Coins, which possess several points of interest, are assigned to Balas by the best authorities.  They bear on the obverse the head of the king with the usual mural crown surmounted by a crescent and inflated ball.  The beard is short and curled.  The hair falls behind the head, also in curls.  The earring, wherewith the ear is ornamented, has a double pendent.  Flames issue from the left shoulder, an exceptional peculiarity in the Sassanian series, but one which is found also among the Indo-Scythian kings with whom Balas was so closely connected.  The full legend upon the coins appears to be Hur Kadi Valdk-dshi, “Volagases, the Fire King.”  The reverse exhibits the usual fire-altar, but with the king’s head in the flames, and with the star and crescent on either side, as introduced by Pe-rozes.  It bears commonly the legend, ValaJcdshi, with a mint-mark.  The mints employed are those of Iran, Kerman, Ispahan, Nisa, Ledan, Shiz, Zadracarta, and one or two others. [PLATE XXI., Fig. 4].

CHAPTER XVIII.

First reign of Kobad.  His Favorites, Sufral and Sapor.  His Khazar War.  Rise, Teaching, and influence of Mazdak.  His Claim to Miraculous Powers.  Kobad adopts the new Religion, and attempts to impose it on the Armenians.  Revolt of Armenia under Vahan, successful.  Kobad yields.  General Rebellion in Persia, and Deposition of Kobad.  Escape of Mazdak.  Short Reign of Zamasp.  His Coins.

When Kobad fled to the Ephthalites on the failure of his attempt to seize the crown, he was received, we are told, with open arms; but no material aid was given to him for the space of three years.  However, in the fourth year of his exile, a change came over the Ephthalite policy, and he returned to his capital at the head of an army, with which Khush-newaz had furnished him.  The change is reasonably connected with the withholding of his tribute by Balas; and it is difficult to suppose that Kobad, when he accepted Ephthalite aid, did not pledge himself to resume the subordinate position which his uncle had been content to hold for two years.  It seems certain that he was accompanied to his capital by an Ephthalite contingent, which he richly rewarded before dismissing it.  Owing his throne to the aid thus afforded him, he can scarcely have refused to make the expected acknowledgment.  Distinct evidence on the point is wanting; but there can be little doubt that for some years Kobad held the Persian throne on the condition of paying tribute to Khush-newaz, and recognizing him as his lord paramount.

During the early portion of his first reign, which extended from A.D. 487 to 498, we are told that he entrusted the entire administration of affairs to Suklira, or Sufrai, who had been the chief minister of his uncle.  Sufrai’s son, Zer-Mihr, had faithfully adhered to him throughout the whole period of his exile, and Kobad did not regard it as a crime that the father had opposed his ambition, and thrown