SASANIAN KINGS. Bistam, 591/2-597. Drachm (Silver, 33 mm, 4.06 g, 3 h), LD (Ray), RY 2 = AD 592/3. Draped bust of Bistam to right, wearing an elaborate mural crown with a frontal crescent; ribbons and crescents over shoulders; stars flanking the crown; behind head, ‘ʾp̄zwn' / GDE’ = ‘abzōn xwarrah’ (‘[May] the glory [have] increase’ in Pahlavi); before head, ‘pylwc' / wsthm’ = ‘pērōz Wistahm’ (‘Victorious Bistam’ in Pahlavi); pellets within crescents in the outer margin. Rev. Fire altar with ribbons, flanked by two attendants; above altar, star and crescent; to left, ‘TLYN’ = ‘dō’ (‘two’ in Pahlavi); to right, ‘LD’ (‘Ray’ in Pahlavi). Göbl I/1. Rare. Struck from worn dies, otherwise, good very fine.

Bistam was a Sasanian nobleman who played a key role in the accession of Khosrau II. After initially serving the king, he rebelled and established an extensive independent realm in Iran. He was one of the most significant usurpers of the late Sasanian period.