SASANIAN KINGS. Khosrau II, 591-628. Follis (Bronze, 28 mm, 11.43 g, 9 h), presumably imitating a Class 2 Byzantine follis of Heraclius and struck during the Sasanian occupation of Syria, 610-629, Uncertain and pehaps irregular mint. o/I/H/o - Є/λ Two imperial figures standing facing, draped and holding simple cross in left hand; cross above. Rev. Large M flanked by o/Γ/Z and I/Λ/B/O/Δ; above, cross; below, A; in exergue, INNω. H. Pottier, '7th Century 'barbarous' Folles' in: Coinage and History 4 (2015), p. 24, No 16. Extremely rare. Some deposits, otherwise, very fine.


This intriguing coin must either be dated to the Sasanian occupation of Syria or shortly after the Arab conquest (which would make it Arab-Byzantine), although the weights of over 10 grams suggests a pre-conquest issue. We kindly thank T. Goodwin for his valuable contributions to the discussion of this issue.