Lot 3997

Description

Arab Sassanian, Khusra II type, in name of Ziyad b. Abi Sufyan (Governor of Basra), (A.H. 45-55) (A.D. 665-674), silver drachm or dirhem, YE era year 41 (A.H.52 = A.D. 672), Darabjird mint (in Fars), with outer legend in Kufic 'in the name of Allah', (A. 8, M.27, Walker 58). Extremely fine and rare.

The earliest Arab-Sassanian coins were struck in A.D.651, the year of the Sassanian king Yezdegird III's final defeat. These Arab drachms dated in his 20th year, were close imitations of Yezdegird's issues with the additional legend in the outer obverse area stating 'in the name of Allah'. The Arabs soon however reverted to initating the predominant current coin, the plentiful issues of Khusru II, and were dated from years 21 to year 60 of Yezdegird's hypothetical reign. This chronological system, the 'Yezdegird era (YE)' commences from the accession of that ruler in A.D. 632. Some issues were struck in the name of local governors in various provinces including Basra as in this example.