Watch List notes:

ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, AH 65-86 / AD 685-705. Drachm (Silver, 32 mm, 4.00 g, 9 h), Arab-Sasanian type, citing governor al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf (AH 75-95 = AD 694-713), BYŠ (Bishapur), AH 78 = AD 697/8. Draped bust resembling Khosrau II to right, wearing elaborate mural crown; behind head, AFZUT GDH ('may his kingship increase' in Pahlawi); before head, 'Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf' (in Kufic); in outer margin, 'bism Allah la ilah illa Allah wahdahu Muhammad Rasul Allah' ('In the name of Allah, There is no God but Allah alone; Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah' in Kufic). Rev. Fire altar with ribbons flanked by two attendants; in upper fiel to left, six-pointed star; in upper field to right, crescent; to left, date; to right, BYŠ (name of the mint in Pahlawi). Album 35.1. Malek, Arab-Sasanian, 340. SICA I, 220. Walker, Arab-Sasanian, p. 119, 234. The usual flan faults, otherwise, extremely fine.


Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf was perhaps the most able and loyal general of the Umayyad caliphate. He served under the caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan and his eldest son al-Walid.