250, Lot: 198. Estimate $100. Sold for $1600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

HUNNIC TRIBES, Hephthalites. Circa AD 682-692 . AR Drachm (32mm, 3.36 g, 4h). Imitation of AY (Khurasan?) mint. Imitating post-Yazdgerd Year 37 (AH 69 / 688 AD). Crowned Sassanian style bust right; two trefoils in lower margin; c/m: Sogdian inscription / Fire altar with ribbons and attendants; star and crescent flanking flames; date to left, mint name to right. Göbl, Dokumente -; cf. Classical Numismatics Group 60 (22 May 2002), lot 1094 (no trefoils). For c/m: Göbl km 79. VF, rough. Extremely Rare.

This piece is struck after the deposition of bin Ziyad, during the period of warfare between the Zubayrids, Umayyads, and Hephthalites. This piece lacks any Islamic legends, particularly the bismillah, included on the coins listed in Walker. One can only speculate why this portion was omitted because the strike is Hunnic. The fact that post-Yazdgard dating is used and not Hejiera is another interesting factor indicating non-Islamic peoples.