Apart from their monetary function, coins from the Sasanian dynasty in Iran were symbols of legitimacy, faith, power and prestige accrued to the rulers in whose names they were struck. Such gold dinars and silver drachms were often works of art in their own right while their inscriptions, designs and possible archaeological contexts often provide key information in the history of art.

This coin follows the standard type of silver drachm from the reign of Khusraw II (590-628). On the obverse, it depicts a royal bust with characteristic winged crown; inscribed in Pahlavi at right is the ruler’s name, and at left “May his glory increase,” while outside the margin is the word “excellent.” The reverse shows the characteristic fire temple with two attendants, a symbolic scene for the Zoroastrianism religion practiced by the Sasanians, and inscribed in Pahlavi the mint name Rayy and the regnal year 27, which equates to 617 AD.

With the advent of Islam, the first Muslim rulers in the former Persian Empire continued to rely upon the coinage of the Sasanian mints, probably to prevent currency shortages and to help maintain confidence in the monetary system. Among the most common types of such early Islamic coins are those of Khusraw II, with added Arabic inscriptions. See M.2002.1.450.