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Coinage of Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad

1 catalogued issue of Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad — metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions with references.

In short

Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad, Umayyad governor of Basra and Kufa in the 670s and 680s, issued Arab-Sasanian drachms — coins that keep the Sasanian king's portrait while adding Arabic in the margin. Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 673 CE – 683 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Silver at Basra / Bishapur.

Catalogued
1
Eras
1
Metals
1
Denominations
1

Key facts

Key facts about Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad in the Persian Treasury catalogue
Catalogued pieces1
Date range673 CE – 683 CE
Eras representedArab-Sasanian & Early Islamic
MetalsSilver
DenominationsDrachm
MintsBasra / Bishapur
OfficeUmayyad governor of Basra and Kufa
Coin typeArab-Sasanian drachm
Added elementArabic marginal legend
Historical noteGovernor at the time of Karbala, 680 CE

Governing with a borrowed coinage

The conquest did not replace Iran's money; it inherited it. Governors struck drachms from existing dies and mints, adding phrases such as bismillah and their own names in Arabic while the Sasanian bust and fire altar remained untouched.

It is the clearest material evidence for how the early caliphate governed: minimal disruption to functioning systems, sovereignty asserted in the margins.

A contested name

Ubayd Allah is remembered above all as the governor responsible for the killing of Husayn at Karbala in 680 CE, an event central to Shi'i tradition. His coins are therefore historically loaded objects.

Arab-Sasanian drachms with named governors are common enough to collect and are among the most historically dense coins available at modest prices.

Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic · 651 – 1258 CE

Era overview →

Arab-Sasanian Drachm

Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad

673–683 CE

Transitional issue — Sasanian iconography continued for 50 years after the conquest.

Frequently asked about Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad

Why do early Islamic coins show a Sasanian king?
Because Muslim governors kept striking the existing drachm design for decades after the conquest, adding only short Arabic legends, until the reform of 696–697 CE.
Are named-governor drachms collectable?
Yes, and affordably so — they are among the most historically significant coins available at modest prices.
What coins did Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad issue?
Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 673 CE – 683 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Silver at Basra / Bishapur.
How many Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
1 item, dated 673 CE – 683 CE, spread across 1 era: Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic.
Which metals were used for Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad coinage?
Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
Which denominations are associated with Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad?
Drachm. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.
Where were Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad coins minted?
Recorded mints include Basra / Bishapur.

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Denominations here

Metals here