AE fals with a Samarqand tamgha on the reverse, citing Caliphal heir al-Mahdi and governor al-Ash'ath, 144 AH/761 AD, Samarqand, Abbasid Caliphate

Arabic inscriptions spread on both sides: Kalima, date and mint around, citing the governor al-Ash'ath bin Yahya and the caliphal heir Mohamed (al-Mahdi, later the caliph, AH 158-169), Samarqand tamgha after the end of the Kalima on the reverse. Dated to 144 AH = 761 AD, mint of Samarqand. 20mm, 2.98 grams. Smirnova 1685; Zeno 41860.

Rare type, interesting with the Samarqand tamgha on an Islamic issue.

Scarce Central Asian Abbasid issue, struck at the fringes of the Abbasid Empire.