ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, AH 65-86 / AD 685-705. Drachm (Silver, 32 mm, 4.12 g, 9 h), Arab-Sasanian type, citing governor Umar ibn Ubayd Allah ibn Msmar (AH 67-72 = AD 686-691), BYŠ (Bishapur), AH 70 = AD 689/90. Draped bust resembling Khosrau II to right, wearing elaborate mural crown; behind head, AFZUT GDH ('may his kingship increase' in Pahlawi); before head, AWMR Y AWBYTALAAN ('Umar ibn Ubayd Allah' in Pahlawi); in outer margin, 'lillah al-hamd' ('praise be to God') and three pellets to left and right of one star-in-crescent. 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 in Pahlawi; to right, BYŠ (name of the mint in Pahlawi). Album 21. Malek, Arab-Sasanian, 317. SICA I, 174. Walker, Arab-Sasanian, p. 100. 198. Very fine.

From the collection of François Righetti, privately acquired from Sphinx Numismatics on 2 August 2010.