Abbasid, al-Rashid (170-193h), dirhams (2), Madinat Zaranj 190h, citing ‘Ali and Sayf b. al-Tarabi, and Sijistan 191h, citing ‘Ali and Muhammad, 2.76, 2.85g (Lowick, 2460, 2384), first very fine, second good fine (2). ‘Muhammad’ refers to Muhammad b. al-Husayn, whose father had been appointed superintendent of taxes in Sistan in 186h. He rebelled against Sayf al-Tarabi in 191h, occupying Zaranj and forcing Sayf to retreat to Bust. While Muhammad evidently held Zaranj during this year, his coins all use the provincial mint-name ‘Sijistan’ which suggests that they were struck at a different location, possibly a travelling mint. A remark of Muhammad’s, reported in the Tarikh-i Sistan, confirms that the caliph’s authority held little weight beyond the provincial capital: ‘The people in the city acknowledge the rule of the Caliph; the problem now is fighting the Kharijites.’ Ex Silvio Baldassari Collection, Leu Numismatics (Zurich) auction 62, 18 May 1995, lots 402 and 408.

Estimate: GBP 150 - 200