★ Virtually as struck ★

ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. Temp. Hisham ibn 'Abd al-Malik, AH 105-125 / AD 724-743. Hemidrachm (Silver, 24 mm, 1.93 g, 12 h), citing the Dabwayhid spahbed Khurshid (AD 740-761), Tabaristan, PYE 91 = AH 125 = 742/3. Draped bust resembling Khosrau II to right, wearing elaborate mural crown; behind head, AFZUT GDH ('may his kingship increase' in Pahlawi); before head, HURSHIT ('Khurshid' in Pahlawi); in outer margin, APD ('excellent' 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 52. SICA I, -. Walker, Arab-Sassanian, -. Lustrous and attractive. Light deposits, otherwise, virtually as struck.

Khurshid was the last independent spahbeds of the local Dabwayhid dynasty to resist the Arab invasion. However, despite an alliance of the rebels with Tang China, the Abbasid forces eventually broke the Dabwayhid resistance in AD 759/760 and incorporated Tabaristan into the Caliphate. The family of Khurshid was killed and Khurshid himself fled to Daylam, where he comitted suicide shortly thereafter.