ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, AH 65-86 / AD 685-705. Pashiz (Bronze, 22 mm, 3.14 g, 4 h), ST (Istakhr), without date, struck presumably during the reign of the caliph Abd al-Malik. Facing and crowned bust of Sasanian King rasing both arms and pointing with both index fingers toward heaven; to left, 'al-izzat lillah' ('The Glory is to Allah' in Kufic); to right, WST'ND'L ('Ostandar', the name of the mint in Pahlawi). Rev. Fire altar flanked by two attendants; in upper left field, six-pointed star; in upper right field, crescent; to left, AFZUT GDH ('may his kingship increase' in Pahlawi); to right, ST (mint abbreviaton in Pahlawi). Album B46. Gyselen, type 21. Extremely rare and in exceptional condition for this difficult issue. Some deposits on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.

This coin is arguably the most fascinating Arab-Sasanian pashiz. It shows a bust of a Sasanian king on the obverse, whose powerful gesture intends to call those who look at this coin to choose Allah and to embrace the new religion of Islam