One of Two Published

343, Lot: 671. Estimate $75. Sold for $95. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan to al-Walid I ibn 'Abd al-Malik. AH 65-96 / AD 685-715. Æ Fals – Pashiz (17mm, 0.64 g, 7h). Treadwell Phase B. Unnamed (Bīshāpūr) mint. Facing bearded bust right; GDH in Pahlavi downward to left, ’pzwn (?)(increase) in Pahlavi downward to right / Fire altar with attendants; ’pylwcyh (?)(victory) in Pahlavi downward to left, partial Pahlavi legend downard to right. Gyselen Type 68.2 (this coin); cf. Album B46 (Istakhr mint). Fine, rough brown surfaces. Extremely rare, one of only two cited by Gyselen.

From the J. P. Righetti Collection. Ex F. Gurnet Collection.

Both examples cited by Gyselen are, unfortunately, in very poor condition. Although much of the detail is unclear, the obverse bust is very unlike a Sasanian-style bust and is more reminiscent of types in the name of al-Muhallab from Istakhr that copy the “Anahita” reverse type of Khosrau II (Gyselen 23). The Istakhr issue probably dates to around AH 77.