Reconstructing the history of Sakestan in the late Sassanian period based on a newly found coin of Ardashir III

Sakestan has always been an important region during the Sassanian era. The mints of this region have been the most active of all in Iranshahr from the reign of Khosrow I to Khosrow II, demonstrating the full dominance of Sassanians over Sakestan. After the death of Khosrow II, the mints of the region were inactive intermittently. A coin from the reign of Ardashir III which is currently kept in Hazrat Masumeh Museum of Qom is the only gold coin found of this king and the first with the mint mark of Sakestan. In this research, apart from studying this coin and comparing the findings with archeological data from the late Sassanian period in Sakestan, the political situation of southeastern Iran after Khosrow II has been explored using the archeological and historical data. This paper is considered an original research concerning its objective, and a historical and analytical-descriptive research in terms of its methodology and context. Data and information gathering were carried out in the field and library. Based on the results of this study, it seems that Sakestan region was under the control of the main branch of Sassanian dynasty, loyal to Khosrow II during the late Sassanian period. The importance of this study is that it can clarify the political status of southeastern Iran in the late Sassanian period based on new findings.