Ancient silver hemidrachm from Tabaristan, northern Iran (c. AD 711–793)

You will receive one silver hemidrachm from Tabaristan, the mountain-ringed region on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea. For over a century after the Sasanian Empire fell, Tabaristan kept striking Sasanian-style silver. The coins show a crowned bust on the front and a fire altar with two attendants on the back.

Details

• Metal: silver
• Typical weight: about 2.0 g (standard about 2.08 g)
• Typical diameter: about 22–26 mm
• Mint: Tabaristan (Pahlavi TPWRSTAN)
• Issued by the local Dabuyid rulers and, later, Abbasid governors of Tabaristan
• Dated in the Post-Yazdegerd Era, which you can convert to a Western date (AD ≈ PYE + 651)

About these coins
Hemidrachms are half the weight of a Sasanian drachm. They may have been called “Tabari dirhams” at the time. The marginal inscriptions are in Pahlavi, and later issues add Arabic names of governors.

Important – please read
These are ancient, hand-struck coins, so each one is different in strike, centering, toning and wear. The photos show an example coin. The coin you receive will be similar but not identical. Rulers and dates vary and are not guaranteed. Please look closely at the photos and the infographic.

Questions are welcome before you buy.