ISLAMIC, 'Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Mahdi, AH 158-169 / AD 775-785. Hemidrachm (Silver, 23 mm, 2.16 g, 10 h), Arab-Sasanian type, citing governor Nusayr (AH 168 = AD 784/5), al-Rayy, AH 168 = AD 784/5. Draped Sasanian-style bust to right, wearing an elaborate crown; behind head, ‘GDE / ʾp̄zwt’ (‘[may his] glory increase’ in Pahlavi); before head, ‘nwsyl’ (‘Nusayr’ in Pahlavi); in outer margin to left and right, ‘nywk' ˗ ʾp̄d’ (‘good ˗ wonderful’ in Pahlavi). Rev. Fire altar, flanked by two attendants; above altar, two pellets; to left and right, ‘bi’l-Rayy sana ˗ thamān wa sittīn wa miʾa’ (‘In al-Rayy in the year 168’ in Arabic). Album L73. Extremely rare. Minor edge crack, otherwise, extremely fine.