Watch List notes:

ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. al-Walid I ibn 'Abd al-Malik, AH 86-96 / AD 705-715. Pashiz (Bronze, 13 mm, 0.33 g, 2 h), anonymous Arab-Sasanian type, derived from the 'Anahita' issue of Khosrau II, without mint name, circa AH 81-101 = AD 700-720. Draped bust resembling Khosrau II facing, wearing elaborate and winged mural crown; to left and to right, illegible legend in Pahlawi; in outer margin, 'bism Allah' ('in the name of Allah' in Kufic). Rev. Draped bust of Anahita wearing a flame nimbus around the head; to left, illegible legend; to right, HWSRWD ('Khosrau' in Pahlawi). Gyselen 65B. Very rare. Clipped down to the portraits and quite rough, otherwise, very fine.


R. Gyselen questions the widely accepted identification of the bust on the reverse as a representation of the goddess Anahita. In his opinion, it is much more likely 'a male divinity with a strong relationship to the Holy Zoroastrian Fire' (Gyselen, Arab-Sasanian, p. 32).