★ A very rare date ★

ISLAMIC, 'Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Mahdi, AH 158-169 / AD 775-785. Hemidrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 1.81 g, 11 h), citing the governor of Tabaristan, Umar ibn al-'Ala (AH 154-163 = AD 771-780), Tabaristan, PYE 126 = AH 161 = 777/8. Crowned and draped Sasanian-style bust to right; behind head, AFZUT GDH ('may his kingship increase' in Pahlawi); before head, 'Umar' in Kufic; 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 56. SICA I, -. Walker, Arab-Sassanian, -. A very rare date. Minor marks, otherwise, about extremely fine.

This type has the name of the governor Umar ibn al-'Ala written in Kufic.