Khusro II, Persian occupation of Alexandria, Egypt, 12 Nummi:
Obverse: Bust facing, star and crescent in field.
Reverse: I B divided by globus cruciger, AΛEΞ in exergue.
Alexandria mint AD 610-628.
Weight: 6.7 grams. Composition: AE. Diameter: 18mm.
MIB 202. BMC 276. Sear Byzantine 855.

A really attractive example of this interesting coin.

Chosroes II (Khusro) is the grandson of Chosroes I (531-579) and the enemy of Justinian I (527-565). Successor of his father Hormizd IV (579-590), he was the last great Sassanid king. Allied with Maurice Tiberius (582-602) and learning of the assassination of the latter, he invaded the Byzantine Empire but the Sassanid kingdom succumbed under the combined blows of the Byzantines who won a great victory in 628, the Avars and especially the Muslims. Omar (634-644), Commander of the Faithful, takes Ctesiphon in 636 and Jerusalem two years later. The last Sasanian king was overthrown in 651.

Sold Nov 24