96 / 166
TYRANT COLLECTION
94
217
Sasanian Empire
Silver Drachm (4.17g, 31 mm), AD 628
Kavad II (Kavadh or Qobad), Sasanian King, AD 628
Sunrise # 991, Gobl Type I/1, Malek, Kavad 30-51, Mochiri 925, Saeedi 290. Extremely
Fine.
Mint: AIRAN (Present day Shush). Year: 2 (Regnal Year).
A fine example of the drachm for this monarch. Notice that the wings of victory which appeared on
Khosrau II’s crown are no longer present on Kavad’s crown, who imitates that of his great- grandfather
Kavad I. In addition, the phrase “Apzuti” behind the crown on the coins of Khosrau II is replaced by the
word “P(i)RUZ” meaning “victor”.
218
Sasanian Empire
Silver Drachm (4.16g, 31 mm), AD 628-630
Ardashir III, Sasanian King, AD 628-630
Sunrise # 993, Gobl Type I/1, Superb Extremely Fine.
Mint: ART ( Ardashir Xvarrah)-Present day Firuzabad. Rare mint for this monarch. Year: 2 (regnal year).
Ardashir III was the son of Kavad II (Siroe). His mother was Anzoy. She was, according to some records,
a Roman princess and according to others, a Roman slave. Ardashir III was a Christian. He was put on
the throne at age 7. His grand vizier Mah-Adhur Gushnasp governed the empire on his behalf in an
efficient and exemplary way. The Sasanian generals, especially their leader Shahrbaraz, were not happy
with the rise of Kavad II to power. Once Ardashir III took the throne, Shahrbaraz, who was an old and
clever commander, covertly began a campaign to remove the child king from power. He succeeded and
Ardashir was poisoned. Ardashir’s drachms show him as a young child. He wears two different crowns
on his coins; this is the first.