ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, AH 65-86 / AD 685-705. Dirham (Silver, 32 mm, 4.24 g, 4 h), Arab-Sasanian type, citing governor Salm ibn Ziyad (AH 61-65 = AD 680-684), MLW (Marw), AH 64 = 683/4. Draped bust resembling Khosrau II to right, wearing elaborate mural crown; behind head, AFZUT GDH ('may his kingship increase' in Pahlawi); before head, SALM Y / ZYY'T'N ('Salm ibn Ziyad' in Pahlawi); in outer margin, 'bism Allah' ('In the name of Allah' in Kufic). Rev. Fire altar with ribbons flanked by two attendants; in upper field to left, six-pointed star; in upper right field, crescent; to left, date in Pahlawi; to right, MLW (name of the mint in Pahlawi). Album 18. Malek, Arab-Sasanian, 840. SICA I, 334. Walker, Arab-Sasanian,p. 79, 133. Fine.

Al-Baladhuri, an important historian at the court of the Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil, called Salm 'the most noble of the sons of Ziyad'. Ziyad ibn Abi Sufyan was one of the most powerful courtiers during the caliphate of Mu'awiya and all of his five sons held important offices in the eastern parts of the caliphate