Coins struck at Tabaristan
1 catalogued coin and note attributed to Tabaristan, with weights, legends, dates and Wikimedia-sourced images across Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic.
In short
Tabaristan, the Caspian province of northern Iran, struck a distinctive series of small silver half-drachms that continued Sasanian designs for more than a century after the Islamic conquest. Tabaristan is a mint of the Iranian world represented in the Persian Treasury catalogue by 1 coin and note struck between 158 CE – 785 CE. Its output here covers Silver in the Drachm, Abbasi denominations, issued under Issued under Caliph al-Mahdi.
- Catalogued
- 1
- Eras
- 1
- Metals
- 1
- Denominations
- 2
Key facts
| Catalogued pieces | 1 |
|---|---|
| Date range | 158 CE – 785 CE |
| Eras represented | Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic |
| Metals | Silver |
| Denominations | Drachm, Abbasi |
| Issuers | Issued under Caliph al-Mahdi |
A survival of Sasanian coinage
Protected by the Alborz mountains, Tabaristan kept its local Dabuyid dynasty and its Sasanian monetary habits long after the rest of Iran had passed to the caliphate. Its coins keep the crowned bust and the fire altar with two attendants, with legends in Pahlavi rather than Arabic.
The Abbasid governors who took over after 761 CE continued the same type, adding their own names in Pahlavi and later brief Arabic phrases — one of the clearest numismatic pictures anywhere of a gradual, negotiated cultural transition.
The half-drachm standard
Tabaristan coins are hemidrachms of roughly 1.9–2.1 g on a small, thick flan, quite unlike the broad Sasanian drachm. Dates are given in the post-Yazdgerd Tabaristan era, which begins in 651 CE — so a coin dated 130 was struck in 781 CE.
The mint signature is usually TPWRSTAN (Tabaristan) itself, occasionally with a secondary town. Because the series is dated, well-published and available in good silver at modest prices, it is one of the best entry points into Pahlavi-legend collecting.
What to check before buying
Weight below about 1.7 g usually indicates wear or clipping. Confirm the era date reads as a Pahlavi numeral and converts sensibly, and prefer coins with a legible governor's name — anonymous worn examples are common and inexpensive, named and dated pieces are what carry value.
Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic · 651 – 1258 CE
Era overview →Frequently asked about Tabaristan
- What are Tabaristan coins?
- Small silver half-drachms of about 2 g struck in the Caspian province of Tabaristan from the mid-seventh to the late eighth century, keeping Sasanian bust and fire-altar designs with Pahlavi legends.
- How are Tabaristan coins dated?
- By the Tabaristan era, which begins in 651 CE; add 651 to the coin's date to get the approximate CE year.
- Are Tabaristan coins rare?
- Common types in worn grade are affordable and widely available; named governors, scarce dates and sharply struck examples are the collectable end of the series.
- What coins were struck at Tabaristan?
- Tabaristan is a mint of the Iranian world represented in the Persian Treasury catalogue by 1 coin and note struck between 158 CE – 785 CE. Its output here covers Silver in the Drachm, Abbasi denominations, issued under Issued under Caliph al-Mahdi.
- How many Tabaristan pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
- 1 item, dated 158 CE – 785 CE, spread across 1 era: Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic.
- Which metals were used for Tabaristan coinage?
- Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
- Which denominations are associated with Tabaristan?
- Drachm, Abbasi. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.