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Sasanian Persian Silver Coin of Khusro II, 590-627 A.D. browse these categories for related items... All Items: Near East: Sassanian: Pre AD 1000: item #454234
$50 |
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The Sasanian empire began in 224 AD when the last Parthian ruler of Persia was defeated in battle. The Sasanians were ruled by a series of forty kings that engaged in nearly non-stop hostility with the neighboring Roman and Byzantine empires. The last successful Sasanian emperor was Khusro II, known as "the Victorious," who reigned from 590-627 A.D. Khusro II finally achieved the Sasanian dream of winning territories in Anatolia, Syria, and Egypt that finally provided a gateway to the Mediterranean. This proved to be a short-lived victory, however, as the Byzantine emperor Heraclius made a heroic reorganization of his defenses and counterattacked. The culmination was a great defeat of the Sassanid army on the plains of northern Iraq in 627. Khusro II was subsequently murdered in early 628. The lasting consequence of this last great conflict was to leave both the Byzantine and Sasanian empires weak for attack from outsiders -- 628 A.D. was also the year that Mohammed returned to Mecca in triumph, and his armies made short work of the tired Sasanians.
AGE: 590-627 A.D. CONDITION: Struck on a large flan that retains the entire obverse and reverse intact despite a chip to the top of the coin. The obverse features a facing bust of Khusro II wearing a winged crown. The reverse shows a fire altar with two attendants. Pahlavi mint. DIMENSIONS: |
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