Abbasid Caliphate – Anonymous Silver Hemidrachm (PYE 134 / AH 169, 786-787 AD) – Tabaristan
 •Frame : base silver 925 , rhodium plated . •Method of making - 3d wax printed - wax lost process.
•certificate of provenance and authenticity included
•leather cord included .
This silver hemidrachm, minted in Tabaristan during the Post-Yazdgird Era year 134 (786-787 AD, equivalent to AH 169), is a fascinating example of Arab-Sasanian coinage. Struck under the early Abbasid Caliphate, it retains strong Sasanian iconography while incorporating subtle Arabic and Islamic elements, reflecting the transitional nature of Persian coinage during Islamic rule.
Description of the Coin
•Obverse:
•Crowned and draped Sasanian-style bust facing right, a continuation of Sasanian imperial imagery.
•Behind the head: GDH (kingship in Pahlavi), emphasizing royal authority.
•In front of the head: AFZUT (may it increase in Pahlavi), a traditional Persian phrase symbolizing prosperity.
•Outer margin inscriptions:
•APD / NWKW (excellent and good in Pahlavi).
•Bakh bakh (very fine in Arabic), an early example of Arabic linguistic influence on coinage.
•Reverse:
•A Sasanian fire altar on three steps, a sacred Zoroastrian symbol, flanked by two attending priests (mabedh) standing in a reverent posture.
•Left side: The date PYE 134, following the Post-Yazdgird Era dating system used in Persian territories.
•Right side: The mint name TPURSTAN (“Tabaristan”), written in Pahlavi script.
Historical Context of the Coin
Arab-Sasanian Coinage
Following the Islamic conquest of Persia (651 AD), the new rulers of the region, first the Umayyads and later the Abbasids, continued to issue coinage in the Sasanian style. This was done to facilitate economic stability and maintain familiarity among local Persian populations who were accustomed to Sasanian currency. However, over time, Arabic inscriptions and Islamic elements began to replace Zoroastrian and Persian royal symbols.
This hemidrachm, struck during the early Abbasid Caliphate, represents a phase where Sasanian iconography was still dominant, yet Arabic phrases and the gradual transition to Islamic rule are evident.
The Abbasid Caliphate and the Governance of Tabaristan
By 786-787 AD, the Abbasid Caliphate was under the rule of Caliph Harun al-Rashid (786-809 AD), one of the most famous Abbasid rulers, known for his patronage of science, culture, and the arts—immortalized in One Thousand and One Nights.
Tabaristan, located along the southern Caspian Sea, remained a semi-autonomous Persian province under Arab rule. Unlike other regions of the Abbasid Empire, Tabaristan retained much of its Persian administration, local rulers, and cultural traditions. Abbasid-appointed governors continued the practice of minting Sasanian-style coinage, demonstrating how Persian influence persisted despite the Islamic takeover.
Significance of This Coin
•Cultural Fusion: A striking example of Persian and Islamic artistic and linguistic blending.
•Economic Continuity: These coins ensured the smooth economic transition from the Sasanian to the Abbasid period.
•Zoroastrian Symbolism: The presence of the fire altar and priests highlights the lingering Zoroastrian traditions in Persia before full Islamization.
•Historical Rarity: Early Abbasid-era coins that still feature Sasanian rulers’ busts are significant, as later Abbasid coinage would entirely remove such imagery in favor of Islamic calligraphy.
Conclusion
This Tabaristan silver hemidrachm is a rare and historically rich artifact from the early Abbasid period, reflecting the political transition and cultural resilience of Persia under Islamic rule. It stands as a testament to the Abbasid Empire’s strategic use of pre-Islamic iconography to maintain stability while gradually integrating new religious and linguistic influences.