Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Islamic Auction 2 27 Oct 2022
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Pre-reform issues, Arab-Armenian. Muhammad. Circa AH 80 / AD 700. AR Zuzun (27.5mm, 3.10 g, 2h). ŠY mint. Dated '37'. Obverse: name of Khusraw in Pahlawi before bust, Muhammad in Arabic in second quadrant of margin, Greek letter phi in crescent to right of bust. Album H97; cf. Album 14 (21 September 2012), lot 98. Fine. Extremely rare.
It seems likely that these coins were struck somewhere in the Caucasus, and it has been plausibly suggested that the weight, which is lower than that of Arab-Sasanian drachms of the main series, was reduced to correspond to half a Byzantine hexagram. The Greek letter in the obverse margin further supports that these coins were intended to circulate in a region where Greek was commonly used and understood; similar coins are known with several other Greek letters in the same place
It seems likely that these coins were struck somewhere in the Caucasus, and it has been plausibly suggested that the weight, which is lower than that of Arab-Sasanian drachms of the main series, was reduced to correspond to half a Byzantine hexagram. The Greek letter in the obverse margin further supports that these coins were intended to circulate in a region where Greek was commonly used and understood; similar coins are known with several other Greek letters in the same place