Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXVII 22-23 Mar 2023
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Arab-Sasanians, Mu'awiya bin Khalid AR Drachm. K[A]RDAPT mint (new location at or near al-Mada'in, the old Persian capital close to Al-Kufa), dated AH 74 = AD 694. Sasanian style bust to right with governor's name in Pahlawi to right; "bismillah" in outer margin / Fire altar with ribbons flanked by attendants; star and crescent flanking flames, date in Pahlawi numerals to left, mint name in Pahlawi to right. M. Qaseer, Immortal Treasures, p. 207, D311 (this coin); Malek, Arab-Sasanian 816A (this coin, attributed to Marwan b. al-Muhallab, mint: KWAT); Album -; Walker, Arab-Sasanian -; cf. CNG, Islamic Auction 2, 8, (this is the only other example sold at auction but attributed to Marwan b. al-Muhallab). 3.00g, 26mm, 3h.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.
This coin published in Dr. M. Qaseer, Immortal Treasures, (Kuwait, 2019);
This coin published in H. M. Malek, Arab-Sasanian Numismatics and History during the Early Islamic Period in Iran and Iraq, (London, 2019).
Mu'awiya bin Khalid is a governor who is totally unknown to the historiography of this period, numismatic evidence is the only record of his existence. The name of the mint on this coin has also been unknown until now; it is most likely located in the area of al-Mada'in, the old Persian capital near Alkufa. The governor was possibly only in charge in the year AH 74 = AD 694, a year which represents a convulsive period in Arab history.
As far as the metrological standard is concerned and, contrary to the example cited by Malek (although erroneously attributed to Marwan b. al-Muhallab), this type is not clipped. It was in fact produced to match the legal weight of the Islamic dirham that was adopted later for the post-reform Umayyad dirhams. The design engraved on this issue is significantly smaller than those in other contemporary issues and, moreover, there is a large space between the crests and stars in the margin of these coins which strengthens the idea that they were designed to be smaller than the standard Arab Sasanian issues.
We thank Dr. Mamoun Qaseer for his attribution of this coin.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.
This coin published in Dr. M. Qaseer, Immortal Treasures, (Kuwait, 2019);
This coin published in H. M. Malek, Arab-Sasanian Numismatics and History during the Early Islamic Period in Iran and Iraq, (London, 2019).
Mu'awiya bin Khalid is a governor who is totally unknown to the historiography of this period, numismatic evidence is the only record of his existence. The name of the mint on this coin has also been unknown until now; it is most likely located in the area of al-Mada'in, the old Persian capital near Alkufa. The governor was possibly only in charge in the year AH 74 = AD 694, a year which represents a convulsive period in Arab history.
As far as the metrological standard is concerned and, contrary to the example cited by Malek (although erroneously attributed to Marwan b. al-Muhallab), this type is not clipped. It was in fact produced to match the legal weight of the Islamic dirham that was adopted later for the post-reform Umayyad dirhams. The design engraved on this issue is significantly smaller than those in other contemporary issues and, moreover, there is a large space between the crests and stars in the margin of these coins which strengthens the idea that they were designed to be smaller than the standard Arab Sasanian issues.
We thank Dr. Mamoun Qaseer for his attribution of this coin.