90, Lot: 153. Estimate $100. Sold for $60. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SASANIAN KINGS of PERSIA. Hormizd IV. 579-590 AD. AR Drachm (30mm, 4.16 gm). APL (Abrashahr) mint. Dated year 10 (589 AD). Crowned and cuirassed bust right, ribbon over right shoulder; crescent and ribbon over left, stars flanking crown / Fire altar with attendants and ribbon, star and crescent flanking flames. Göbl I/1; Alram 909. EF, toned, struck a little soft.

From the Bellaria Collection. Ex Schweizerischer Bankverein (Basel) 33 (20 September 1993), lot 433.

Hormizd IV, son of Khosrau I, continued his father's liberal policies toward the poorer classes, which increased the tension between the ruling house and the other great feudal families of Iran. Unlike his father, Hormizd lacked a strong personality, and eventually lost the confidence of his own family. This led to the beginnings of a widespread conspiracy against him. His great mistake was to dismiss a popular general Bahram Chobin, who turned upon the king and began a rebellion. As a result, the conspirators killed Hormizd and replaced him with his son, Khosrau II. Although Bahram's rebellion was successful and he was crowned king, Khosrau, with help from the Byzantines, overthrew the usurper in less than a year.