After seeing some of the Tabarestan coins on the forum pages I thought they were pretty cool, and one (or more) would make a nice addition to my increasingly diverse collection. As there were coins of only three rulers in the Dabuyid dynasty it might be possible to make a set of all three. The new quest began, but it took a while. Thankfully they all came attributed as I wouldn't know where to start, and I hope I haven't gone and mixed anything up.
I found a coin of Farrukhan the Great (712-728), the independent ruler (ispahbadh) of Tabaristan in the early 8th century, until his death in 728. It was interesting to read that he was the first actually attested (through his coinage) member of the Dabuyid dynasty, who ruled Tabaristan since the time of the Muslim conquest of Persia. He maintained his independence against the attacks of the Umayyad Caliphate, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Dadhburzmihr. During his early rule, he reconstructed the city of Zadracarta and made it his capital, and because his son's name was "Saruyih" he called it by this name, which later became known as Sari.
Dadhburzmihr (also spelled Dadmihr or Dazmihr) had a fairly short reign, succeeding his father Farrukhan the Great in 731 and reigning until his death in 740. According to the 13th century historian Ibn Isfandiyar, Dad-burzmihr enjoyed a peaceful reign, facing no invasions from the Arab Caliphate, due to their attention being directed towards local revolts. His 6 year old son, Khurshid succeeded him and was supervised by his uncle as regent until he reached the age of fourteen. Khurshid (also known as Khushid) would reign till the Abbasid conquest in 760.
A bit of interest from Wikipedia:
Regarding the founding of Saruyeh (modern-day Sari), Ibn Isfandiyar wrote that Farrukhan ordered a person named "Bav" to build a city in a rural place called "Ohar". That position was on a high position and had many springs. People bribed Bav to build the city elsewhere. Bav accepted and built a city that is now called Sari. After the construction of the city was completed, Farrukhan the Great went there to visit, and after the "betrayal" of Bav was determined, he was hanged.
Tabarestan (Tabaristan): Dabuyid Dynasty: Farrukhan The Great. 712-728 AD. Hemidrachm.
Obverse: Crowned Sassanian-style bust right; name and titles of the governor, Farrukhan, in Pahlavi; lower right in outer margin, 'pd ("excellent"). Reverse: Zoroastrian fire-altar flanked by attendants; pellets flanking flames; date to left, TPWRSTAN (Tabaristan) to right; alternating triple pellets and star-in-crescents in outer margin. Dated PYE 68 (= A.D. 719/20). Silver. Diameter: 24 mm. Weight: 2.09gr.
Reference: Malek, p. 133 and pl. 12, 9.5.
Does anyone know what the script on the lower left of the margin means?
Tabarestan (Tabaristan): Dabuyid Dynasty: Dadhburzmihr (also spelled Dadmihr or Dazmihr). 731-740 AD. Hemidrachm.
Obverse: Bust right, breast ornament: Ruler's name in Pahlavi (D'thwremtr') on the right. On the margin, 'pd (abd meaning excellent), without nyk on margin. Reverse: Fire altar with 2 attendants; star left and crescent right of flames. 3 pellets. Pahlavi date (Year PYE 87 (AH 121) 738 AD) to left, mint name to right 'TPWRSTAN' (Tabaristan). Silver. Diameter 23 mm. Weight: 2.08 gr.
Reference: Malek 24.2; Zeno #247333.
Tabarestan (Tabaristan): Dabuyid Dynasty: Khushid (also known as Khurshid), 734-760 AD. Hemidrachm.)
Obverse: Crowned Sassanian-style bust right; "May xvarrah increase" in Pahlavi behind, "Khushid" in Pahlavi before; open double circle border with star-in-crescent motif at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock and "excellent" in 2nd quarter of margin. Reverse: Zoroastrian fire-altar flanked by attendants; pellets flanking flames; date to left; TPWRSTAN (Tabaristan) to right; alternating triple pellets and star-in-crescents in outer margin; star left and crescent right at top of flames. Dated PYE 101 (= A.D. 752). Silver. Diameter: 24 mm. Weight: 2.05 gr.
Reference: cf. Malek 38.3 (= crescent left, star or crescent right, above flames).
Posted 09/06/2023 8:46 pm
