Watch List notes:

ISLAMIC, 'Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Mahdi, AH 158-169 / AD 775-785. Hemidrachm (Silver, 23 mm, 1.92 g, 12 h), citing the governor of Tabaristan, Umar ibn al-'Ala (AH 154-163 = AD 771-780), Tabaristan, PYE 124 = AH 159 = 775/6. Crowned and draped Sasanian-style bust to right; behind head, AFZUT GDH ('may his kingship increase' in Pahlawi); before head, 'AWMR' in Pahlawi; in outer margin, APD / NWKW ('excellent' and 'good' in Pahlawi). 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 55. SICA I, 407. Walker, Arab-Sassanian, 263. A sharply struck and lustrous example. Good extremely fine.


This issue has the name of the governor, Umar ibn al-'Ala, written in Pahlawi.