Public Numismatic Auction #8

Al-Hajjaj b. Yusuf, AH 75-95 (694-713). Drachme AH 76 (695-96), Bishapur. Buste sassanide couronné d'un casque ailé à droite. Inscription marginale "bism Allah la ilah illa Allah wahdahu Muhammad rasul Allah " / Autel zororastrien entre deux servants. 4,03g. A A35 ; Shams Eshragh 159 var. ; SIC Ashmolean 215. A l'état de frappe. Une monnaie charmante.
An Arab-Sassanian coin with a refined aesthetic style. The Islamic inscription on the obverse is laid out radially, rather than lengthways as it was more commonly the case, creating an extremely elegant composition. This rare piece demonstrates the efforts of al-Hajjaj and the caliph Abd al-Malik to create original coins, rather than just simple imitations.