254 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.  [NS., XIV, 
IL. 
Kobad I died, eighty-two years old, 13th September 531 
and was succeeded by his destined heir, Khusrau (Chosroes) 
surnamed Andsharvan, ‘ the Blessed,’’ whom his father is said 
to have caused to be crowned as he lay on his death-bed. 
Khusrau I was a great king, and deserved the title of “ the Just.” 
He died in February 579. 
The interesting peculiarity of his drachme described below 
is that the regnal year is inscribed in Pahlavi chehar (4) instead 
of the Semitic arba. On Sasanian coins the numerals (written 
in words), indicating the regnal years, from two to ten, are all 
Semitic ; but one, and from eleven upwards, are all Pahlavi. h 
the extreme east of the empire and far from the Semitic m- 
fluence coins were struck at Merv in the regnal year four of 
Khusrau I, with the numeral written in Pahlavi chehar, & Vety 
no less than 78 different years. Its monogram appears first ee 
Yezdegerd II (438-457), and again under Firoz I in 459 and ae 
and Jamasp in 498. It showed its greatest activity from 515 
ing the mint-monogram MR with Merv 
Description of the Second Drachme. 
Metal.—Silver. Diameter.—1-1’. Weight.—58 grains. 
Obverse.—Bust of king to ri i bet 
right, wearing a cro ; 
mounted by a crescent wi : ; ini 7 
is brought back and arranged in curls. Over each shoulder, ® 
a crescent and star, and behind it, a star. On the margi : 
the left and right, and at the base of the piece, a crescen™ 
Grénetis. 
Legend.—( Kh)a(sraiz) ; 
Re re in front of the face. 
on each side, facing f : 
other on a sword. To the left of the pyrewm, a star; a os 
the right, a crescent, Grénetis, wo 
Legend.—To the left, Cheha(r) “four”? ; and to the right, 
the mint-monogram MR “ Mery.” 2 
