Sasanian Silver Sasanian silver Drachm Hormizd IV
14
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14
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€ 2
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 160 - € 200
 | €2 | |
|---|---|---|
| €1 |
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Sasanian silver Drachm Hormizd IV, dating to 589 AD, about 32 mm in diameter and 4.08 g, in EF condition with original authenticity, minted Wasit.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Sasanian Empire, silver drachm Hormizd IV (579-590 AD), struck Wasit 589 AD.
Obverse: Crowned bust of the king right.
Reverse: Fire altar with two facing attendants.
-> Hormizd IV’s silver drachms were not only coins but also carefully designed symbols of royal and religious authority. The king appears wearing his distinctive crown, while the reverse shows a sacred Zoroastrian fire altar guarded by two attendants. Mint names and regnal years beside the altar often allow these coins to be linked to a particular place and year of his turbulent reign.
Diameter: ± 32 mm
Weight: ± 4.08 g
EF condition
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
-> Hormizd IV was Sasanian King of Kings from AD 579 to 590 and the son of Khosrow I. He continued the long war against the Byzantine Empire while confronting Turkic forces in the east. Later sources portray him as a capable but severe ruler whose attempts to restrain the power of the nobility and Zoroastrian priesthood created strong opposition. His reign ended following the rebellion of the general Bahram Chobin; Hormizd was deposed, blinded and killed, and was succeeded by his son Khosrow II.
His coinage consists mainly of broad silver drachms. The obverse shows his crowned bust facing right, usually flanked by a star and crescent, while the reverse depicts the traditional Zoroastrian fire altar attended by two standing figures. The mint and regnal year were normally recorded beside the altar, allowing many coins to be dated and attributed to a specific mint.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Sasanian Empire, silver drachm Hormizd IV (579-590 AD), struck Wasit 589 AD.
Obverse: Crowned bust of the king right.
Reverse: Fire altar with two facing attendants.
-> Hormizd IV’s silver drachms were not only coins but also carefully designed symbols of royal and religious authority. The king appears wearing his distinctive crown, while the reverse shows a sacred Zoroastrian fire altar guarded by two attendants. Mint names and regnal years beside the altar often allow these coins to be linked to a particular place and year of his turbulent reign.
Diameter: ± 32 mm
Weight: ± 4.08 g
EF condition
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
-> Hormizd IV was Sasanian King of Kings from AD 579 to 590 and the son of Khosrow I. He continued the long war against the Byzantine Empire while confronting Turkic forces in the east. Later sources portray him as a capable but severe ruler whose attempts to restrain the power of the nobility and Zoroastrian priesthood created strong opposition. His reign ended following the rebellion of the general Bahram Chobin; Hormizd was deposed, blinded and killed, and was succeeded by his son Khosrow II.
His coinage consists mainly of broad silver drachms. The obverse shows his crowned bust facing right, usually flanked by a star and crescent, while the reverse depicts the traditional Zoroastrian fire altar attended by two standing figures. The mint and regnal year were normally recorded beside the altar, allowing many coins to be dated and attributed to a specific mint.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Sasanian
Century/timeframe
589 AD
Name of object
Sasanian silver Drachm Hormizd IV
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2026
Material
Silver
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2026
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
