a r a b - s a s a n i a n
[o r  e a r l y   m u s l i m]
c o i n a g e


r e f e r e n c e s


| page 1 | page 2 | page 3 | page 4 | page 5 |


Dating Systems:
AH = Hijri [year 1 = 622/3 AD]
YE = Yazdgard Era [year 1 = 632/3 AD]
PYE = Post-Yazdgard Era [year 1 = 652/3 AD]

| AH to YE and AD date conversion table |
| YE to AH, AD and PYE date conversion table |


Marginal Inscriptions:
jayyid = "good"
bism allah = "in the name of God"
lillah = "for God"
bism allah rabbi = "in the name of God, my Lord"
bism allah al-malik = "in the name of God, the possessor"
bism allah rabb al-hukm = "in the name of God, Lord of the judgment"
lillah al-hamd = "praise to God"
hasabahu allah = "God sufficeth him"


| table of arab-sasanian mint cities |


Abbreviation Key:
Obverse:
 Earring: E 0-6
Breast Ornament: B 0-15
Right Area Ornament: RAO

| ornamentation table |

Reverse:
 Star and Crescent: SC (standard; crescent on right) or CS (reversed; star on right)
Attendants' Hands: RR, RL, LR, LL, EE (R=right; L=left; E=even)


Umayyad Governors of al-Basra and al-Kufa

'Abd Allah ibn 'Amir
(circa 661 - 664 AD [AH 41 - 45]) Album 6 - 7


'Abd Allah ibn 'Amir
AR Drachm
Mint: DP
Date: Frozen Year "43" = c. 50-53 AH (c. 670-673 AD)
28 mm.
2.82 gm.
SICA I -
Diameter of obverse dotted border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right, Pahlavi legend; bism Allah in margin. Triple pellets on either side of star and crescent at 6h. E3, B0, RAO=crescent.
Reverse: Attendants' hands=RR. Pellet at 5:30h.
Note: Holed; clipped.

Ziyad ibn Abi Sufyan
(665 - 674 AD [AH 45 - 55]) Album 5 and 8


Ziyad b. Abi Sufyan
AR Drachm
Mint: DAP
Date: Frozen Year "43" = c. 50-53 AH (c. 670-673 AD)
31 mm.
3.77 gm.
Album 8 type; SICA Vol. I, 267
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Triple pellets on either side of star and crescent at 6h; pellet above star at 3h, 6h and 9h. Pahlavi legend, bism Allah in margin; E3, B0, RAO=crescent.
Reverse: Mint name to right (DAP=Fasa); frozen year 43 to left. Pellet at 9:30h. Attendants' hands=RR.


Anonymous Khusro II type
AR Drachm
Mint: MY
Date: AH 48 (668/69 AD)
27 mm.
2.53 gm. (clipped)
Album 5
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=23 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Pahlavi legend; bism Allah rabbi in margin; E0, B0.
Reverse: Mint name to right (MY), pellet before; year 48 to left. Attendants' hands=LR
Note: These are identified as issues of Ziyad ibn Abi Sufyan, as governor of al-Basra, before he was granted the governorship of al-Kufa.

Samura ibn Jundab
(circa 671 - 672 AD [AH 52 - 53]) Album 9; DA frozen year 43 only

'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad
(674 - 683 AD [AH 55 - 64]) Album 12


'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: SK
Date: 56 AH (675/76 AD)
32 mm.
3.58 gm.
SICA I 365
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=24 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right, Pahlavi legend; bism Allah in margin. Three pellets. E0, B0, no crescent.
Reverse: Attendants' hands=RR.
Note: Two holes.


'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: DA
Date: YE 46 (677/78 AD)
30 x 28 mm.
3.30 gm.
Album 12; SICA Vol. I, 248
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=20 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Triple pellets on either side of star and crescent at 6h; pellet above star at 3h, 6h and 9h. Pahlavi legend, bism Allah in margin; E0, B0, RAO=crescent.
Reverse: Mint name to right (DA=Darabgird); year 46 to left. Attendants' hands=RR; star and crescent reversed (CS).


'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: BCRA
Date: 59 AH (678/79 AD)
29 x 28 mm.
2.56 gm. [clipped]
Album 12 type; SICA Vol. I, 58
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Pahlavi legend, bism Allah in margin, pellet before, four pellets following; E0, B0, RAO=crescent.
Reverse: Mint name to right (BCRA=Basra), pellet before; year 59 to left. Attendants' hands=RR.


'Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: BCRA
Date: AH 59 (678/79 AD)
33 x 32 mm.
3.90 gm.
Album 12; SICA Vol. I, 58
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=9h
Obverse: Pahlavi legend, bism Allah in margin, pellet before, four pellets following; E0, B0, RAO=crescent.
Reverse: Mint name to right (BCRA=Basra) with pellet before first letter; year 59 to left. Attendants' hands=RR; star and crescent normal.


'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: BCRA
Date: 60 AH (679/80 AD)
32 mm.
3.77 gm.
Album 12 type; SICA Vol. I, 63
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Pahlavi legend, bism Allah in margin, pellet before, four pellets following; E0, B0, RAO=crescent.
Reverse: Mint name to right (BCRA=Basra), pellet before; year 60 to left. Attendants' hands=RR.


'Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: BCRA
Date: AH 60 (679/80 AD)
32 x 31 mm.
3.57 gm.
Album 12; SICA Vol. I, 63
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Pahlavi legend, bism Allah in margin, pellet before, four pellets following; E0, B0, RAO=crescent.
Reverse: Mint name to right (BCRA=Basra) with pellet before first letter; year 60 to left. Attendants' hands=RR; star and crescent normal.


'Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: BCRA
Date: AH 60 (679/80 AD)
33 x 32 mm.
4.02 gm.
Album 12
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right, breast ornament: Pellet in circle; bism Allah in margin, four pellets following.
Reverse: Mint name to right (BCRA=Basra) with pellet before first letter; year 60 to left.


'Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: SYWN (?)
Date: AH 60 (679/80 AD)
23 mm.
1.92 gm. (clipped)
Album 12
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=23 mm.
Die position=4h
Obverse: Bust right; bism Allah in margin, four pellets following. E2, B6, RAO=pellet.
Reverse: Mint name to right (whatever it is) with pellet before first letter; year 60 to left. Attendants' hands=RR; star and crescent normal.
Note: See: S. Sears, page 180; he believes this is a mint in Khuzistan near al-Basra. Also, Album: an uncertain location in Southern Iraq (SICA Vol. I, 2002). This mint only known for this governor (but written also as SYWKW and SYWKAN).


'Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: BH
Date: AH 60 (679/80 AD)
28 x 29 mm.
2.88 gm. (clipped)
Album 12; SICA Vol. I, -
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right; bism Allah in margin, four pellets following. E2, B6, no crescent in right field. Gobl Hunnen 11 type countermark in 1st quadrant.
Reverse: Attendants' hands=RR; star and crescent normal. 5 pellets: either side of the altar at the base of the flames, another pair under the ribbons, and one pellet on the base. Test scape in 2nd quadrant.
Note: For similar patterns of reverse pellets see: SICA 156-170 (BYSh), 475-478 (WYHC), and the mintless coins of 'Muhammad' 494-495 (also from a mint in proximity to Arrajan and Bishapur?)


'Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: BCRA
Date: AH 61 (680/81 AD)
33 mm.
3.88 gm.
Album 12; SICA Vol. I, 83 type
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=23 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Pahlavi legend, bism Allah in margin, four pellets following; E1, B6, RAO=n/a.
Reverse: Mint name to right (BCRA=Basra) with pellet before first letter; year 61 to left. Attendants' hands=RR; star and crescent normal. Attendant on left has no fillet.


'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: GD
Date: 61 AH (680/81 AD)
28 x 27 mm.
2.83 gm. [clipped]
Album 12 type; SICA Vol. I, 292v.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Pahlavi legend, bism Allah in margin; triple pellets following. 'GM' monogram at 2h. E4v., B4v., RAO=crescent.
Reverse: Mint name to right (GD=Jayy); year 61 to left. Attendants' hands=RR.


'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: DA+ShW+ShW
Date: YE 48 (679/80 AD)
32 x 31 mm.
4.07 gm.
Album 12 type; SICA Vol. I, 249
Diameter of obverse dotted border=21 mm.; diameter of reverse border=20 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Triple pellets on either side of star and crescent at 6h; pellet above star at 3h, 6h and 9h. Pahlavi legend, bism Allah in margin; E0, B0, RAO=crescent.
Reverse: Mint name to right; ShW to either side of altar base (DA+ShW+ShW=Darabjird sub-mint); year 48 to left. Attendants' hands=RR. Star on right.


'Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: DA+ShW+ShW
Date: 49 YE (680/81 AD)
31 x 32 mm.
4.10 gm.
Album 12; Walker -; Peus 363/Konsul Meyer 5540 type
Diameter of obverse dotted border=21 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=9h
Obverse: Triple pellets on either side of star and crescent at 6h; pellet above star at 3h, 6h and 9h. Pahlavi legend; bism Allah in margin; breast ornament: three pellets.
Reverse: Mint name to right (DA=Darabgird); year 49 to left. Pahlavi 'ShW' to either side of the fire altar at bottom. Star on right, crescent on left of altar (reversed).
Note: See: S. Sears, page 124; ShW (or ShN) may indicate a sub-mint. On this issue, there was a paper presented at the first ANS Arab-Sasanian Conference (June 2001) by Alan DeShazo; I'm not sure if it has been published.


'Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: GD
Date: AH 63 (682/83 AD)
34 mm.
3.15 gm.
Album 12; SICA Vol. I, 296v.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust right; bism Allah in margin, three pellets following. E0, B4, crescent in right field. "GM" monogram at 3h (lightly struck). Gobl Hunnen 7 countermark in 4th quadrant.
Reverse: Attendants' hands=RR; star and crescent normal. Pellet to right of altar. No test scape.

al-Harith ibn 'Abd Allah
(683 - 684 AD [AH 64 - 65]) Album 13

Umayyad Governors of Kirman

'Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayd
(circa 672 - 674 AD [AH 52 - 54]) Album 10

al-Hakam ibn Abi'l-'As
(circa 675 - 677 AD [AH 56 - 58]) Album 11

Coinage produced under Yazid I through Marwan I
680 - 685 AD [AH 60 - 65]

Umayyad Governors of Khurasan

Salm ibn Ziyad
(circa 680 - 684 AD [AH 61 - 65]) Album 18


Salm b. Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: MRW
Date: 63 AH (682/83 AD)
33 mm.
4.02 gm.
Album 18 type; SICA Vol. I, 333
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=24 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Triple pellets on either side of star and crescent at 6h. Pahlavi legend, bism Allah in margin. E0, B0, RAO=none.
Reverse: Mint name to right (MRW=Marw); year 63 to left. Attendants' hands=RR.


Salm ibn Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: MRW
Date: AH 63? (682/83 AD)D
34 x 33 mm.
3.14 gm.
Album 18v.; Mitchiner ACW 1372v., 1406v.; Mitchiner WOI 32v.
Gobl Hunnen Countermarks 108 (Bactrian word); 109 (Bactrian word); 3v. (with cross and Sogdian word 'prn' (glory, splendor)
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=23 mm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Triple pellets on either side of star and crescent at 6h. Pahlavi legend; bism Allah in margin; breast ornament: three pendants (Ardashir III). Crescent to right of beard.
Reverse: Mint name to right (MRW); year 63 (?) (blundered) to left. No test scrape.


Salm ibn Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: MRW
Date: AH 64? (683/84 AD)
33 mm.
3.11 gm.
Album 18v.; Mitchiner ACW 1372v., 1406v.; Mitchiner WOI 32v.
Gobl Hunnen Countermark type 7 in 4th quadrant; variant of 14 (?) in 1st quadrant (this possibly struck over another countermark).
Diameter of obverse dotted border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse border=23 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Triple pellets on either side of star and crescent at 6h. Pahlavi legend; bism Allah in margin; breast ornament: three pellets (Khusro II). Crescent to right of beard.
Reverse: Mint name to right (MRW); year 64 (?) (blundered) to left. No test scrape.
Note: Courtesy Alexander Akin collection.


Salm ibn Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: AYPTAK
Date: AH 64 (683/84 AD)
28 mm.
3.02 gm. (clipped)
Album 18v.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=23 mm.
Die position=9h
Obverse: Triple pellets on either side of star and crescent at 6h. Pahlavi legend; bism Allah in margin; breast ornament: three pellets (Khusro II). Annulet to right of beard.
Reverse: Mint name to right (AYPTAK); year 64 to left.


Salm ibn Ziyad
AR Drachm
Mint: HRA
Date: AH 67 (686/87 AD)
31 x 32 mm.
3.31 gm.
Album 18; SICA Vol. I, 307v.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=24 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right; bism Allah in margin, three pellets following. E0, B0, crescent in right field.
Reverse: Attendants' hands=RR; star and crescent normal. Star at 5h.


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