★ A very rare dirham of Khalid ibn Abd Allah ★

ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, AH 65-86 / AD 685-705. Drachm (Silver, 27 mm, 2.56 g, 2 h), Arab-Sasanian type, citing governor Khalid ibn Abd Allah (AH 73-75 = AD 692-694), BCRA (al-Basra), AH 73 = AD 692/3. Draped bust resembling Khosrau II to right, wearing elaborate mural crown; behind head, AFZUT GDH ('may his kingship increase' in Pahlawi); before head, HALYD Y APDWLAAN ('Khalid ibn Abd Allah' in Pahlawi); in outer margin, 'bism Allah' ('In the name of Allah') and 'Muhammad Rasul Allah' ('Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah' in Arabic). Rev. Fire altar with ribbons flanked by two attendants; in upper left field, six-pointed star; in upper right field, crescent; to left, date; to right, BCRA (name of the mint in Pahlawi). Album 24. Malek, Arab-Sasanian, 204. Very rare. Clipped, otherwise, good fine.

From the collection of Dr. D. Löer, ex St. James Auction 37, 27 June 2016, 195 and St. James Islamic Coin Auction 25, 10 December 2013, 31.

Khalid ibn Abd Allah from the Banu Umayya was a trusted associate of al-Hajjaj and the second governor to place 'Muhammad Rasul Allah' on a coin.