SASANIAN EMPIRE
Hormizd IV (AD 579-590)
AR Drachm. 4.10g, 31mm
MINTED: BYS (Bishapur) mint, RY 11 (AD 589)
REF: Göbl Type I/1; Karlsson D86
OBVERSE: Crowned bust to right, wearing mural crown with frontal crescent and korymbos; three crescents with stars outside border.
REVERSE: Fire altar with ribbons and attendants; star and crescent flanking flames; mint signature to right, regnal year to left. 
 
Notes:
Slight weakness of details in areas. 
 
Historical Notes:
The Sasanians came to power in Persia, when the founder of the dynasty, Ardashir I, defeated the last Parthian king, Artabanus IV, in AD 224.  During the course of the next four centuries, the Sasanian Empire would become a great regional superpower, at its height challenging the suzerainty and influence of the Roman and Byzantine Empires.  The power of the Sasanians declined precipitously after the first few decades of the 7th century, and they ultimately were conquered by the emergent Arab Muslim caliphate.  
 
Hormizd IV was the son and heir of the great Sasanian king Khusru I, coming to the throne on the latter death's in AD 579.  He was known for his religious tolerance, in particular towards the Christians, and also for continuing his father's long-running war against the Byzantine Empire.  Hormizd often antagonized and persecuted the kingdom's aristocracy, which eventually led to a civil war breaking out in AD 589 when he dismissed and humiliated his famous general, Bahram Chobin.  During the revolt, Hormizd was captured in the palace by two of his own brothers-in-law, blinded, and subsequently strangled to death.  His was succeeded by his son, Khusru II.