The First Kings of Chess: Silver Coins of the Sasanian Dynasty (Deluxe album)

The First Kings of Chess: Silver Coins of the Sasanian Dynasty (Deluxe album)

The Book of Kings, the epic poem by the tenth century Persian poet Ferdowsi, contains the following passage on the origins of chess.

One day an ambassador from the king of Hind arrived at the Persian court of Khusru, and after an oriental exchange of courtesies, the ambassador produced rich presents from his sovereign and amongst them was an elaborate board with curiously carved pieces of ebony and ivory.

Thus was the Indian game chaturanga imported to Iran, where it would begin its evolution into today’s chess—a word derived from the Persian word shah, The Persian word for king.

Khusru and his two successors, Hormizd IV and Khusru II, presided over the Second Golden Age of the Sasanian Empire. The Sasanian kings were known for the elaborateness of their crowns. Some historians believe that the first chess pieces carved in the Sasanian Empire were the kings, whose ornate crowns were based on those worn by Khusru and his successors—as seen on these remarkable silver coins.

Sasanian Empire. Khusru I 531-579 AD (Struck in regnal year 12, 544 AD) AR 29mm 4.0gm drachm GD Jayy mint,

Obv: Bust of Kavad I r., wearing crenelated crown with crescent at forehead and surmounted by korymbos and crescent and two ribbons

Rev: Fire altar flanked by attendants; to l., date; to r., mint name.

Ref: SNS III type II/2. Göbl type II/2.

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Sku# 2223