Heraclius, 610-641 A.D. AE 12 Nummi, Alexandria Mint, struck during the Sassanian occupation, 618-628 AD. by Khusro II. No legend, crowned bust of Khusru II facing, wearing chlamys, his crown surmounted by a cross in a crescent. Star to left, crescent to right / Cross potent on globe, I to left, B to right. Mintmark AΛEΞ. 19mm, 5.77 grams. Alexandria mint. SB 856, Mitchiner ACW 1218, Sellwood ISC 63; DOC 192.

Rare.

During the great Byzantine–Sasanian War, the armies of the Sasanian king Khusro II (590–628) invaded Egypt and captured Alexandria around 619 CE, after having already conquered Syria and Palestine. Egypt remained under Persian occupation for roughly a decade and was administered as part of Khusro’s rapidly expanding empire. Byzantine control was restored following Emperor Heraclius’ successful counteroffensive and the collapse of Khusro’s regime, with the Persians withdrawing from Egypt around 629 CE.