Watch List notes:

ISLAMIC, 'Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Mahdi, AH 158-169 / AD 775-785. Hemidrachm (Silver, 23 mm, 2.00 g, 4 h), citing the governor of Tabaristan, Umar ibn al-'Ala (AH 154-163 = AD 771-780), Tabaristan, PYE 125 = AH 160 = 776/7. Crowned and draped Sasanian-style bust to right; behind head, AFZUT GDH ('may his kingship increase' in Pahlawi); before head, 'AWMR BWNW ALA' in Pahlawi; in outer margin, 'Umar ibn al-'Ala' in Kufic. Rev. Sasanian fire altar set on three steps, flanked by two attendants standing facing; to left, date; to right, mint TPURSTAN ('Tabaristan' in Pahlawi). Album 57. SICA I, 410. Walker, Arab-Sassanian, B.40. A sharply struck and beautifully toned example. Good extremely fine.


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