Āzarmīdokht Drachm

Triton XIV, Lot: 542. Estimate $10000. Sold for $28000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SASANIAN KINGS. Āzarmīg-duxt (Āzarmīdokht). AD 631. AR Drachm (33mm, 4.14 g, 3h). WYHC (Weh-az-Amid-Kavad) mint. Dated RY 1 (AD 631). Bust of Husrav (Khosrau) II right, wearing mural crown with frontal crescent, two wings, and star set on crescent; ribbon on left shoulder, crescent and ribbon on right; monogram to left, stars flanking crown; star-in-crescents in margin / Fire altar with ribbons; flanked by two attendants; star and crescent flanking flames, date on left, “wyhc” on right; star-in-crescents in margin. Göbl -; Mochiri 505 (same dies); Paruck -; Saeedi -. EF. Extremely rare.

From the William B. Warden, Jr. Collection.

Because of the loss of his power and prestige due to the victories of the Byzantine emperor Heraclius, in AD 628, Husrav (Khosrau) II (and eighteen of his sons) was assassinated by his son and successor, Kavad (Kvadh) II. Over the next few months, Kavad attempted to initiate peace negotiations with the Byzantine emperor, but the Sasanian king’s death only a few months into the new reign precipitated a period of civil war. Kavad’s son and co-ruler, the seven-year-old Ardaxšīr (Ardashir) III, was killed by the Husrav’s former general, Shahrbaraz, but he too was soon removed. This vacancy on the throne was filled by two daughters of Husrav II, each of whom ruled for about a year, whether on their own, or as possible regents for Husrav (Khosrau) III. The first, Boran, attempted to restore stability to the Sasanian empire by making peace with the Byzantines, reducing taxation, and revitalizing the governmental infrastructure, including restoring a general sense of justice. All of these moves did little to restrore the power of the central government. Her sister and successor, Āzarmīg-duxt (Āzarmīdokht), reigned for only a few months. According to the ninth-century Persian historian, al-Tabari, the general Farrokh sought her hand in marriage (and, thus, a link to the throne), but she had him murdered. In retaliation, Farrokh’s son, thought to be Rostam Farrokhzad, had her blinded and subsequently killed after she was captured at Ctesiphon.