⅙ 'Sudaysi' Dirham - Muhammad b. al-Qasim San'a

The Rassid Imams of Yemen traced their lineage directly to the Prophet through the Zaydi Shia tradition, and their coin issues — often struck at San'a in fractional denominations — reflect a monetary system adapted to local trade rather than caliphal convention. Muhammad b. al-Qasim ruled during a period of persistent Fatimid pressure from Egypt and Ismaili rivals within Yemen itself, making even routine administrative acts like minting a quiet assertion of legitimate Zaydi authority. The sudaysi, a sixth-dirham fraction, circulated widely in highland Yemeni markets where small silver was more useful than full dirhams.