Iran-Arab Sasanian AH70 1 drachm KRMAN-NAR mint

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Courtesy Heritage Auctions
Courtesy Heritage Auctions

The Arabs overran the Sasanian Empire in the 650’s and established Islamic dominance over most of the territory. The Arab capital at the time was Medina, but the caliph (Umar I) left most of the local governments to manage as before, asking only allegiance to the new order. As a result, Persian coinage continued much as before, despite the Muslim prohibition against ‘graven images’. Initially, issues were anonymous, but eventually identified Umayyad governors. After the coinage reform of ‘Abd al-Malik I in 685 AD, the Sasanian imitations ceased and subsequent Islamic issues possessed only script.

The specimen shown was lot 21556 in Heritage Auctions Ancient and World Coins Auction, January 6&7 2013, New York, where it sold for US$658. The catalog description reads[1]:

"Arab-Sasanian, Mus'ab b. al-Zubayr, ca. AH 67-72/AD 685-690, silver drachm (4.08g, 30mm). KRMAN-NAR (Narmashir) year AH 70, with Pahlavi GDH in ObQ3, countermarked lillah in ObQ4. Very rare, particularly with countermark. Choice Extremely Fine."

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 4.08g, silver.

Catalog reference: A-17.

Sources:

  • Album, Stephen. Checklist of Islamic Coins. Santa Rosa, 1998. Stephen Album.
  • [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3021, featuring the Cecil Webster, Richard P. Ariagno and Elizabeth McPhall Charters Collection, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2012.
  • Mitchiner, Michael. Oriental Coins and their Values - The World of Islam. London, 2000. Hawkins Publications.

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