Nomos AG
Auction 23 30 Nov 2021
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GREATER TABARISTAN. 'Abbasid governors, Time of Al-Mahdi, AH 158-169 / AD 775-785. Hemidrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 1.88 g, 6 h), struck under the governor, Nusayr (or Sa'ad), Al-Rayy, PYE 133 / AH 168 (= AD 784/5). GDH 'pzwz (may his splendor increase) nsyl (Nusayr) to the left; on the margins: 'pd (excellent) to right and nwk' (good) to left Tabaristan-style bust to right, wearing winged crown and breast ornament decorated with four pellets; pellets flanking crown. Rev. b al ry snt /thamān wa sittīn wa mi'a (mint and struck date in Arabic) Sasanian-style fire altar flanked by two attendants; crescents flanking flames. Album L73. Cf. Malek 212 (star and crescent flanking flames). Extremely rare. Clear and well-struck. About extremely fine.
From the Persis Collection.
After the Arab conquest, and especially during the reign of al-Mahdi, the city of Al-Rayy flourished so much that it became one of the most important Abbasid cities, praised by writers for its beauty. After becoming for a short period the capital of the Seljuks, the city was destroyed in 1220 by the Mongols who subsequently annihilated its population.
From the Persis Collection.
After the Arab conquest, and especially during the reign of al-Mahdi, the city of Al-Rayy flourished so much that it became one of the most important Abbasid cities, praised by writers for its beauty. After becoming for a short period the capital of the Seljuks, the city was destroyed in 1220 by the Mongols who subsequently annihilated its population.