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1 Drachm - al-Mahdi Arab-Bukharan, Bakh Bakh
| Issuer | Abbasid Governors of Bukhara (Abbasid Governorates) |
|---|---|
| Year | 763-772 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Drachm |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Central field occupied by a stylized royal bust or symbolic device rendered in the debased Sasanian tradition, surrounded by a legend in a combination of Arabic, Persian, and Sogdian scripts. The inscription reads al-Mahdi Bukhara Khub Kan Bakh Bakh, referencing the Abbasid prince al-Mahdi and the Bukharan mint authority. The legends are arranged around the central device within a toothed or beaded border typical of Arab-Bukharan coinage. The die-cutting is bold but irregular, consistent with provincial hammered production. The overall style reflects the transitional nature of these issues, blending Sasanian iconographic conventions with early Islamic epigraphy. |
|---|---|
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| Mint | Bukhara |
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| Additional information |
The Arab-Bukharan coinage represents a transitional monetary tradition unique to Transoxiana, where Abbasid administrative authority was grafted onto pre-existing Sogdian coin forms rather than replacing them outright. The "Bakh Bakh" designation refers to a local Sogdian dynastic name, reflecting the practical reality that Arab governors in the region often relied on indigenous intermediaries to maintain fiscal control in territories still culturally resistant to direct caliphal administration. Al-Mahdi, the future third Abbasid caliph, served as governor of Khurasan from 758 to 775, and coins issued under his authority in this region predate his accession.