ISLAMIC, 'Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Rashid, AH 170-193 / AD 786-809. Half Dirham (Subaeratus, 19 mm, 1.36 g, 8 h), a contemporary imitation of an unknown donative issue struck during the end of the reign of al-Rashid. Citing Ja'far ibn Yahya Barmaki, without mint, date illegible, probably struck circa in AH 180s = AD 790s. An interesting and important piece. Breaks in plating and scratches, otherwise, very fine.


Ja'far ibn Yahya Barmaki (767-803) was a Persian vizier of the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid. He was executed in 803, allegedly for having an affair with al-Rashid's sister Abbasa