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Tyrants of the Tigris & euphrates
215
Sasanian Empire
Silver Drachm (4.13g, 30 mm), AD 591/2-597
Vistahm (Bistam), Rival Sasanian King, AD 591/2-597
Sunrise # 977, Gobl Type I/1, Mochiri 19, Saeedi 274. Superb Extremely Fine.
Mint: LD (RD)-Ray. Year: 4 (regnal year).
Vistahm was maternal uncle of Khosrau II who participated in removal of Khosrau’s father Hormizd
IV from the throne. Later he became a contender to the Sasanian throne against Khosrau II, His rebel-
lion lasted 7 years. His power extended to the Eastern provinces of Sasanian Empire. His drachms are
consiered rare.
216
Sasanian Empire
Silver Drachm (4.13g, 30 mm), AD 628
Kavad II (Kavadh or Qobad), Sasanian King, AD 628
Superb Extremely Fine.
Mint: APL (Abarshahr). Year: 2.
Kavad II is the regnal name of Sheroe, also known as Shiroyeh or Siroe (In European operas). He was
forced to agree to the execution of his father and assumed the throne afterward. Given the threat from the
Byzantine armies’ counter-offensive and the power of the priesthood and nobility, he began to systemat-
ically eliminate all the male members of the Imperial family so that there would be no possible rival for
his throne. This action deprived the Sasanian Empire of potential leaders who might have stopped the
Arab invasion that was to come a decade later. Kavad II died during an epidemic of plague that broke
out in the capital Ctesiphon. Given his Christian faith, inherited from her mother Maryam (the daughter
of the Byzantine Emperor Maurice), he was selected to begin peace negotiations with the Byzantines,
returning the True Cross and prisoners of war. His faith, aside from negotiations with Byzantines, did
not bring him any favor from the Zoroastrian priesthood and nobility. He may have died as a result of a
plot by the nobility and priesthood. Kavad II (Siroe) life The events of his life became subject of stories
and even classical operas by George Fredrick Handel, Antonio Vivaldi and others. His drachms are
extremely rare due to his short reign.