Arab-Sasanian, c. 7th century, Anonymous AV Solidus (19mm, 1.71g, 12h). Imitating a Constantinople issue of Heraclius. Crowned and draped facing busts of Heraclius and Constantine, opposite their usual position; three crosses above, degraded legends around. R/ Cross potent set on three steps; crosses flanking, degraded legends around. Apparently unpublished. Mounted, Good VF

From the collection of Dr. Lawrence A. Adams. Ex CNG 100 (7 October 2015), lot 296

The coin shows the feature of Arab-Sasanian bronze coinage (Cf: Gyselen, Arab-Sasanian, Type 85; Type 97 for cross potent on steps between two crosses). Moreover this specimen is not an exact reproduction of the standard solidii of Heraclius, as busts on the obverse are reversed, and the reverse side bears two small crosses in the field that we have not found in any other solidus, both regular and imitative. As for the legends, we can see the characters tend to imitate the legends in Pahlavi of the Arab-Sasanian coins rather than Latin. We suggest to rule out a possible Arab-Byzantine imitation as the coin is strongly characterized by Christian symbols.
Besides type seems to be innovative inside the unofficial issues and complementary to the Arab-Sasanian emissions and the Crusades in the Latin East.; ;