ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, AH 65-86 / AD 685-705. Drachm (Silver, 31 mm, 4.11 g, 1 h), Arab-Sasanian type. Citing governor ʿUmar ibn ʿUbayd Allah (AH 67-72 / AD 686-691), BYŠ (Bishapur), AH 70 = 689/90. Draped bust resembling Khosrau II to right, wearing elaborate mural crown; behind head, ‘GDE ʾp̄zwt'’ (‘[may his] glory increase’ in Pahlavi); before head, ‘ʾwml / Y ʾwbytʾlʾʾn’ (‘ʿUmar ibn ʿUbayd Allah’ in Pahlavi); in outer margin, ‘li-llāh al-ḥamd’ (‘Praise to Allah’ in Arabic). Rev. Fire altar with ribbons, flanked by two attendants; above altar, star and crescent; to left, date in Pahlavi; to right, BYŠ (abbreviation for the name of the mint in Pahlavi). Album 21. Some weakness and struck from a corroded obverse die, otherwise, very fine.

From the collection of Dr. D. Löer, privately acquired from Ancient Coins Canada.