★ Sharply struck and lightly toned ★

ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. Temp. Hisham ibn 'Abd al-Malik, AH 105-125 / AD 724-743. Hemidrachm (Silver, 26 mm, 2.08 g, 11 h), citing spahbed Datburjmihr (AD 731-739) of the Dabwayhid, Tabaristan, PYE 79 = AH 112 = 737/8. Draped bust resembling Khosrau II to right, wearing elaborate mural crown; behind head, AFZUT GDH ('may his kingship increase' in Pahlawi); before head, DATBURJMTN ('Datburjmihr' in Pahlawi); in outer margin, APD ('excellent' in Pahlawi) and NYWK (probably 'nevak', 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 51. SICA I, -. Walker, Arab-Sassanian, -. Sharply struck and lightly toned. Extremely fine.

Datburjmihr was an independent non-muslim spahbed of the Dabwayhids, a local dynasty from the inaccessible mountains of Tabaristan, which successfully fought off the Arab conquerors for decades even after the fall of the Sasanian empire.