CoinWeek Giveaway # 656 Sponsored by…CoinWeek Giveaway: Sasanian Empire AR Drachm of Khusro II

This 1,400-Year-Old Silver Coin Witnessed Persia’s Last Great War.

A silver drachm can fit in the palm of your hand. Yet this Khusro II Sasanian drachm carries the story of one of antiquity’s last great clashes between Persia and Rome.

Khusro II, also known as Khosrow II or Khusrau II, first reached the Sasanian throne in 590. A revolt soon forced him to flee. However, Byzantine Emperor Maurice helped him recover his kingdom. Khusro returned to power in 591 and ruled until 628.

That alliance later gave way to war.

After Maurice died in 602, Khusro launched a new campaign against the Byzantine Empire. Sasanian armies captured vast territories. They took Jerusalem in 614. Later, they occupied Egypt. For a time, Khusro controlled an empire that stretched deep into former Byzantine territory.

Then the tide turned.

Byzantine Emperor Heraclius launched a major counteroffensive in 622. Years of hard fighting followed. Eventually, Khusro lost political support at home. His opponents removed him from power in 628, and his son Kavadh II took the throne.

A Portrait Designed to Project Royal Power

The obverse makes a Khusro II Sasanian drachm instantly recognizable to specialists.

Khusro’s crowned bust faces right. His elaborate crown features wings, while stars and crescents strengthen the royal imagery. Pahlavi inscriptions identify the ruler and invoke his royal glory.

On surviving examples, the legend expresses the idea that Khusro’s royal glory should increase. Therefore, the coin carried more than monetary value. It also spread an unmistakable image of royal authority throughout the empire.

Fire, Faith, and the Sasanian Empire

The reverse presents one of the defining images of Sasanian coinage.

A Zoroastrian fire altar occupies the center. Two attendants stand beside it. Stars, crescents, border rings, and inscriptions complete the design.

More importantly for collectors, many Khusro II drachms carry a mint abbreviation and regnal year on the reverse. As a result, specialists can often determine where a coin originated and when the mint struck it.

That transforms an ancient silver coin into a surprisingly precise historical document.

Why the Khusro II Sasanian Drachm Matters

The silver drachm stood at the heart of the Sasanian monetary system. Sasanian mints struck these coins by hand. The government also relied on drachms for taxes and state expenditures, including military expenses.

Khusro’s long reign produced drachms at numerous mints. Therefore, collectors can pursue them by mint, regnal year, portrait type, die variety, or historical period.

Most importantly, this contest coin connects its next owner with a remarkable moment in world history.

Khusro II lost his throne. He won it back with Roman help. Later, his armies conquered Roman territories. Then Rome struck back.

More than 1,400 years later, his silver drachms still survive.

That makes this CoinWeek contest prize much more than an ancient coin. It is a small silver witness to the rise, triumph, and dramatic reversal of one of Persia’s greatest kings.

Coin Specifications

• Ruler: Khusro II
• Empire: Sasanian Empire
• Reign: Restored reign, 591-628 CE
• Denomination: Drachm
• Metal: Silver (AR)
• Typical Weight: Approximately 4.0 grams
• Typical Diameter: Approximately 30-32 mm
• Manufacture: Hand struck
• Obverse: Crowned bust of Khusro II facing right with Pahlavi legends
• Reverse: Fire altar with two attendants; mint and regnal-year inscriptions typically appear in the fields

Entries into our Contest are accepted from August 29th until 8 AM on Saturday September 5th, 2026

Links to Entry Forms,  Extra Entry Options and Terms are Below

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