★ The rarest date on dirhams of Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad ★

ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. Mu'awiya I ibn Abi Sufyan, AH 41-60 / AD 661-680. Drachm (Silver, 26 mm, 2.48 g, 9 h), Arab-Sasanian type, citing governor Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad (AH 54-64 = AD 673-683), BCRA (Basra), AH 64 = AD 683. Draped bust resembling Khosrau II to right, wearing elaborate mural crown; behind head, AFZUT GDH ('may his kingship increase' in Pahlawi); before head, AWBYDWLA Y ZYYATAN ('Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad' in Pahlawi); in outer margin, 'bism Allah' ('In the name of Allah'). Rev. Fire altar with ribbons flanked by two attendants; in upper field to left, six-pointed star; in upper field to right, crescent; to left, date; to right, BCRA (name of the mint in Pahlawi). Album 12. SICA I, -. Walker, Arab-Sasanian, p. 60, O.5. Rare and nicely toned. Good very fine.

AH 64 is the rarest date on dirhams of Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad. In this fateful year, the Kharijites conquered Basra and the loyal Umayyad governor Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad had to flee the city.