ISLAMIC, 'Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Mahdi, AH 158-169 / AD 775-785. Hemidrachm (Silver, 23 mm, 2.00 g, 3 h), Tabaristan, citing governor ʿUmar ibn al-ʿAlā (PYE 120-129 = AH 155-164 = AD 771-780), PYE 125 = AD 776. Draped Sasanian-style bust to right, wearing an elaborate crown; behind head, ‘GDE / ʾp̄zwt’ (‘[may his] glory increase’ in Pahlavi); before head, ‘ʾwml bynˈ ʾlʾ’ (‘ʿUmar son of al-ʿAlā’ in Pahlavi); in the outer margin, to left and right, ‘ʿUmar ibn – al-ʿAlā’ (‘ʿUmar son of al-ʿAlā’ in Arabic). Rev. Fire altar, flanked by two attendants; above altar, star and crescent; to left, date in Pahlavi; to right, ‘tpwlstʾn’ (‘Tabaristan’ in Pahlavi); in outer margin, four star-in-crescents and four fleur-de-lys. Album 57. Rare and in exceptional condition. Light doubling on the reverse, otherwise, virtually as struck.


This interesting bilingual coin cites the name of the governor Umar ibn al-'Ala both in Pahlawi and in Kufic.