ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. Mu'awiya I ibn Abi Sufyan, AH 41-60 / AD 661-680. Dirham (Silver, 30 mm, 3.21 g, 3 h), Arab-Sasanian type, citing governor Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad (AH 54-64 = AD 673-683), DA (Darabjird), PYE 43 = AH 54/5 = 674. Draped bust resembling Khosrau II to right, wearing elaborate mural crown; behind head, AFZUT GDH ('may his kingship increase' in Pahlawi); before head, AWBYDWLA Y ZYYAT ('Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad' in Pahlawi); in outer margin, 'bism Allah' ('In the name of Allah' in Kufic) and three pellets to left and right of one star-in-crescent. Rev. Fire altar with ribbons flanked by two attendants; in upper left field, six-pointed star; in upper right field, crescent; to left, date; to right, DA (name of the mint in Pahlawi). Album 12. SICA I, 248. Holed, otherwise, good very fine.

What makes this coin particularly interesting is that the line 'bism Allah' ('In the name of Allah') was at some point deliberately erased on the obverse, perhaps as a sign of discontent with the rule of the new religion