'Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Mahdi, AH 158-169 / AD 775-785. Dirham (Silver, 25 mm, 2.82 g, 9 h), Arminiyya (Armenia), AH 161 = AD 777/8. ‘lā ilāha illā / Allāh waḥdahū / lā sharīka lahū’ (‘There is no deity but Allah, the One, there is no partner to Him’ in Arabic); in the margin, ‘bism Allāh ḍuriba hādhā al-dirham bi Armīniyya sana iḥdā wa sittīn wa miʾa’ (‘In the name of Allah. This dirham was struck in Arminiyya in the year 161’ in Arabic). Rev. ‘Muḥammad rasūl / Allāh ṣalla Allāh / ʿalayh wa sallam / li’l-khalīfa al-Mahdī’ (‘Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. May Allah bless him and grant him peace. For Caliph al-Mahdi’ in Arabic); in the margin, ‘Muḥammad rasūl Allāh arsalahū bi al-hudā wa dīn al-ḥaqq liyuẓhirahū ʿalā al-dīn kullih wa law kariha al-mushrikūn’ (‘Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. He sent him with guidance and the religion of truth, so that He may make it overcome all religions, even though the unbelievers may dislike it’ in Arabic). Album 215.1. A rare mint. Harshly cleaned and somewhat rough, otherwise, good very fine.