Ruler : Hormizd IV
Era : (579-590 CE)
Dynasty : Sasanian
Mint : Unknown
Denomination : Silver Drachm
Weight :  3.93  g
Diameter :   29.4 mm

Obverse :
Draped bust of Hormizd IV to right wearing elaborate mural crown with frontal crescent and korymbos set on crescent behind head, crescents with star at 3, 6, and 9 o clock in the outer margin.

Reverse :
Fire altar flanked by two attendants; in upper left field, six-pointed star, in upper right field crescent.

Comment :
Hormizd IV was the Sasanian King of Kings of Iran from 579 to 590. He was the son and successor of Khosrow I (r. 531–579) and his mother was a Khazar princess.

During his reign, Hormizd IV had the high aristocracy and Zoroastrian priesthood slaughtered, whilst supporting the landed gentry (the dehqan). His reign was marked by constant warfare: to the west, he fought a long and indecisive war with the Byzantine Empire, which had been ongoing since the reign of his father; and to the east, the Iranian general Bahram Chobin successfully contained and defeated the Western Turkic Khaganate during the First Perso-Turkic War. It was also during Hormizd IV’s reign that the Chosroid dynasty of Iberia was abolished. After negotiating with the Iberian aristocracy and winning their support, Iberia was successfully incorporated into the Sasanian Empire.
Exremely Fine grade, Scarce.