ISLAMIC, 'Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Rashid, AH 170-193 / AD 786-809. Drachm (Silver, 31 mm, 3.20 g), Eastern Sistan series, citing the governor Da'ud ibn Yazid, SK (Sijistan), circa AH 177 = AD 793. Crowned and draped Sasanian-style bust to right; behind head, AFZUT GDH ('may his kingship increase' in Pahlawi); before head, Khosrau in blundered Pahlawi; in outer margin, 'bism Allah' ('In the name of Allah') and 'Rabbi' ('my Lord') and a countermark reading 'al-Layth / Ja'iz' ('al-Layth / current'; (all in Kufic). Rev. Fire altar with ribbons flanked by two attendants; to left, blundered date; to right, blundered mint; in center, countermark reading 'Da'ud ibn Yazid' (in Kufic). Album A90. Malek, Arab-Sasanian, 1153. Zeno-201036 (this coin). Rare. Some scratches and with light deposits, otherwise, very fine.


The countermark on the obverse was likely applied by Al-Layth ibn al-Fadl al-Abiwardi, who served as governor under two caliphs, Harun al-Rashid and his son al-Ma'mun.