to the history of Sasanian numismatics from the 18th century up to now, major collections of Sasanian coins in the world, and new methodological bases and approaches of modern studies on Sasanian numismatics.