{"product_id":"sassanian-empire-khusro-i-silver-half-drachm-bust-sacred-fire-altar-c-531-579-ad-copy","title":"Sassanian Empire Khusro I Silver Half Drachm – Bust \u0026 Sacred Fire Altar – c. 531–579 AD","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSassanian Empire – Khusro I Silver Half Drachm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKhosrow I Anushirvan | Bust \u0026amp; Sacred Fire Altar Type\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA fascinating \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003esilver half drachm of Khusro I (Khosrow I)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, one of the greatest rulers of the Sassanian Empire. Known by the epithet \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnushirvan (“of the immortal soul”)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Khusro I ruled from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e531 to 579 AD\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and presided over one of the most prosperous and influential periods of Sassanian history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis small denomination provides an interesting example of the extensive silver coinage system that supported commerce throughout the Sassanian Empire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObverse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe obverse features the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebust of Khusro I facing right\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, wearing his distinctive royal crown and elaborate headdress.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe carefully stylised royal portrait represents the emperor’s authority and follows the established artistic conventions of Sassanian coinage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse depicts the characteristic \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZoroastrian sacred fire altar\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, generally flanked by attendants.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe sacred fire was a central symbol of the Sassanian religious tradition and is one of the most recognisable features of Sassanian coinage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCoin Details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEmpire:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Sassanian Empire\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRuler:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Khusro I \/ Khosrow I\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEpithet:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Anushirvan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReign:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 531–579 AD\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 6th Century AD\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDenomination:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Half Drachm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMetal:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Silver\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eType:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Bust \u0026amp; Fire Altar\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObverse:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Bust of Khusro I facing right\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Sacred fire altar with attendants\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRegion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Ancient Persia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Background\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSassanian Empire\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was one of the great powers of Late Antiquity, ruling much of Iran and neighbouring territories and maintaining a long-standing rivalry with the Byzantine Empire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reign of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKhusro I\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is often regarded as one of the high points of Sassanian civilisation. His administration, military reforms, economic policies and patronage of learning strengthened the empire and contributed to its cultural and intellectual achievements.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSassanian silver coinage circulated widely across the empire and beyond its frontiers. The characteristic combination of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eroyal portrait on the obverse and sacred fire altar on the reverse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e makes these coins instantly recognisable and historically important.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollector’s Appeal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn excellent addition to collections specialising in:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSassanian Empire Coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKhusro I \/ Khosrow I\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnushirvan Coinage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAncient Persian Silver Coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSassanian Silver Drachms \u0026amp; Fractions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZoroastrian Coinage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAncient Middle Eastern Coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLate Antique Coinage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e6th Century Historical Coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAge of Coin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1,450–1,500 years old\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA fascinating fractional silver issue from the reign of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKhusro I\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, combining the emperor’s distinctive royal portrait with the iconic Zoroastrian sacred fire altar — a tangible piece of the history of ancient Persia.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gupta Coins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48467691110612,"sku":"A00010","price":6800.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0840\/5028\/0660\/files\/Picsart_26-08-09_20-05-52-041-Photoroom_1.jpg?v=1786618068","url":"https:\/\/guptacoins.com\/products\/sassanian-empire-khusro-i-silver-half-drachm-bust-sacred-fire-altar-c-531-579-ad-copy","provider":"Gupta Coins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}