ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, AH 65-86 / AD 685-705. Drachm (Silver, 28 mm, 2.32 g, 2 h), Arab-Armenian type, citing Muhammad [ibn Marwan) (circa AH 75-78 / AD 694-697), uncertain mint in Armenia or Adharbayjan. Draped bust resembling Khosrau II to right, wearing elaborate crown; behind head, ‘GDE ʾp̄zwt’ (‘[may his] glory increase’ in Pahlavi); before head, ‘mhmt’ (‘Muhammad’ in Pahlavi); in outer margin, ‘wāf’ (‘full’ in Arabic). Rev. Fire altar with ribbons, flanked by two attendants; above altar, star and crescent; to left, blundered date in Pahlavi; to right, blundered mint signature in Pahlavi. Album E97. SICA I, 494. Very rare. Rough and with some edge chipping, otherwise, very fine.


It has been suggested that the 'Muhammad' mentioned on the obverse of this coin was Muhammad ibn Marwan, the brother of the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, who completed the conquest of Armenia around 704/705. In any case, it is one of the great rarities in the Arab-Armenian series.