ISLAMIC, 'Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Mahdi, AH 158-169 / AD 775-785. Hemidrachm (Silver, 24 mm, 2.10 g, 3 h), citing governor Saʿid ibn Daʿlaj (PYE 125-127 = AD 776-778), Tabaristan, PYE 126 = AD 777. Draped Sasanian-style bust to right, wearing an elaborate crown; behind head, ‘GDE / ʾp̄zwt’ (‘[may his] glory increase’ in Pahlavi); before head, ‘Saʿīd ibn Daʿlaj’ (‘Saʿid son of Daʿlaj’ in Arabic); in the outer margin to left and right, ‘nywk ˗ ʾp̄d’ (‘good ˗ wonderful’ in Pahlavi). Rev. Fire altar, flanked by two attendants; above altar, star and crescent; to left, date in Pahlavi; to right, ‘tpwlstʾn’ (‘Tabaristan’ in Pahlavi). Album 59. Very rare. Some scratches, otherwise, good extremely fine.