Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Islamic Auction 2 27 Oct 2022
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Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. temp 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan. AH 65-86 / AD 685-705. AR Drachm (33.5mm, 3.17 g, 3h). Dimashq mint. Dated AH 74. Obverse margin: bismillah - la ilaha illa Allah - wahdahu Muhammad ra - sul Allah
Obverse field: Bust of Khusraw II to right, his name in Pahlawi before / Reverse field: Dimashq to left ; date arba't (with ta marbuta) wa saba'in to right. Minor staining, edge slightly rough. Good VF. Extremely rare.
This extremely rare issue is an example of one of the first Arab-Sasanian drachms issued at Damascus. Struck between AH 72-74, these conformed to the familiar type with the bust of Khusraw II on the obverse, still with his name-legend written in Pahlawi. The reverse represents a departure from the Sasanian tradition, since the mint and date are written in Arabic rather than Pahlawi. Two varieties are known for the year AH 74, one with the '4' of the date written as arba' (ending with an 'ayn), and the other ending with a ta marbuta. This is a very rare example of the latter type.
Obverse field: Bust of Khusraw II to right, his name in Pahlawi before / Reverse field: Dimashq to left ; date arba't (with ta marbuta) wa saba'in to right. Minor staining, edge slightly rough. Good VF. Extremely rare.
This extremely rare issue is an example of one of the first Arab-Sasanian drachms issued at Damascus. Struck between AH 72-74, these conformed to the familiar type with the bust of Khusraw II on the obverse, still with his name-legend written in Pahlawi. The reverse represents a departure from the Sasanian tradition, since the mint and date are written in Arabic rather than Pahlawi. Two varieties are known for the year AH 74, one with the '4' of the date written as arba' (ending with an 'ayn), and the other ending with a ta marbuta. This is a very rare example of the latter type.