Coin Portraying King Chosroes II 590 - 628

This silver coin portraying King Chosroes II is an artifact of the Sasanian Empire, a civilization which, from the 3rd to 7th centuries, was a major power in Western Asia.   As a visual symbol, this coin conveys power through its imagery. On one side, it portrays King Chosroes II, his regal image serving as a declaration of authority and legitimacy. On the other side of the coin there is what is believed to be a Zoroastrian fire altar. The image symbolizes the empire's religious and cultural identity, deeply intertwined with the state. But objects like this coin are not just about power, they also facilitate trade and economic stability within the empire. So this small object speaks volumes about how identity, power, and economics were entwined in the Sasanian world.