Description

ARAB-SASANIAN: ‘Udayy, governor of al-Basra, Ca. AD 718-720. AE unit (1.52 gm; 13 mm). No mint. AH100, A-49N, Gyselen-99, Sasanian bust right, Pahlavi ABZWN left, unread word right / three-line Arabic legend, almost certainly amara ‘udayy / bi-jawâz / al-mi’a, “order of ‘Udayy, for the time of 100”, i.e., by the governor ‘Udayy b. Arta’, who appears on regular Umayyad fulus dated AH100 and 101; also being dated AH100, this should be a transitional type between the Arab-Sasanian and purely Umayyad copper at al-Basra. Appears to be the Fourth known specimen. Nice original reddish-green patina. Choice VF. Extremely rare.