ISLAMIC, 'Abbasid Caliphat: temp. al-Mahdi. AH 158-169 / AD 775-785. AR Hemidrachm. Issue of ‘Umar ibn al-’Ala, governor in Tabaristan. Tabaristan mint. Dated PYE 127 = AH 162. Stylized crowned Sassanian style bust right; ’mwr in Arabic to right; ’pd in Pahlavi to lower right in outer margin; nwk’ in Pahlavi to lower left / Fire altar flanked by attendants; pellets flanking flames; date to left, mint to right; alternating triple pellets and star-in-crescents in outer margin. (1.81gm, 24mm), Near Extremely Fine.