480 Journ. of the Asiat. Soc. of Bengal. [Nov. & Dec., 1915. 
154. A Sitver Diruam or BastHam (VASTHAM) SASSANIAN 
LER IN KhORASAN IN PERSIA. 
On my informing Mr. Kotwal that his coin was unique as’ 
regards the regnal year on it, he very kindly gave me permission 
to publish the dirham. This coin of his resembles in nearly all 
respects the coin figured by Mr. Thomas, except that the regnal 
year is 10 written |<! instead of W =3. 
Dirhams of Bastha m—seven in all—according to Dr. A. D. 
Mordtmann, have been known of the following regnal years :— 
2 Dirhams of the regnal year 2 
1 Dirham 5 3 
2 Dirhams 5 4 
1 Dirham a 5 
1 Dirham = 6 
Total 7 
It has been stated that Bastham—more properly termed 
Vastham—ruled from a.D. 592-597. Now, by the help of Mr. 
wasjee’s coin, we can with certainty say that the reign must 
have extended over a longer period than the six years hitherto 
assigned to it. 
_ Very little is known regarding the history of Bastham, as 
he is not reckoned as one of the Sassanian monarchs. He was a 
ed 
e and his brother Bindoe were instrumental in compassing the 
death of Hormazd IV, their brother-in-law (sister’s husband), 
and the father of Khusrau. Bastham was at first appointed 
that is the victorious Kobéd. The word Firozi is therefore a 
title and not a name, on the coins of Vastham, and Kavat IT 
