Nomos 23

TABARISTAN. 'Abbasid governors. Rawh b. Hatim, AH 146-148 / AD 763-773. Hemidrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 2.01 g, 12 h), Tabaristan mint, struck under the governor Rawh b. Hātim, naming the Abbasid heir Al-Mahdī Muhammad, dated AH 146 (= AD 763/4). al-Mahdī Muhammad - ibn amīr al-mu'minīn (in Kufic) Sasanian-style bust to right, wearing winged crown; star in the shape of a pellet behind crown; in the 2nd quarter margin, 'pd (Pahlavi). Rev. bi-Tabaristān sannattsitt wa arba 'īn wa mi'a - mimmā amara bihi Rawh b. Hātim (mint and date in Kufic) Sasanian-style fire altar flanked by two attendants; to left and right of flames, stars in the shape of pellets. Malek 53. Morton & Eden 82, 2016, 9. Extremely rare, with excellent centering and wide margins. A historical issue. Good very fine.

From the Persis Collection.

This very important and rare issue of Rawh b. Hātim, names the son of the Caliph Al-Mansur as his overlord. This was Prince Muhammad Al-Mahdi, who in AH 145 (762) became the governor of the eastern region of the Abbasid Caliphate. His base was in Al-Rayy where he fell in love with his future wife, the ex slave, Al-Khayzuran. One year after this coin was struck, in 147AH (764/5) Al-Mahdi was named Al-Mansur's successor and eventually became the Third Abbasid Caliph in 158AH (775), an event which led to a golden age for Tabaristan.