The Saffarids Drachm Bull and horseman type coin features the Arabic word ‘adl above the horse’s head
From what today is knoown as Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India. The Shahi kings from Kabul and Gandhara.
The coin depicts a bull and a horseman, with the Sanskrit title Sri Khudaraiyaka above the bull and the Arabic word ‘adl (Just) above the horseman to the right.
Above the bull, the earliest ones have Nagari legends reading Sri Spalapati Deva or Honorable Chief Commander. Right of the horse is a legend in cursive Bactrian (perhaps reading the same?). Finding a specimen with both legends will take some luck. These early coins show the figures modeled in higher relief than the later coins which become more line drawings.
The coin was minted by Ya’qub b. al-Layth during the period AH 247-265 / AD 861-879
Dimensions: The coin is 18 mm in diameter and weighs 3.14 g.
The coin is listed in Album A1402, Deyell 35, and Tye 23
Well centred and clearly defined VF
A nice well struck example unusaul to find as such
The easiest way of correcyly dating these coins other than the later examples being more stick like images in comparison with the earlier fuller design imagry, is by weight. The 1st and 2nd issue was at 4g or more, the next generation were the 3.3g issue and the later several issues saw the design change to stick style images.
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