Coinage of Khosrow I
1 catalogued issue of Khosrow I — metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions with references.
In short
Khosrow I Anushirvan (r. 531–579 CE) was the Sasanian reformer whose dated, mint-signed silver drachms became the most widely circulated coin of the late-antique Near East. Khosrow I issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 531 CE – 579 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Silver at Multiple mints.
- Catalogued
- 1
- Eras
- 1
- Metals
- 1
- Denominations
- 1
Key facts
| Catalogued pieces | 1 |
|---|---|
| Date range | 531 CE – 579 CE |
| Eras represented | Sasanian Empire |
| Metals | Silver |
| Denominations | Drachm |
| Mints | Multiple mints |
| Reign | 531–579 CE |
| Dynasty | Sasanian |
| Standard coin | Silver drachm, ~4.1 g, dated and mint-signed |
| Common mints | WYHC, BBA, AW, ST, AT |
Who was Khosrow I?
Khosrow I reformed taxation and the army, patronised scholarship, and fought Justinian's Rome to a standstill. His reign is the classical benchmark of Sasanian government; the epithet Anushirvan, 'of immortal soul', was attached to him by later Persian tradition as a byword for just rule.
His coinage and why it matters for collectors
Under Khosrow I the drachm settles into its final form: a very broad, thin flan of about 4.1 g, the king in a winged crown within a triple border with crescent-and-star ornaments, and a fire altar with two attendants on the reverse.
Crucially, the reverse carries an abbreviated mint signature and a regnal year. That makes the series precisely datable — a coin marked with year 30 was struck in 560/561 CE — and makes mint-collecting practical. Common signatures include WYHC (Veh-Ardashir/Ctesiphon), AW (Ahvaz), BBA (court mint), ST (Istakhr) and AT (Adurbadagan).
Identification
Read the regnal year on the reverse left field and the mint on the right. Weight below about 3.6 g usually means wear or clipping; edge chips are normal on these thin flans. Because output was enormous, worn examples are inexpensive, and value concentrates in scarce mints, high grade, and full flans with complete borders.
Sasanian Empire · 224 – 651 CE
Era overview →Frequently asked about Khosrow I
- How are Khosrow I drachms dated?
- By the regnal year struck on the reverse: add the year to 531 CE, so year 30 corresponds to 560/561 CE.
- Are Khosrow I coins rare?
- No — they were struck in enormous quantity and worn examples remain among the most affordable ancient silver; scarce mint signatures and sharply struck full flans carry the premium.
- What coins did Khosrow I issue?
- Khosrow I issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 531 CE – 579 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Silver at Multiple mints.
- How many Khosrow I pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
- 1 item, dated 531 CE – 579 CE, spread across 1 era: Sasanian Empire.
- Which metals were used for Khosrow I coinage?
- Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
- Which denominations are associated with Khosrow I?
- Drachm. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.
- Where were Khosrow I coins minted?
- Recorded mints include Multiple mints.
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Denominations here
Metals here
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