Yazdagird era

The Yazdagird era is an important period in the history of Iranian and Islamic numismatics. It began with the accession of the last Sassanid Great King, Yazdegerd III, in 632 AD and was used primarily in the Iranian region, but also in regions under Persian cultural influence, to date coins and official documents.
In a numismatic context, the Yazdagird era plays a central role in the classification of late antique and early Islamic coinage. Especially in the territory of the former Sassanid Empire, coins from this era continued to be minted for decades after Yazdegerd’s death in 651, in some cases even into the 9th century. This can be explained by the fact that many local dynasties – such as the Barmakids, the Tahirids and the Saffarids – continued to cultivate Persian traditions in the early Islamic period and retained the Yazdagird calendar as part of their cultural heritage.
The Yazdagird era is dated solarly, i.e. it is based on a solar year with a fixed beginning, usually in conjunction with the Zoroastrian calendar. Year 1 of the Yazdagird era corresponds to 632/633 AD, which requires a certain conversion when determining coin dates. The addition of ‘Anno Yazdegerdis’ or the abbreviation ‘AY’ on coins is a typical feature of this era.
For numismatists, the Yazdagird era is not only a dating aid, but also an indication of the cultural self-assertion of Persian territories after the fall of the Sassanid Empire. The continuity of this calendar on coins demonstrates how strongly the Persian heritage lived on even under Islamic rule. Knowledge of the Yazdagird era is particularly important when analysing Islamic copper and silver coins from the eastern part of the Caliphate in order to correctly classify minting years and reconstruct historical developments.