We are delighted to present CNG’s first Fixed Price List dedicated to coins from the Islamic world. As well as rarities for the advanced collector, some unpublished, we also have coins of wider historical and regional interest, including a section devoted to coins from the Holy Land. As this is our first List of this type, we have tried to offer coins at the widest possible range of price points, as well as from the broadest spectrum of dynasties and time periods.
The market for Islamic coins continues to evolve, and we are increasingly seeing that the condition of an Islamic coin now determines its value as much, if not more, as its rarity. This preference for grade over rarity has long been familiar in other areas of numismatics, but is relatively new in the Islamic field. More and more Islamic coins are now being sent to third-party grading services, which both reflects and fuels the trend, but we would remind clients that ‘Finest Graded’ is not the same as ‘Finest Known’. Relatively few of the Islamic coins available to commerce have been encapsulated, and today’s ‘Top Pop’ dinar may not keep that status for long. Nevertheless, in the current market a really choice common ‘Abbasid dinar will likely make a stronger price at auction than a far rarer coin graded only VF. It is encouraging to see that Islamic coins are being increasingly valued for their aesthetics as well as their history, but collectors who are willing to compromise on condition can still buy rarities at affordable prices. And for many collectors, condition is still no barrier when key rarities come to market. One Saffarid dirham from Oman, dated AH 297, sold for $25,000 hammer in our Islamic Auction 5, even though described as ‘Cleaned, edge split. Fine.’ In spite of its condition, several advanced collectors still fought for it, appreciating that it was the first of these coins to come auction.
The pieces offered here span the centuries from the early Muslim conquests to the grandeur of the Ottoman empire. We begin with a selection of Arab-Sasanian drachms, including rare issues of al-Hajjaj b. Yusuf and ‘Amr b. Laqit. This is followed by a particularly interesting offering of post-Reform Umayyad coins, including dirhams from the extremely rare mints of Ard and Fil. Of special importance, however, is the dirham from the mint of al-Daybul (coin 30), which has the distinction of being the first Islamic coin to name a town in the Indian subcontinent. Another rarity to interest Umayyad collectors is the dirham from Ifriqiya dated AH 140 (coin 46), which bears conventional Umayyad legends even though it was struck eight years after their overthrow by the ‘Abbasids. The ‘Abbasid section is also notable for a rare dinar of the caliph al-Muhtadi (coin 60), another dinar from the mint of Arminiya (coin 55), and an extremely rare early dinar from Baghdad (coin 51)
After the ‘Abbasid section, the coins are arranged geographically from West to East. From Spain and North Africa we have several Idrisid dirhams from rare mints, as well as a selection of gold coins with the ‘square-in-circle’ design characteristic of the region. Egypt and Syria is particularly strong in Fatimid coins, including two dinars from Damascus and one from Atarablus. This is followed by an offering of coins relating to the Holy Land, with no fewer than six ‘Abbasid dinars from the mint of Filastin, not to mention three Fatimid dirhams and two dinars from the same mint. We hope that these coins might appeal particularly to collectors who already have a wider interest in the history and coinage of this region.
Coins of Arabia and Oman are always popular, and this section is highlighted by a well-struck Wajihid dirham dated AH 322 (coin 142). Among the coins from Rum and Anatolia, we note a rare sultani from the island of Chios, bearing the date of its capture by the Ottoman Turks - AH 974. This is followed by a good selection of coins from pre-Mongol and post-Mongol Asia, which includes a magnificent silver 10-Dirhams from the mint of Balad al-Kurraman. Dated AH 641, and naming only the ‘Abbasid caliph al-Musta’sim, it was struck during the reign of the Great Mongol empress Töregene, probably to mark the arrival of the new caliph’s emissaries at the Mongol court (coin 204). The list concludes with a selection of later coins from the Islamic world, extending into the early nineteenth ecntury.
Whether you are already an advanced collector, or are a newcomer to the world of Islamic numismatics, we hope that you will find something here to spark your interest. We welcome your enquiries and look forward to hearing from you.
Steve Lloyd CNG, LLC
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CNG Islamic Fixed Price List
No. 1 - January 2025
PRE-REFORM COINAGE
1 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. In the name of Khusraw II. AR Drachm (31.7mm, 4.11g, 3h). DA (Darabjird) mint. Dated YE 35= AH 46 (AD 666/7). Obverse margin: – / lillah / – / –. Malek, Arab-Sasanian 374; SICA 1, 236; Album A6. Good VF. (5660039) $275
While most early Arab-Sasanian drachms have bism Allah in the obverse margin, this rarer type bears the shorter legend lillah, (‘For God’). Lillah in Arabic is visually similar to the Pahlawi APD legend commonly found on the Sasanian drachms of Khusraw II which this type copies. Making their new Arab-Sasanian drachms resemble pre-Islamic prototypes as closely as possible will have helped ensure their acceptance in the former Sasanian lands.
2 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. In the name of Khusraw II. AR Drachm (31.2mm, 4.05g, 8h). SK (Sistan) mint. Dated AH 48 (AD 668/9). Obverse margin: – / bismillah / rabbi / –. Malek, Arab-Sasanian 975; SICA 1, 358ff; Album 5. Good VF. (5657364) $135
3 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. Abdallah b. ‘Amir. Circa AH 41-45 / AD 661-664. AR Drachm (31.3mm, 3.58g, 9h). BYŠ (Bishapur) mint. Dated AH 44 (AD 664/5). Obverse margin: – / bismillah / – / –; governor›s name written as AMWRAN / APDWLA (with patronymic first). Malek, Arab-Sasanian 251; SICA 1, 113; Album 6. Good VF. (5660119) $285
4 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. Ziyad b. Abi Sufyan. AH 45-54 / AD 665-673. AR Drachm (33.4mm, 4.14g, 4h). ART (Ardashir Khurra) mint. Dated AH 52 (AD 672). Obverse margin: — / bism Allah / rabbi / —. Malek, Arab-Sasanian 54; Album 8. Good VF, minor double-striking on obverse. Rare. (5701991) $175
5 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. Ubaydallah b. Ziyad. AH 54-64 / AD 673-683. AR Drachm (32.8mm, 4.10g, 12h). KRMAN-NAWGY (New Jiruft) mint. Dated AH 60 (AD 679/80). Obverse margin: – / bismillah • ⊃ / – / –. Malek, Arab-Sasanian 783 (same obverse die); SICA 1, p. 16, note 64; Album 12. Near EF. (5660125) $175
6 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. Ubaydallah b. Ziyad. AH 54-64 / AD 673-683. AR Drachm (32.1mm, 4.00g, 3h). BBA (the court or camp) mint. Dated AH 62 (AD 681/2). Obverse margin: – / bismillah ◉ / :: – / –. Malek, Arab-Sasanian 141; SICA 1, 46-48; Album 12. Old ink marks on reverse. EF. (5660121) $145
7 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. Ubaydallah b. Ziyad. AH 54-64 / AD 673-683. AR Drachm (31.1mm, 4.14g, 4h). DA (Darabjird) mint. Dated YE 46 = AH 58 (AD 677/8). Obverse margin: – / bism allah / – / – / Reverse margin: GM monogram at 11:30h. Malek, Arab-Sasanian 410-11; SICA 1, 248; Album 12. Near EF. (5660122) $145
Most Islamic silver mints had adopted Islamic Hijri dating by the time of ‘Ubaydallah b. Ziyad’s governorship. Darabjird was one of the few which continued to use Yazdigerd Era dates, in which years were counted from the accession of the long-dead Sasanian king, Yazdigerd III. This was a solar calendar with a year of 365 days, while the Hijri calendar is a lunar system with a slightly shorter year of (usually) 354 days. Why the district of Darabjird should have continued to use the older Persian calendar after other parts of Iran had abandoned it is unclear, but the answer may be connected with how taxes were connected in the region. Solar months remain synchronised with the seasons, so taxes levied after harvest would always fall due in the same month of a solar calendar. But months in a lunar calendar gradually fall earlier relative to the seasons, so levying taxes in a given lunar month would have meant that these fell due before harvest. Traditionally, the caliph ‘Umar b. al-Khattab is reported to have appreciated this problem, and to have allowed the Persian calendar to be reintroduced to facilitate tax collection.
8 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. Talha b. ‘Abdallah. fl. AH 64-66 / AD 683-685. AR Drachm (32.8mm, 4.03g, 10h). SK (Sistan) mint. Dated AH 64 (AD 683/4). Obverse margin: — / Talha lillah ∵ / ∴ — / • —. Malek, ArabSasanian 996; SICA 1, —; Album 26. Near EF. Rare. (5661131) $550
Talha b. ‘Abdallah was appointed governor in Sistan in AH 62. Some written sources state that he died in AH 64, but coins in his name were struck until at least AH 66. He was one of the first governors whose name appears on the coinage in Arabic as well as Pahlawi, adopting Talha lillah, (‘God’s Talha’) as the obverse marginal legend.
9 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. ‘Abd al-Malik b. ‘Abdallah (AH 66-67 / AD 685-686). AR Drachm (33.8mm, 3.90g, 2h), BYŠ (Bishapur) mint, dated AH 67 (AD 686). Obverse margin: — / bism Allah / Muhammad rasul / Allah. Malek 308; Album 20; ICV 22. Near EF, lightly cleaned, small edge crack. (5704689) $350
Ex St James’s Auction 20 (18 November 2011), lot 647
10 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. Muqatil b. Misma‘ (AH 72-73 / AD 691-692). AR Drachm (27.9mm, 3.08g, 3h). BYŠ (Bishapur) mint. Dated AH 72 (AD 691/2). Obverse margin: — / bism Allah / bakriya / —. Malek, Arab-Sasanian 320; Album 22; ICV 32. Good VF, slightly clipped. Rare. (5704690) $475
Ex Tim Wilkes FPL 18 (January 2013), no. 41; ex Morton & Eden 59 (13-14 November 2012), lot 198
11 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. Atiya b. al-Aswad. fl. AH 70-77 / AD 689-696. AR Drachm (30.6mm, 4.09g, 5h). KRMAN-NAR (Narmashir) mint. Dated AH 72 (AD 691/2). Obverse margin: – ∣• / bismillah wali al-amr / – / –. Malek, Arab-Sasanian 757; SICA 1, 325; Album 28. Countermarked lillahat 10h in obverse margin. Good VF. (5660040) $325
12 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. al-Muhallab b. Abi Sufra. Circa AH 75-79 / AD 694-698. AR Drachm (31.1mm, 4.13g, 9h). BYŠ (Bishapur) mint. Dated AH 76 (AD 695/6). Obverse margin: — / bismillah :: / MW — / —. Malek, Arab-Sasanian 332; SICA 1 211ff; Album 31. Near EF, lightly toned. (5657365) $135
13 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. Qatari b. al-Fuja’a. AH 69-79 / AD 688-698. AR Drachm (31.8mm, 3.85g, 8h). BYŠ (Bishapur) mint. Dated AH 75 (AD 694/5). Obverse margin: — / la hukm illa lillah / — / —. Malek, Arab-Sasanian 327; SICA 1, 193-8; Album 33. Good VF, minor staining in periphery. (5625109) $495
Qatari b. al-Fuja‘a was a leader of a Kharjite faction which opposed both the Umayyad caliphs and their Zubayrid rivals. His coins all bear the Kharjite slogan la hukm illa lillah, ‘There is no justice but from God’. This slogan is also found on Umayyad dirhams struck half a century later during another Kharijite revolt at Kufa.
14 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. Al-Hajjaj b. Yusuf (AH 75-95 / AD 694-713). AR Drachm (29.8mm, 3.63g, 3h). DA-P (Fasa) mint. Dated YE 71 (AH 83 = AD 702/3). Obverse margin: — / bism Allah / MN / —. Malek, Arab-Sasanian 511; Album 36. Good VF, dark tone, some tooling in obverse margin. Very rare. (5704691) $1850
Ex Peus 388 (1 November 2006), lot 1208
The significance of the Pahlawi letters MN in the obverse margin not certain, but several authorities have suggested that it may be an abbreviation for the Arabic word Mansur. Writing in 1966, Curiel read the date on this type as AH 79, leading him to identify ‘Mansur’ as the name of a finance official who held office in Fars and Sistan between AH 75-82. Several years later, however, al-’Ush was able to demonstrate that the year should in fact be read as 71, and correctly interpreted this a Yazdigerd Era date (as normally used on ArabSasanian drachms from Darabjird). This equates to AH 83, which would appear to be too late to coincide with Curiel’s administrator. Al-‘Ush therefore proposed that ‘Mansur’ was an adjective meaning ‘Victorious,’ noting that the coin was struck in the year when al-Hajjaj recaptured Darabjird from ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Muhammad. If so, this would be one of the earliest Islamic coins to bear an inscription commemorating a military victory.
15
Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. Ubaydallah b. Abi Bakra. fl. AH 79-80 / AD 698-699. AR Drachm (30.6mm, 3.96g, 4h). SK (Sistan) mint. Dated AH 79 (AD 698/9). Obverse margin: – / bism allah / rabbi / –. Malek, Arab-Sasanian 1017; SICA 1, 369; Album 37. Good VF. (5678099) $135
Ex Morton & Eden (15 October 2020), lot 1012 (part).
16
Pre-reform issues, Arab-Sasanian. ‘Amr b. Laqit (AH 82-83 / AD 701-702). AR Drachm (28.6mm, 3.78g, 4h). KRMAN-NAR (Narmashir) mint, dated AH 83 (AD 702), Obverse margin: — / bism Allah / ‘amr Lillah / —. Malek 769; Album 39; ICV 54. Near EF, dark tone, surface flaw on obverse. Rare. (5704692) $750
Ex Peus 388 (1 November 2006), lot 1211
17 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Armenian. Muhammad. Circa AH 80 / AD 700. AR Zuzun (28.7mm, 2.45g, 3h). Uncertain mint and date. Pahlavi MHMT (Muhammad) in front of bust. Obverse margin: – / waf / – / –. SICA 1, 494 var.. VF. Rare. (5675926) $750
18 Pre-reform issues, Arab-Bukharan. Al-Amin (Caliph, AH 193-198 / AD 809-813). BI ‘Muhammadiya’ Drachm (24.4mm, 2.26g, 9h). Without mint-name or date, Citing ‘Ali and Sulayman. Walker 344-350; Album 96; ICV 98. Good VF, Scarce. (5704693) $325
Ex Morton & Eden 39 (2 December 2009), lot 400
POST-REFORM UMAYYAD COINAGE
19 Umayyad Caliphate, Gold coinage. AV Dinar (19.1mm, 4.31g, 6h). Without mint-name. Dated AH 88 (AD 706/7). Two pellets on reverse below i of dinar. ICV 166; Walker 199. Minor obverse graffiti. Near EF. (5657368) $975
20 Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (26.4mm, 2.39g, 5h). Abrashahr mint. Dated AH 95 (AD 713/4). Reverse margin ends al-mushrikūn. Klat 9.b.. Toned, cleaning scratches on obverse, some corrosion remaining in margins. Near VF. (5657374) $140
An
extremely rare Umayyad dirham from ‘Ard’
21 Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (26.5mm, 2.76g, 4h). Ard mint. Dated AH 82 (AD 701/2). Klat 30 (same obverse die as illustration); al-‘Ajlan 82/3 (same obverse die as illustration). Small attempted piercing at 1h on obverse, light graffiti above reverse field. VF. Extremely rare, only two specimens recorded by Klat. (5660024) $5950
Michael Bates proposed that Ard was ‘nothing more than a die-engraver’s error for Ardashir Khurra’ (Bates, Mystery Mints of the Umayyads, ONS Occasional Paper 22, 1987), but this seems highly unlikely on two counts. Firstly, another dirham from ‘Ard’ dated AH 79 has come to light since Bates wrote, and it is hard to imagine that the same error would have been repeated on coins struck three years apart. Secondly, die-engravers’ errors on Umayyad dirhams are highly unusual and generally minor, such as ‘Dashtaq’ for ‘Dimashq’, or ‘bi-Harat’ written retrograde as ‘Ahbahr’. Bates’s suggestion required the engraver to have omitted almost all of the intended mint-name: an extreme error, and one without parallel.
Rather than being an error, it seems more likely that ‘Ard’ may have been engraved deliberately as an abbreviation for Ardashir Khurra, copying the Pahlawi mint-signature ART used on Arab-Sasanian drachms. Klat records dirhams with the full mint-name Ardashir Khurra dated AH 80, 83 and 84, but there are good grounds for interpreting the date read as ‘80’ as ‘84’ (see CNG Islamic Auction 3, lot 55). This would give a logical sequence where the earliest post-Reform dirhams struck at Ardashir Khurra used the Arabic version of the old Pahlawi mint-signature ‘Ard’ in AH 79 and 82, before switching to the fuller version ‘Ardashir Khurra’ on coins struck in AH 83 onwards. This reuse of a pre-Reform Pahlawi mint-signature as a post-Reform mint-name is almost unparalleled and of exceptional interest.
24 Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (26.5mm, 2.62g, 7h). Al-Andalus mint. Dated AH 114 (AD 732/3). Klat 127; ICV 240. Near VF. (5675901) $525
25
Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (28.1mm, 2.91g, 6h). Al-Andalus mint. Dated AH 118 (AD 736). Klat 131. Minor corrosion in margins. Near EF. (5626657)
$550
26 Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (26.5mm, 2.67g, 7h). Al-Bab mint. Dated AH 124 (AD 741/2). Klat 151; ICV 241. Near EF. (5692484) $450
27 Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (26.3mm, 2.84g, 5h). Al-Jazira mint. Dated AH 127 (AD 744/5). Klat 223. Near EF. (5657376) $195
28 Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (26.1mm, 2.94g, 5h). Junday Sabur mint. Dated AH 81 (AD 700/1), Klat 236; ICV 255. Near EF. Rare. (5704694) $525
Ex Horizon I (2 October 2016), lot 253
29 Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (25.6mm, 2.74g, 9h). Dabil mint. Dated AH 86 (AD 705). Klat 287; ICV 261. Good VF, lightly cleaned. Scarce. (5675899) $650
Daybul - Gateway to the Conquest of the Indian Subcontinent
30 Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (25mm, 2.89g, 2h). Al-Daybul mint. Dated AH 95/4 (AD 713/4). Klat 337. Near EF. Excessively rare. (5626637) $19500
Al-Daybul was an ancient port town on the coast of Sindh, now in present-day Pakistan. Its origins go back some two thousand years, and its name is thought mean ‘temple’ or ‘house of God’ in Sanskrit. It was one of the most important commercial towns in the region during the Umayyad period, and the Muslims may first have reached al-Daybul by sea as early as AH 15. Maritime contact between the Islamic world and the Indian subcontinent became increasingly frequent thereafter, both in the form of raids for plunder and also in more peaceful trade. At the same time, Muslim armies marched further East, reaching as far as Lahore in AH 44. Subsequent decades saw a prolonged struggle between Arab commanders in Sistan and local rulers in Pakistan and Afghanistan, as the Muslims tried to fight their way into al-Hind, only to meet fierce resistance.
It was not until AH 92 that Sindh finally fell to the Muslims. Al-Hajjaj b. Yusuf, Umayyad Governor of the East, dispatched a powerful army under the command of his nephew, Muhammad b. al-Qasim b. al-Thaqafi, tasked with destroying pirates operating from Daybul. Muhammad b. al-Qasim marched from Shiraz along the coast, collecting reinforcements en route. Finally, having received further reinforcements by sea, including a detachment of catapults, he stormed Daybul later in AH 92. Contemporary accounts report that the city was sacked by the victorious Muslim troops for three days, after which Muhammad b. al-Qasim was able to strike north along the Indus. Sindh remained under Umayyad rule thereafter, apart from a brief period during a rebellion under Yazid II (AH 101-105).
The first Umayyad coins struck in al-Hind are dirhams of al-Daybul dated AH 95, other Umayyad dirham mints in the region being alQanda (Gandava, known for AH 96) and al-Hind (possibly Multan, known for AH 97). However, in the date legend on the present coin the unit khams, ‘5’, has clearly been re-engraved on the die over arba‘, ‘4’, showing that the die had been prepared for use in the previous year. This demonstrates that a mint must have been established at al-Daybul in AH 94, even though no dirhams bearing this date are known. The two enlargements above show the unit of the date as engraved on the coin offered here, with the original arba‘ highlighted in red for clarity. The peculiar appearance of the m and s of khams can be shown to have been caused by their being engraved over the original r, b and a of arba‘. Thus this extremely rare dirham is not merely an example of the first Islamic silver coinage struck during the conquest of the Indian subcontinent, but it also reveals that the Umayyads had originally intended to strike dirhams in Sindh a year earlier than was previously understood.
32 Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (24.6mm, 2.15g, 2h). Sabur mint. Dated AH 79 (AD 698/9). Klat 415; al-‘Ajlan p.94, 37; ICV 269. VF, minor edge losses, some discolouration and pitting. Rare. (5678079) $650
PYL - The Mint of Firuzabad
33 Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (25.5mm, 2.64g, 11h). Fil mint. Dated AH 81 (AD 700/1). Klat –. Good VF. Excessively rare. (5626639) $5950
‘Fil’ is another enigmatic Umayyad mint which has yet to be read or located. The mint-name resembles the Arabic word fil, meaning ‘elephant’, and in the absence of any other identification has been given this name for convenience. There was a place named Fil in Khwarezm, but this had yet to be conquered by the Muslims at the time these early dirhams were struck. The first letter could be read as ‘q’ or ‘f’, and the second letter could be any of ‘b’, ‘t’, ‘th’, ‘n’ or ‘i’; the final ‘l’ is unambiguous. None of these combinations appears to yield a plausible place-name, however.
However, PYL/FYL is known as an Arab-Sasanian mint-signature, where it is likely to be an abbreviation for a place-name beginning Peroz-, such as Perozabad or Perozgard. PYL is found on some rare drachms issued by al-Hakam b. Abi al-‘As, who was a governor in Kirman during the 50s Hijri. This has led scholars to suggest that PYL is also likely to denote a place in Kirman, but there are good grounds for questioning this, since PYL never appears as a prefix or suffix to the provincial mint-signature KLMAN (no form such as PYL-KLMAN or KLMAN-PYL is attested), as is the case with all other mints in the province. Thus while PYL surely denotes a place which al-Hakam controlled, it seems more likely that it was located somewhere outside the province itself. That being so, the city of Firuzabad, located in the neighbouring province of Fars, might be a possibility.
Why might the old Arab-Sasanian mint-signature PYL have been retained on a post-Reform Umayyad dirham, rather than adopting an Arabic form such as Firuzabad? It may be significant that the only other post-Reform mint-name which has been interpreted as an Arabic transliteration of a Pahlawi mint-signature is Ard (Pahlawi ART) - short for Ardashir Khurra. Firuzabad, ‘City of Victory’, was another name for Ardashir Khurra and, like Ard/ART, PYL/Firuzabad only appears on dirhams struck before AH 83, when the first dirhams bearing the mint-name ‘Ardashir Khurra’ were struck.
34 Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (23.8mm, 2.88g, 1h). Al-Kufa mint. Dated AH 129 (AD 746/7). Klat 549; ICV 282. Near EF. (5692485) $275
35 Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (26.4mm, 2.92g, 12h). Al-Mubaraka mint. Dated AH 110 (AD 728/9). Pellet below sh of ‘ashr in date. Klat 573. Near EF. (5657377) $120
36 Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (26mm, 2.89g, 3h). Manadhir mint. Dated AH 81 (AD 700/1). Klat 612; ICV 290. Near EF, scratch on obverse. (5692477) $495
37 Umayyad Caliphate, Bronze coinage. Æ Fals (20.1mm, 6.64g, 5h). Al-Fustat mint. Undated. Citing the finance director ‘Abd al-Malik b. Marwan. Walker p.275, P.140; Album 150. VF. Rare. (5702006) $150
Ex Stephen Album Auction 35 (12 September 2019), lot 903.
Ex Stephen Album Auction 31 (17 May 2018), lot 274.
‘Tanukh’ is in fact the name of a tribe rather than a place. Based near Aleppo and Qinnasrin, the Tanukh had been allies of the Byzantines before the Muslim conquest of the Levant. They largely retained their Christian faith under the Umayyads, eventually being forcibly converted under the ‘Abbasid caliph al-Mahdi (AH 158-169).
39 Umayyad Caliphate, Bronze coinage. Æ Fals (17.7mm, 2.34g, 10h). Al-Bab mint. Dated AH 115 (AD 733/4). In the name of Marwan b. Muhammad. Album 196E; ICV 309. Near VF. Very rare. (5702019) $135
Al-Bab, ‘The Gate’, was the name given by the Umayyads to Derbend on the Caspian Sea. This fals names Marwan b. Muhammad, the future Umayyad caliph Marwan II (AH 127-132), who was appointed to the governorship of Armenia in AH 114. Later in his governorship Marwan launched a series of campaigns into Georgia, where his ruthlessness and indifference the suffering of his subjects caused him to be known as Murvan Qru, ‘Marwan the Deaf’.
40 Umayyad Caliphate, Bronze coinage. Æ Fals (19mm, 2.06g, 10h). Citing Salm b. al-Musayyib. Istakhr mint. Undated. Album A201. Good VF. (5692211) $110
41 Umayyad Caliphate, Bronze coinage. Æ Fals (19.9mm, 2.77g, 8h). Revolutionary Period. Without mintname. Dated AH 131 (AD 748/9). In the name of Abu Muslim. Wurtzel 36; Album 208. Near VF. (5692212) $75
42 Umayyad Caliphate, Bronze coinage. Æ Half-Dirham Weight (8.4mm, 1.37 g). A small square uniface weight, the three-line legend reading: lillah / mizan / waf; three small circular punch-marks in the otherwise plain reverse. Near VF. (5660044) $130
‘ABBASID CALIPHATE
43 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Saffah. AH 132-136 / AD 749-754. AR Dirham (25mm, 2.53g, 5h). Dimashq mint. Dated AH 135 (AD 752/3). SCC 834; Album 211. VF, cleaned, some deposit, small flan crack in centre. (5678103) $425
While a common dirham mint for the Umayyads, whose capital it was, ‘Abbasid dirhams from Damascus are rare.
44 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Mansur. AH 136-158 / AD 754-775. AV Dinar (18.5mm, 4.23g, 1h). Without mint-name. Dated AH 140 (AD 757/8). SICA 3, 23-24; Bernardi 51; Album 212. Traces of mounting, attempted piercing above obverse field, mark on reverse. VF. (5657378) $375
45 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Mansur. AH 136-158 / AD 754-775. AR Dirham (24.1mm, 2.89g, 8h). AlHashimiya mint. Dated AH 138 (AD 755/6). SICA 3, —; SCC 845; Lowick 1077; Album 213.1. VF, minor staining. Rare. (5665933) $175
The rare mint of al-Hashimiya was only active for a few years during al-Mansur’s reign.
46 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Mansur. AH 136-158 / AD 754-775. AR Dirham (2.74g, 6h). Of Umayyad type with Surat al-Ikhlas on reverse. Ifriqiya mint. Dated AH 140. Lowick 268. VF, extremely rare. (5675916) $3850
When the Umayyad dynasty fell in AH 132, the Governor of Africa was ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Habib, who had held his governorship since AH 127. The new Abbasid caliph, al-Saffah, decided to reconfirm ‘Abd al-Rahman’s appointment rather than attempt to install a new governor of his own. Practically speaking, al-Saffah had little choice, given that the alternative would have involved leading an army to remove him by force. Thus ‘Abd al-Rahman was allowed to remain in office until his death in AH 138.
While dirhams struck elsewhere in the ‘Abbasid lands have Muhammad rasul Allah on the reverse in place of the familiar Surat al-Ikhlas used by the Umayyads, ‘Abd al-Rahman continued to issue dirhams of the older Umayyad type after his reappointment by al-Saffah. Examples are known from his governorship with dates between AH 133 and 136, and the four short-lived governors who succeeded him continued to strike similar coins until AH 144, when the first dirhams of ‘Abbasid type were finally struck in Ifriqiya. This coin was struck in a year when two different governors held office: ‘Asim b. Jamil (in AH 140 only) and ‘Abd al-Malik b. Ja‘di (governor from AH 140-141).
47 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Mansur. AH 136-158 / AD 754-775. Æ Heavy Fals (29mm, 14.75g, 11h). AlMawsil mint. Dated AH 145 (AD 762/3). Citing the caliphal heir Ja‘far b. al-Mansur. Shamma p. 69, 6; Album 308. Some spotting, edge flaw, earthen highlights over black surfaces. VF. Rare. (5665934) $375
48 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Mahdi. AH 158-169 / AD 775-785. AV Dinar (17.4mm, 3.95g, 3h). Without mint-name. Dated AH 165 (AD 781/2). Bernardi 51; Album 214. VF, slightly clipped, minor graffiti on reverse. (5678104) $425
Ex Stephen Album Rare Coins 20 (18 September 2014), lot 259; ex M.H. Mirza Collection.
49
50
49 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Mahdi. AH 158-169 / AD 775-785. AR Dirham (23.7mm, 2.94g, 1h). Qasr al-Salam mint. Dated AH 168 (AD 784/5). SICA 3, 1153-6; SCC 957; Album 215.1. Good VF. (5702022) $225
The mint of Qasr al-Salam, ‘The Fortress of Peace’, was only operational between AH 167 and 169. It is thought to have been located a short distance south-east of Baghdad.
50 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Rashid. AH 170-193 / AD 786-809. AR Dirham (23.8mm, 2.88g, 4h). Al-Rafiqa mint. Dated AH 188 (AD 803/4). SICA 3, 763-4; SCC 1058; Album 219.2. VF. (5678062) $75
Ex Baldwin’s Islamic List 8 (September 2004), no. 41.
51 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Ma’mun. AH 199-218 / AD 813-833. AV Dinar (20mm, 4.11g, 11h). Madinat al-Salam mint. Dated AH 211 (AD 826/7). Bernardi 116Jh (this date not recorded). Lightly creased. Near VF. Excessively rare. (5620767) $2250
Ex Morton & Eden 82 (20 October 2016), lot 30.
In the early years of the 3/9th century, the caliph al-Ma’mun introduced a series of reforms to the ‘Abbasid precious metal coinage. The legends on these coins were gradually standardised, leading to a uniform design featuring a new, elegant style of calligraphy, double marginal legends on the obverse, and without the name of the caliph, his heir, or any other secular authority. This is an extremely rare early issue from Baghdad, and the date was unknown to Bernardi.
52 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Ma’mun. AH 194-218 / AD 808-833. AR Dirham (23.2mm, 2.86g, 4h). Ma‘din Bajunays mint. Dated AH 210 (AD 825/6). Vardanyan 228; Lowick 942; Album 223.4. VF, minor marks on obverse. (5657343) $185
53 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Wathiq. AH 227-232 / AD 842-847. AV Dinar (21.5mm, 4.29g, 12h). Marw mint. Dated AH 227 (AD 841/2). Bernardi 152Ph; Album 227. VF, some weakness in margins. Very rare. (5677863) $650
54 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Wathiq. AH 227-232 / AD 842-847. AR Dirham (26.7mm, 2.99g, 12h). Madinat alSalam mint. Dated AH 230 (AD 844/5). SICA 4, 883-4; Album 228. Near EF. (5677860) $175
55 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Mutawakkil. AH 232-247 / AD 847-861. AV Dinar (20.1mm, 4.14g, 3h). Arminiya mint. Dated AH 246 (AD 860/1). Vardanyan 3 (same obverse die as illustration); Bernardi 158Kb; Album 229.3. Good Fine, traces of mounting. Extremely rare (5678080) $2250
All ‘Abbasid dinars from the mint of Arminiya are extremely rare. The mint itself was almost certainly located at the provincial capital, Dvin.
This coin was struck two years before the Battle of Karasounk in AH 248, during which a larger Muslim army sent by the caliph alMusta‘in was defeated by a smaller Armenian force under Ashot I. After the battle, al-Musta‘in recognised Ashot as Prince of Princes (effectively de facto king), paving the way for his coronation and foundation of the mediaeval Kingdom of Armenia in AH 271.
56 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Mutawakkil. AH 232-247 / AD 847-861. AR Dirham (25.4mm, 2.92g, 1h). Madinat al-Salam mint. Dated AH 233 (AD 847/8). SCC 1265; Album 230.1; ICV 404. Near EF. (5677861) $135
57 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Mutawakkil. AH 232-247 / AD 847-861. AR Donative Dirham (25mm, 2.84g, 12h). Medallic type with broad margins. Surra man Ra’a mint. Dated AH 238 (AD 852/3). Citing the heir Abu ‘Abdallah. Ilisch D I 1; SICA 4, 455; Album 230B. VF. Rare. (5678105) $675
Medallic dirhams such as these were struck for presentation purposes. As well as making a visible distinction from normal currency coins, the broad outer margin allowed them to be mounted or pierced for wearing without damage to the legends.
58 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Mutawakkil. AH 232-247 / AD 847-861. AR Dirham (25.1mm, 3.20g, 10h). Qumm mint. Dated AH 246 (AD 860/1). Citing the heir Al-Mu‘tazz. Dauwe 7; SICA 4, 758; Album 230.3. Good VF. Very rare. (5675917) $475
59 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Musta‘in. AH 248-251 / AD 862-866. AV Dinar (18.7mm, 4.22g, 7h). Misr mint. Dated AH 248 (AD 862/3). Bernardi 160De; Album 233.1. VF. (5675918)
$475
60 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muhtadi. AH 255-256 / AD 869-870. AV Dinar (22mm, 4.14g, 11h). Madinat alSalam mint. Dated AH 256 (AD 869/70). Bernardi 165Jh; Qatar 1246; Album 237. Good Fine, softly struck. Rare. (5661132) $1750
Ex Morton & Eden 79 (21 April 2016), lot 65.
The coins of al-Muhtadi are some of the rarest in the Abbasid series. He came to the throne after the murder of his predecessor, alMu‘tazz and was himself murdered the following year. Fewer mints were active in the second year of his reign, and his coins dated AH 256 tend to be correspondingly rarer.
61 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Mu‘tamid. AH 256-279 / AD 870-892. AV Dinar (23.1mm, 3.12g, 11h). AlRafiqa mint. Dated AH 272 (AD 885/6). Citing the heir al-Mufawwad (obverse) and second heir Ahmad b. alMuwaffaq (reverse); swastika below reverse field. Bernardi 181Hn; Album 239.4. Near EF, minor deposit, slightly ragged edge. (5657342) $425
62 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Mu‘tadid. AH 279-289 / AD 892-902. AV Dinar (22.4mm, 4.56g, 12h). AlMuhammadiya mint. Dated AH 283 (AD 896/7). Bernardi 211Mh; Miles, Rayy —; Album 241. Fine, some weak striking. Very rare, only three examples recorded by Bernardi. (5661133) $675
Ex Morton & Eden 79 (21 April 2016), lot 68.
63 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Mu‘tadid. AH 279-289 / AD 892-902. AR Dirham (24.4mm, 3.53g, 11h). AlMuhammadiya mint. Dated AH 287 (AD 900). Miles, Rayy —; Album 242; ICV 422. Near VF, centres softly struck. Rare. (5665935) $95
One-Year Type
64 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muktafi. AH 289-295 / AD 902-908. AV Dinar (23.7mm, 5.03g, 7h). Harran mint. Dated AH 291 (AD 903/4). Citing Wali al-Dawla in fourth line of obverse field.. Bernardi 228Hj; Album 243.2. VF. Rare. (5626660) $1150
Harran is the ancient town of Carrhae, where the Parthians famously inflicted a humiliating defeat on the Roman army of Marcus Licinius Crassus in 53 BC.
Wali al-Dawla, meaning ‘Protector of the State’, was the title given to al-Muktafi’s powerful vizier, al-Qasim b. ‘Ubaydallah. It is only found on coins dated AH 291 - the year of al-Qasim’s death - and occurs on almost all ‘Abbasid gold and silver coins struck in this year.
65 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muktafi. AH 289-295 / AD 902-908. AR Dirham (25.3mm, 3.17g, 11h). Dimashq (Damascus) mint. Dated AH 292 (AD 904/5). SICA 4, 332; Album 244.1. VF, centers softly struck. (5657385) $225
66 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir. AH 295-320 / AD 908-932. AV Dinar (25mm, 3.25g, 6h). Al-Rafiqa mint. Dated AH 296 (AD 908/9). Near VF. Rare. (5665936) $650
Almost all gold and silver coins of al-Muqtadir name his heir, Abu’l-‘Abbas, who first appears on the coinage in AH 297. This is a rare early issue, struck in the first full year of al-Muqtadir’s reign, which names the caliph alone.
67 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir. AH 295-320 / AD 908-932. AV Dinar (23.9mm, 4.19g, 1h). Misr mint. Dated AH 301 (AD 913/4). SICA 4, 1507 (same dies); Bernardi 242De; Album 245.2. Good VF, centers a little softly struck. (5657386) $395
68 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir. AH 295-320 / AD 908-932. AV Dinar (26.3mm, 4.32g, 2h). Mah al-Basra mint. Dated AH 312 (AD 924/5). Ithnayn (‘2’) of date re-engraved over ihda (‘1’) on die. Cf. Bernardi 242Mq (this date not recorded); Album 245.2. Near VF, some weakness in centers. Rare, this date not recorded by Bernardi. (5626661) $850
‘Mah’ was the Arabic name for the Persian province known in ancient times as Media. It was captured by the Muslims in AH 21, who divided the province into two administrative regions. One, centred on the town of Dinawar, sent tax revenue to support the Muslim army of Kufa, while the other, with its principal town of Nihavand, funded the army of Basra. These two regions thus became known as Mah al-Kufa and Mah al-Basra respectively.
Unlike Dinawar, which is known as an ‘Abbasid mint-name for dinars in its own right, it appears that Nihavand only appears on the gold coinage in the guise of ‘Mah al-Basra’.
69 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir. AH 295-320 / AD 908-932. AV Dinar (24mm, 2.45g, 1h). Hamadhan mint. Dated AH 313 (AD 925/6). Bernardi 242Mu. Near VF. Rare. (5657389) $595
70 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir. AH 295-320 / AD 908-932. AV Dinar (23.5mm, 3.46g, 7h). Al-Karaj mint. Dated AH 318 (AD 930/1). SICA 4, 767 (mint read as al-Karkh); Bernardi 242Jf; Album 245.2. Near VF, slightly ragged edge. (5657387) $395
Al-Karaj, a city near Tehran, was active as an ‘Abbasid dinar mint from the 290s through to the mid-320s.
71 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir. AH 295-320 / AD 908-932. AR Dirham (25.2mm, 3.66g, 12h). AlMuhammadiya mint. Dated AH 301 (AD 913/4). Citing the heir Abu’l-‘Abbas. NHR –; Tornberg 466a; Album 246.2. VF, reverse double-struck, some weakness in margins. Extremely rare. (5678233) $75
72 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muttaqi. AH 329-333 / AD 940-944. AV Dinar (16.8mm, 3.28g, 2h). Madinat alSalam mint. Dated AH 330 (AD 941/2). Obverse field: citing Abu Mansur b. Amir al-Mu’minin in fourth and fifth lines; letter mim above / Reverse field: letter ha below. Bernardi 308Jh; Album 256. Good Fine. Rare. (5661134) $825
Ex Morton & Eden 73 (23 April 2015), lot 103.
73 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Nasir. AH 575-622 / AD 1180-1225. AV Dinar (26.1mm, 2.40g, 3h). Madinat alSalam mint. Dated AH 591 (AD 1194/5). Citing the heir Abu Nasr. Jafar, Fourth Period 60; Album 268. Good VF, weak in parts. Rare. (5675923) $425
74 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Nasir. AH 575-622 / AD 1180-1225. AV Dinar (25.3mm, 3.86g, 7h). Madinat alSalam mint. Dated AH 617 (AD 1220/21). Jafar, Fourth Period 95; SICA 4, 1245-1249; Album 268. Good Fine, slightly wavy flan, edge shaved. (5660131) $285
SPAIN AND NORTH AFRICA
75 Dhu’l-Nunids. Sharaf al-Dawla Yahya I. AH 435-467 / AD 1043-1075. AV Fractional Dinar (12.3mm, 0.77g, 3h). Without mint-name or date. Miles 518; Album 396. Near VF. Rare. (5702029) $275
Of Berber ancestry, the Dhu’l-Nunids came to the Iberian Peninsula during the Muslim conquest of Spain. Yahya I was one of three members of the family who came to prominence during the middle years of the 5th/11th century, establishing an independent emirate centred on Toledo.
76 Idrisids. Idris II. AH 175-213 / AD 791-828. AR Dirham (20.6mm, 2.24g, 9h). Subu mint. Dated AH 198 (AD 813/4). Eustache –; Album 421. Near VF. Rare. (5678107) $225
77 Idrisids. Idris II. AH 175-213 / AD 791-828. AR Dirham (22mm, 2.33g, 7h). Wazzaqur Madinat Idris mint. Dated AH 200 (AD 815/6). Eustache 294; Album 421. VF, reverse weakly struck. Very rare. (5678084) $525
78 Idrisids. Idris II. AH 175-213 / AD 791-828. AR Dirham (22.5mm, 2.39g, 3h). Walila mint. Dated AH 203 (AD 818/9). Eustache –; Album 421. VF. (5678109) $135
79 Idrisids. Idris II. AH 175-213 / AD 791-828. AR Dirham (21.7mm, 2.24g, 1h). Watit mint. Dated AH 204 (AD 819/20). Eustache –; Album 421. Good VF. Rare. (5678121) $425
80 Aghlabids Ziyadat Allah I (AH 201-223 / AD 816-837). AR Dirham (24.4mm, 2.90g, 3h). Ifriqiya mint. Dated AH 202 (AD 817/8). Citing Musa. al-‘Ush —; Album 439.1 Good VF, dark tone, Very rare. (5704695) $275
Ex Morton & Eden 31 (11-12 June 2008), lot 748
81 Almoravids (al-Murabitun). Abu Bakr b. ‘Umar. AH 448-480 / AD 1056-1087. AV Dinar (24.5mm, 4.11g, 12h). Sijilmasa mint. Dated (4)54 (AD 1062/3). Eustache 6; Hazard 30; Album 461.2. VF, small flan crack in centre. Rare. (5675922) $750
82 Almoravids (al-Murabitun). Abu Bakr b. ‘Umar. AH 448-480 / AD 1056-1087. AR Qirat (10.2mm, 0.95g, 11h). Without mint-name. Undated. Without patronymic. Hazard —; Album 462. VF. Very rare. (5702030) $195
83 Almoravid Taifas. Anonymous. AV Dinar (28mm, 3.92g, 8h). Without mint-name. Dated AH 545 (AD 1150/1). Album 405. Good VF, slightly creased, some minor weakness. Rare. (5660217) $1250
84 Almohads (al-Muwahhidun). Abu Ya’qub Yusuf I. AH 558-580 / AD 1163-1184. AV Half-Dinar (20.4mm, 2.31g, 12h). Without mint-name. Undated. Hazard 495; Album 483. Near VF, creased. (5660045) $295
85 Almohads (al-Muwahhidun). Anonymous. AR Millares (17.7mm, 1.09g, 12h). Christian imitation. With pseudo-mintname ‘Mursiya’. Undated. Hohertz pp.68-9; Album 498. VF. (5702598) $125
86 Hafsids. Abu Zakariyya’ Yahya I. AH 627-647 / AD 1229-1249. AV Dinar (30.3mm, 4.51g, 12h). Bijaya (Bougie) mint. Undated. Hazard 547; Album 499.2. Margins a little weak (probably from the removal of a mount). Near VF. (5660027) $525
87 Ziyanids. Abu ‘Abd Allah Muhammad IV. AH 827-831 / AD 1424-1428. AV Dinar (32.7mm, 4.42g, 12h). Madinat Tilimsan mint. Undated. Hazard 663 var.; Album 518; ICV 746. Good VF, weak in parts. (5677865) $650
88 Ziyanids. Abu’l-Abbas Ahmad I. AH 834-866 / AD 1431-1462. AV Dinar (33.9mm, 4.50g, 3h). Madinat Tilimsan mint. Undated. Hazard 665 var.; Album 519; ICV 748. Near VF, crude style, margins mostly flat. Very rare. (5677868) $475
89 Marinids. temp. Abu Yahya Abu Bakr b. ‘Abd al-Haqq I. AH 642-656 / AD 1244-1258. AV Quarter-Dinar (16.7mm, 1.14g, 12h). Without mint-name. Undated. Hazard 703; Album 522. Near VF. (5678124) $235
90 ‘Alawi Sharifs. Isma‘il al-Samin. AH 1082-1139 / AD 1672-1727. Bunduqi (21.7mm, 3.59g, 5h). Mint-name (Fas?) off flan. Dated AH 1123 (AD 1711/2). Eustache –; Album 583; ICV 3036. Good VF, weak area on each side. (5678064) $325
EGYPT AND SYRIA
91 Tulunids. temp. Ahmad b. Tulun. AH 254-270 / AD 868-884. Æ Fals (20.4mm, 2.45g, 1h). Misr mint. Dated AH 259 (AD 872/3). Zeno 194871 (same reverse die); Album 663.1. Good Fine. Rare. (5678234) $125
92 Ikhshidids Muhammad al-Ikhshid (AH 323-334 / AD 935-946). AV Dinar (23mm, 4.07g, 3h), Misr mint. Dated AH 334 (AD 945/6), Citing the caliph Al-Mustakfi. Bacharach 30; Bernardi 342De; Album 674. EF. Rare. (5704696) $675
Ex St James’s 34 (21 September 2015), lot 637
93 Fatimids. al-Mu‘izz li-Din Allah. AH 341-365 / AD 953-975. AV Dinar (20mm, 2h). Without mint-name (struck at Sijilmasa). Dated AH 363 (AD 973/4). Nicol 285; Album 697.2. In NGC encapsulation 6770080-002, graded UNC Details, Edge Filing. Rare. (5678088) $900
94 Fatimids. al-Mu‘izz li-Din Allah. AH 341-365 / AD 953-975. AV Quarter-Dinar (16.1mm, 1.02 g). AlMahdiya mint. Dated AH 362 (AD 972/3). Nicol 475; Album 698. Near VF, slightly creased. Rare. (5678127) $235
95 Fatimids. al-Mu‘izz li-Din Allah. AH 341-365 / AD 953-975. AR Half-Dirham (18.2mm, 1.32g, 6h). AlMahdiya mint. Dated AH 351 (AD 962/3). Unpublished date. Near VF. (5678128) $550
96 Fatimids. al-‘Aziz billah. AH 365-386 / AD 975-996. AV Dinar (20.5mm, 4.08g, 8h). Atarablus mint. Dated AH 384 (AD 994/5). Nicol 645. Good Fine, edge shaved and minor surface marks. Extremely rare, only a single example recorded by Nicol. (5660029) $2350
According to Nicol, the mint-name Atarablus, with an additional alif at the beginning, refers to Tripoli in Tripolitania (modern Libya), while Tarablus denotes the city of Tripoli in modern Lebanon.
97 Fatimids. al-‘Aziz billah. AH 365-386 / AD 975-996. AV Dinar (20.8mm, 4.10g, 3h). Al-Mansuriya mint. Dated AH 367 (AD 977/8). Nicol 748. Near VF, edge shaved and minor surface marks. (5657395) $495
98 Fatimids. al-‘Aziz billah. AH 365-386 / AD 975-996. AV Dinar (19.6mm, 4.06g, 5h). Al-Mansuriya mint. Dated AH 371 (AD 981/2). Nicol 752. Good Fine, edge shaved and minor surface marks. (5657396) $495
99 Fatimids. al-‘Aziz billah. AH 365-386 / AD 975-996. AV Dinar (20mm, 4.11g, 10h). Al-Mansuriya mint. Dated AH 372 (AD 982/3). Nicol 753. Near VF, minor marks. (5657397) $575
100 Fatimids. al-‘Aziz billah. AH 365-386 / AD 975-996. AV Dinar (20.2mm, 4.08g, 4h). Al-Mansuriya mint. Dated AH 376 (AD 986/7). Nicol 757. Near VF, minor edge marks and obverse graffiti. (5657344) $575
101 Fatimids. al-‘Aziz billah. AH 365-386 / AD 975-996. AV Dinar (20.5mm, 4.03g, 3h). Al-Mansuriya mint. Dated AH 382 (AD 992/3). Nicol 763. Near VF, lightly clipped, scratch on obverse. (5657345) $475
102 Fatimids. al-’Aziz billah. AH 365-386 / AD 975-996. AV Dinar (20.5mm, 3.96g, 8h). Al-Mansuriya mint. Dated AH 385 (AD 995/6). Nicol 767. Good Fine. (5660144) $425
103 Fatimids. al-’Aziz billah. AH 365-386 / AD 975-996. AV Dinar (19.7mm, 4.12g, 12h). Al-Mahdiya mint. Dated AH 383 (AD 993/4). Nicol 817. Near VF, edge shaved, some surface marks. (5657349) $495
104 Fatimids. al-‘Aziz billah. AH 365-386 / AD 975-996. AR Half-Dirham (18mm, 1.26 g). Al-Mahdiya mint. Dated AH 370 (AD 980/1). Nicol 828; Album 705. Near VF, flan flaw in centre. (5702031) $150
Unpublished Fatimid Dinar from Damascus
105 Fatimids. al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. AH 386-411 / AD 996-1021. AV Dinar (23.5mm, 3.94g, 3h). Dimashq mint. Dated AH 389 (AD 999). VF. Unpublished and of the highest rarity. (5678094) $3750
In spite of its historical importance, Damascus is a rare mint for Fatimid gold, and it appears that dinars were only ever struck there sporadically and in small quantities.
106
Fatimids. al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. AH 386-411 / AD 996-1021. AV Dinar (20.9mm, 4.08g, 2h). Al-Mansuriya mint. Dated AH 391 (AD 1000/1). Nicol 1134a. Good Fine, flan slightly buckled, edge and surface marks. Very rare, only two examples recorded by Nicol. (5657350) $550
107
Fatimids. al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. AH 386-411 / AD 996-1021. AV Dinar (22.4mm, 4.07g, 10h). AlMansuriya mint. Dated AH 396 (AD 1005/6). Nicol 1141. Near VF, edge shaved and flan slightly buckled. Rare, only two examples recorded by Nicol. (5657352) $575
108
Fatimids. al-Mustansir billah. AH 427-487 / AD 1036-1094. AV Quarter-Dinar (13.5mm, 0.98 g). Siqilliya mint. Date off flan. Album 722. VF, partly flat. (5678129)
109
Fatimids. al-Mustansir billah. AH 427-487 / AD 1036-1094. AV Dinar (20.9mm, 3.95g, 12h). Dimashq (Damascus) mint. Dated AH 441 (AD 1049/50). Nicol 1727. VF. Rare. (5657355)
110
$195
$2650
Fatimids. al-Hafiz li-Din Allah. AH 526-544 / AD 1131-1149. AV Dinar (21.2mm, 3.75g, 4h). Al-Iskandariya (Alexandria) mint. Dated AH 528 (AD 1133/4). Nicol 2599. Near VF. (5661136)
112 Umayyad Caliphate, Bronze coinage. Æ Fals (22mm, 3.92g, 1h). Baysan (Beit She’an, ancient Scythopolis) mint. Undated. SNAT IVa, 266; Album 170. Good Fine. Rare. (5702009) $125
113 Umayyad Caliphate, Bronze coinage. Æ Fals (22.5mm, 4.02g, 7h). Anbulus (Nablus, ancient Neapolis) mint. Undated. SNAT IVa, 254 (as Baniyas, same reverse die); Miles, RIC 98; Album A170. Good Fine, attractive green patina. Extremely rare. (5661156) $950
While this mint-name has also been read as Baniyas, which is also a location within Palestine, the penultimate letter is connected to the final ‘s’ and is therefore better interpreted as the ‘l’ of Anbulus.
115 Umayyad Caliphate, Bronze coinage. Æ Fals (19.1mm, 3.93g, 7h). Tabariya (Tiberias) mint. Undated. Palm branch to right of reverse legend. Walker 898; Album 188. VF. (5702011) $135
116 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir. AH 295-320 / AD 908-932. AV Dinar (23.4mm, 4.68g, 5h). Filastin mint. Dated AH 307 (AD 919/20). Jeselsohn 422; Bernardi 242Gn; Album 245.2. VF, softly struck. Rare. (5665937) $1750
117 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir. AH 295-320 / AD 908-932. AV Dinar (24.6mm, 4.70g, 4h). Filastin mint.
Dated AH 309 (AD 921/2). Obverse margin reads: duriba hadha al-dirham sanat.... Jeselsohn 425 (same obverse die); SICA 4, 746 (same obverse die); Bernardi 242Gn; Album 245.2. Some soft striking, minor marks in fields. Good VF for issue. Rare, only a single example recorded by Bernardi. (5660025) $1750
118 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir. AH 295-320 / AD 908-932. AV Dinar (23mm, 3.87g, 3h). Filastin mint. Dated AH 310 (AD 922/3). Jeselsohn 427; Bernardi 242Gn; SICA 4, 747; Album 245.2. Near VF, edge nick. Very rare, only a single specimen recorded by Bernardi. (5665941) $1350
119 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir. AH 295-320 / AD 908-932. AV Dinar (24.4mm, 3.38g, 5h). Filastin mint. Dated AH 311 (AD 923/4). Jeselsohn 430; Bernardi 242Gn; Album 245.2. Good VF, somewhat weakly struck. Very rare, only two specimens recorded by Bernardi. (5665943) $1450
120 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir. AH 295-320 / AD 908-932. AV Dinar (25mm, 3.46g, 7h). Filastin mint. Dated AH 317 (AD 929/30). Jeselsohn 436; Bernardi 242Gn; Album 245.2. Near VF, softly struck, mint and date very clear. Rare. (5665946) $1250
121 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir. AH 295-320 / AD 908-932. AV Dinar (24.5mm, 3.60g, 4h). Filastin mint. Dated AH 320 (AD 932). Citing the heir Abu’l-‘Abbas and the vizier ‘Amid al-Dawla. Jeselsohn 441-2; Bernardi 243Gn; Album 248. VF, weak in parts. Rare. (5665950) $950
122 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir. AH 295-320 / AD 908-932. AR Dirham (27.7mm, 2.83g, 10h). Tabariya mint. Dated AH 314 (AD 926/7). Album 246.2. VF, flat in parts. Very rare. (5678106) $325
123 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir. AH 295-320 / AD 908-932. AR Dirham (25.9mm, 2.98g, 4h). Tarsus mint. Dated AH 319 (AD 931). SICA 4, 677; Album 246.2. VF, some weak striking. (5665948) $150
124 ‘Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Radi. AH 322-329 / AD 934-940. AV Dinar (21.8mm, 4.58g, 3h). Filastin mint. Dated AH 323 (AD 934/5). Bernardi 285Gn; Jeselsohn 449-50; Album 254.1. Good VF, traces of mounting on edge, some light scrapes. Rare. (5675919) $950
122
123
125
Ikhshidids. Abu’l-Hasan ‘Ali. AH 349-355 / AD 960-966. AR Dirham (23.1mm, 2.94g, 3h). Filastin mint. Dated AH 351 (AD 962/3). Jeselsohn 500; Bacharach 192; Album 679. Slightly curved flan, small edge split. Good VF. (5660134) $175
126
Ikhshidids. Abu’l-Hasan ‘Ali. AH 349-355 / AD 960-966. AR Dirham (23.5mm, 2.91g, 11h). Filastin mint. Dated AH 353 (AD 964/5). Jeselsohn 503; Bacharach 193; Album 679. VF, centres softly struck. (5660138) $175
127 Qaramita (Qarmatids). al-Hasan b. Ahmad. fl. AH 360-365 / AD 971-976. AR Dirham (23.1mm, 3.66g, 11h). Filastin mint. Dated AH 362 (AD 972/3). Obverse: Al-Sayyid al-Ra’is in fourth and fifth lines. Vardanyan, Sectarians 18; Jeselsohn 526-7; Album 685. Good Fine for issue. Rare. (5678085) $850
128 Fatimids. al-Mu‘izz li-Din Allah. AH 341-365 / AD 953-975. AR Dirham (23mm, 3.12g, 12h). Filastin mint. Dated AH 359 (AD 969/70). Nicol 340. Near VF. (5678089) $1100
This is the first year in which the Fatimids struck coins in the Holy Land. The mint-name, ‘Filastin’, is the name of the province; it is believed that these coins were struck at the capital, Ramla.
129 Fatimids. al-Mu‘izz li-Din Allah. AH 341-365 / AD 953-975. AR Dirham (25.7mm, 2.81g, 12h). Filastin mint. Dated AH 363 (AD 973/4). Jeselsohn 624; Nicol 342. Margins a little softly struck, one flan split. Good VF. Very rare, only three examples recorded by Nicol. (5660139) $1100
130 Fatimids. al-Mu‘izz li-Din Allah. AH 341-365 / AD 953-975. AR Dirham (22.7mm, 2.84g, 1h). Filastin mint. Dated AH 364 (AD 974/5). Jeselsohn 626; Cf. CNG Islamic Auction 2 (27 October 2022), lot 221 (same obverse die). Near VF, some weakness in margins. Very rare. (5660143) $850
131 Fatimids. al-‘Aziz billah. AH 365-386 / AD 975-996. AV Dinar (22.2mm, 4.16g, 12h). Filastin mint. Dated AH 374 (AD 985/6). Nicol 676; Jeselsohn 549 (same dies); Album 703. Near VF, slightly wavy flan, minor surface marks. (5678090)
$1250
132 Fatimids. al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. AH 386-411 / AD 996-1021. AV Dinar (21.3mm, 3.61g, 4h). Filastin mint. Dated AH 394 (AD 1004/5). Nicol 1050a; Jeselsohn 559. Good Fine, evenly clipped. Extremely rare, only a single example of this mint and date recorded by Nicol. (5661137) $950
133 Crusaders, Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. AV Bezant (23mm, 3.63g, 11h). Imitating a dinar of the Fatimid caliph al-Amir. Acre mint. Second phase, struck 1148/59-1187. Mint (Misr) and immobilized AH date (AH 516 [AD 1122/3]) in outer obverse margin. Balog & Yvon 25; Metcalf, Crusades 126; CCS 3. Toned, traces of deposits, small edge split, evidence of having been placed in a bezel. Near EF. (5607506) $1350
134 Crusaders, Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. AR Half-Dirham (11mm, 1.17g, 10h). Mint-name (‘Akka) off flan. Date (AD 1251) off flan. Cross in reverse field. Balog & Yvon 46a var. (cross on obverse); CCS 16 var. (cross on obverse). VF. Rare. (5678131) $475
135 Burji Mamluks. al-Zahir Barquq. Second reign, AH 792-801 / AD 1390-1399. AV Dinar (26.1mm, 11.21g, 10h). Halab mint. Dated AH 798 (AD 1395/6). Album 972; ICV 1023. Good VF. (5702525) $1475
136 Egypt, Kingdom. Saad Meawad, Cairo. Silvered-brass token (28mm, 2.20g, 12h). Undated (c. AD 1920). Imitating a Spanish Colonial 2-Reales. VF, small countermark on reverse. Rare. (5677854)
ARABIA AND OMAN
$150
137 Najahids. Jayyash b. al-Mu’ayyad. Circa AH 465 / AD 1073. AV Dinar (22.6mm, 2.40g, 1h). Zabid mint. Dated AH 465 (AD 1072/3). SICA 10, 150 var.; Album 1074; ICV 1100. Good VF. (5702606)
$375
138 Sulayhids. ‘Ali b. Muhammad. AH 439-473 / AD 1047-1081. AV Dinar (20mm, 2.40g, 6h). Zabid mint. Dated AH 451 (AD 1059/60). Citing the Fatimid caliph Al-Mustansir. Nicol 1741; Album 1075.2; ICV 1103. Good Fine. Scarce. (5678065) $225
139 Sulayhids. ‘Ali b. Muhammad. AH 439-473 / AD 1047-1081. Base AV Dinar (21.5mm, 2.22g, 2h). East African imitation. Mint-name and date blundered. Album 1075.3. VF. (5702609) $225
140 Zuray’ids. ‘Imran b. Muhammad. AH 550-561 / AD 1155-1165. AV Dinar (22.1mm, 2.30g, 7h). Posthumous issue. ‘Adan (Aden) mint. Dated AH 566 (AD 1170/1). Album 1080I. Good VF, slightly ragged edge. (5660047)$495
141 Rassids. Al-Mansur ‘Abd Allah. AH 583-614 / AD 1185-1217. AR ‘Mansuri’ Dirham (22.6mm, 1.44g). Posthumous issue. Huth mint. Dated AH 661 (AD 1262/3). Album 1083; ICV 1113. VF. Very rare. (5704697) $250 Ex Tim Wilkes FPL 25 (December 2017), no. 102.
142 Wajihids. Yusuf b. Wajih. AH 314-322 / AD 925-943. AR Dirham (26.7mm, 4.33g, 11h). ‘Uman mint. Dated AH 322 (AD 934). Citing al-Radi. Cf. CNG Islamic Auction 3 (27 April 2023), lot 192; Al-Fadhli –; Oman –; Album 1160. VF. Rare. (5678095) $2650
143 Buwayhids (Buyids). ‘Adud al-Dawla Abu Shuja’ Fanakhusraw. AH 367-372 / AD 977-983. AR Dirham (25.4mm, 4.16g, 6h). ‘Uman mint. Dated AH 367 (AD 977/8). Treadwell Um356b; Album U1568. Fair. (5678135) $575
144 Buwayhids (Buyids). Fakhr al-Dawla Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali. AH 373-387 / AD 983-997. AR Dirham (3.98 g). ‘Uman mint. Dated AH (38)2 (AD 992/3). Treadwell Um382b. Near VF. (5692482) $495 Ex Stephen Album Rare Coins Auction 11, lot 509.
145 Buwayhids (Buyids). ‘Imad al-Din Marzuban Abu Kalijar. AH 415-440 / AD 1024-1048. AV Dinar (26.5mm, 6.91g, 6h). ‘Uman mint. Dated AH 432 (AD 1040/1). Treadwell Um432G; al-Fadhli p. 350; Oman p. 138; Album A1584. Fine. (5678096) $1100
RUM AND ANATOLIA
146 Seljuqs, Rum. Ghiyath al-Din Kay Khusraw III b. Qilich Arslan. AH 663-682 / AD 1265-1284. AR Dirham (21.9mm, 2.91g, 7h). Ma‘danshahr mint. Dated AH 667, month of Shawwal (June AD 1269). Broome 765; Album 1232. VF. (5678132) $145
147 Anatolian Beyliks, Karamanids. Muhammad II. First reign, AH 804-822 / AD 1402-1419. AR Dirham (20.8mm, 1.64g, 1h). Quniya (Konya) mint. Dated AH 822 (AD 1419). Ölçer, Karamanids 74; Album 1270.2. Good VF, toned. (5702034) $135
148 Ottoman Empire. Orhan I. AH 724-761 / AD 1324-1360. AR Akçe (18mm, 1.21g, 10h). Without mint-name or date. Citing the deceased caliph Al-Mustansir. Sreckovic 3-14; Album 1288.2. VF. Rare. (5702611) $135
149 Ottoman Empire. Sülayman I Qanuni (‘the Lawgiver’). AH 926-974 / AD 1520-1566. AV Sultani (20mm, 2h). Brusa mint. Dated AH 926. Pere 163. In ANACS holder 5070090, where graded VF 35. (5692486) $550
150 Ottoman Empire. Sülayman I Qanuni (‘the Lawgiver’). AH 926-974 / AD 1520-1566. AV Sultani (20.6mm, 3.44g, 10h). Janja mint. Dated AH 926 (AD 1520). Pere 164; Album 1317. VF, some weak striking. (5660171) $425
Ex Morton & Eden 82 (20 October 2016), lot 398.
151 Ottoman Empire. Sülayman I Qanuni (‘the Lawgiver’). AH 926-974 / AD 1520-1566. AV Sultani (19.5mm, 3.56g, 3h). Misr mint. Dated AH 935 (AD 1528/9). Artuk, Suleyman 163; Album 1317; ICV 3158. VF, obverse doublestruck. Rare. (5677856) $375
Almost all gold coins of Sülayman and his successors bear the ruler’s accession date rather than the actual year of striking. This is a rare example of a sultani which carries the date of issue - AH 935.
The Ottoman Capture of Chios
152 Ottoman Empire. Selim II. AH 974-982 / AD 1566-1574. AV Sultani (21.2mm, 3.44g, 10h). Saqiz (Chios) mint. Dated AH 974 (AD 1566). Pere 241; Album 1324. Traces of mounting. VF. (5660038) $725
The Ottomans captured Chios from the Genoese in AH 974 (AD 1566) - the date shown on this coin. Famed for its wealth, which was largely derived from growing mastic, Chios became prized as one of the richest provinces of the Ottoman Empire.
153 Ottoman Empire. Murad III. AH 982-1003 / AD 1574-1595. EL Dinar (35mm, 4.22g, 12h). Tilimsan (Tlemcen) mint. Dated AH 995 (AD 1586/7). Sultan 9658; Pere -; Album 1331. VF, small edge split, typical weak striking at periphery. (5657361) $375
The Ottomans and Spanish fought for control of Tlemcen during the first half of the 9th/16th century, with the local Ziyanid rulers often reduced to puppets of one side or the other. The Ottomans eventually prevailed, and the last of the Ziyanids fled to Oran, living under Spanish protection. Rather than issuing standard sultanis at Tlemcen, the victorious Ottomans continued to strike a local coinage of dinars which resembled Ziyanid issues both in design and in weight.
154 Ottoman Empire. Mehmet III. AH 1003-1012 / AD 1595-1603. EL Dinar (35mm, 4.22g, 12h). Tilimsan (Tlemcen) mint. Dated AH 1003 (AD 1595/6). Pere -; Album 1339; Bates 7. Slightly ragged edge. Good VF, some weak striking in periphery. (5660059) $375
155 Ottoman Empire. Mehmet IV. AH 1058-1099 / AD 1648-1687. AV Sultani (21.1mm, 3.49g, 3h). Misr mint. Dated AH 1058 (AD 1648/9). Album 1383; ICV 3216. VF, peripheral weakness. (5677858) $350
156 Ottoman Empire. Ahmad III. AH 1115-1143 / AD 1703-1730. AV Sultani (23.4mm, 3.36g, 8h). Al-Jaza’ir Gharb mint. Dated AH 1127 (AD 1715). Pere 498 var. (dated AH 1132); KM (Algeria) 16.1. Twice pierced. Near VF, surface marks. Rare. (5660060) $450
157 Ottoman Empire. Mustafa IV. AH 1222-1223 / AD 1807-1808. AV Çeyrek (14.8mm, 0.73g, 12h).
Qustantaniya mint. Dated AH 1222 / RY 2 (AD 1808). Pere 727; KM 543.1. Traces of mounting. Good VF. Rare. (5660062) $225
PRE-MONGOL ASIA
158 Dulafids. Ahmad b. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz. AH 265-280 / AD 879-893. AV Dinar (21.4mm, 4.08g, 10h). Hamadhan mint. Dated AH 274 (AD 887/8). Vardanyan 12; Bernardi 202Mn; Album 1397. Good Fine. Rare. (5625112) $695
159 Saffarids. Subkari. Rebel, AH 296-298 / AD 908-910. AR Dirham (28.4mm, 3.82g, 12h). Fars mint. Dated AH 297 (AD 909/10). Lloyd Fa297.2; Vasmer 94; Album 1406. Near EF, reverse softly struck. (5660048) $225
160 Saffarids. Al-Layth b. ‘Ali. AH 296-298 / AD 908-910. AR Dirham (28.8mm, 4.46g, 2h), Fars mint. Dated AH 297 (AD 909/10), Lloyd Fa297.1; Album 1405. Good VF. (5704698) $250
Ex Baldwin’s Islamic Coin Auction 12 (25 April 2007), lot 3341
161 Saffarids. Ahmad b. Muhammad (Abu Ja’far). AH 311-352 / AD 923-963. AR Dirham (29.5mm, 2.68g, 5h). Sijistan mint. Dated AH 318 (AD 930/1). Citing Al-Husayn b. Bilal. Lloyd Sj318; Album 1412A. VF, some minor weakness. Rare. (5678134) $135
162 Governors of Andaraba and Banjhir. Harb b. Sahlan. Circa AH 350-365 / AD 961-976. AR Dirham (25.3mm, 2.48g, 2h). Andaraba mint. Dated AH 362 (AD 972/3). Reverse: Surat al-Ikhlas in field with name of the local governor Maktum below. SNAT XIVc, 197-8; Album 1438.3. Toned. Near EF. Rare. (5626610) $195
163 Samanids. Ishaq b. Ahmad. AH 301 / AD 914. AR Dirham, (27.6mm, 3.16g, 4h). Samarqand mint. Dated AH 301 (AD 914). Kolosov & Kalinin Sa.301.1; Album 1448. Good VF, minor weakness in margins. Rare. (5704699) $525
Ex H. Lundberg Collection, Myntauktioner i Sverige 17 (12-13 March 2016), lot 1277
164 Samanids. Nasr II b. Ahmad. AH 301-331 / AD 914-943. AV Donative Dinar (24.7mm, 3.99g, 5h). Medallic type with broad margins. Nishapur mint. Dated AH 305 (AD 917/8). Nasr bin Ahmad in Naskhi script in bottom line of reverse legend. SNAT XIVa, 433; Album 1449D. Near VF. Very rare. (5678097) $1500
165 Samanids. Nasr II b. Ahmad. AH 301-331 / AD 914-943. AV Dinar (21.4mm, 4.21g, 4h). Samarqand mint. Dated AH 309 (AD 921/2). Bernardi 269Qe; Album 1449. Near VF, flan crack in centre, some edge marks. Very rare. (5657356) $350
166 Samanids. Nasr II b. Ahmad. AH 301-331 / AD 914-943. AV Dinar (27.1mm, 4.10g, 5h). Al-Muhammadiya mint. Dated AH 322 (AD 933/4). Citing the caliph Al-Qahir. Bernardi 282Mh; Album 1449. Fine, small edge split. (5678231) $325
167 Samanids. Nasr II b. Ahmad. AH 301-331 / AD 914-943. AR Dirham (28.3mm, 3.12g, 7h). Farwan mint. Dated AH 314 (AD 926/7). Kolosov & Kalinin Fw.314 (same dies as illustration); Album 1451. Toned. Good VF. Rare. (5626606) $195
168 Samanids. Nuh I b. Nasr. AH 331-343 / AD 943-954. AV Dinar (21.3mm, 4.31g, 7h). Naysabur mint. Dated AH 336 (AD 947/8). Name of die-engraver Ba Harith in outer margin at 9h. Qatar 3764 var. (pellet above obverse field); Bernardi 351Pj; Album 1454. Edge clip at 3h on obverse. Near VF. (5661778) $395
169 Samanids. Nuh I b. Nasr. AH 331-343 / AD 943-954. AV Dinar (21.9mm, 4.09g, 7h). Naysabur mint. Dated AH 341 (AD 952/3). Zafar below obverse field / Nuh b. Nasr in naskhi script below reverse field. Qatar 3775; Bernardi 353Pj; Album 1454. Traces of mounting. Near VF. (5661800) $385
The name Zafar appears on Samanid dinars struck at Naysabur in the year AH 341 only.
170 Samanids. Mansur I b. Nuh. AH 350-365 / AD 961-976. AV Dinar (23.3mm, 3.46g, 2h). Naysabur mint. Dated AH 361 (AD 971/2). Citing al-Wali / Muhammad (the Simjurid governor) above and below obverse field. SNAT XIVa, 492; Album 1464. Carefully struck with broad outer margins. Minor edge marks. Near VF. (5661782) $425
171 Samanids. Mansur I b. Nuh. AH 350-365 / AD 961-976. AR Dirham (32.2mm, 3.51g, 5h). Balkh mint. Dated AH 351 (AD 962/3). Kolosov & Kalinin Bl.351; Album 1466. EF, traces of lustre. (5626608) $75
Ex Baldwin’s Islamic Coin Auction 7, lot 556.
172 Samanids. Mansur II b. Nuh II. AH 387-389 / AD 997-999. AV Dinar (22.4mm, 4.00g, 8h). Naysabur mint. Dated AH 387 (AD 997). Citing Abu’l-Fawaris Bektuzun in fourth and fifth lines of obverse field. Artuk 994; Album 1472.2; ICV 1525. Near VF. (5661784) $385
173 Muhtajids. Nasr b. Ahmad. Circa AH 341-365 / AD 952-976. Æ Fals (20.8mm, 2.12g, 7h). Saghaniyan mint. Dated AH 357 (AD 967/8). Citing the Samanid ruler Mansur b. Nuh as overlord. SNAT XIVc, 1207-8; Album 1477.2; ICV 1538. Near VF. Scarce. (5678076) $110
Ex Baldwin’s Islamic List 12 (November 2006), no. 195.
174 Qarakhanids (Local rulers). Muzaffar Kiya. fl. AH 395-406 / AD 1005-1015. AR Dirham (25.6mm, 2.94g, 3h). Al-Saghaniyan mint. Dated AH 395 (AD 1004/5). Citing Nasr b. ‘Ali as overlord. Kochnev 153; Album 3432; ICV 1801. Near EF, minor double-striking. Scarce. (5678070) $195
Ex Baldwin’s Islamic List 13 (July 2007), no. 236.
175 Qarakhanids (United). ‘Ali b. al-Hasan. AH 411-426 / AD 1020-1035. AR Dirham (27.6mm, 2.92g, 4h). Khutlugh Urdu mint. Dated AH 425 (AD 1033/4). Kochnev 784; Album 3347; ICV 1774. Near EF. Scarce. (5678072) $225
Ex Baldwin’s Islamic List 13 (July 2007), no. 235.
176 ‘Alids of Tabaristan. al-Hasan b. Zayd. AH 250-270 / AD 864-884. AR Dirham (20mm, 3.35g, 1h).
Madinat Jurjan mint. Dated AH 268 (AD 881/2). Album 1523; ICV 1661. VF, some weak striking, minor surface marks. (5660150) $135
177 Buwayhids (Buyids). Mu‘izz al-Dawla Ahmad. AH 328-356 / AD 939-967. AR Dirham (26.5mm, 3.97g, 9h).
‘Askar Mukram mint. Dated AH 344 (AD 955/6). Citing Rukn al-Dawla as overlord. Treadwell As344; Album 1543.2. Near VF. Rare. (5678069) $225
Ex Baldwin’s Islamic List 11 (April 2006), no. 175.
178 Buwayhids (Buyids). Mu‘izz al-Dawla Ahmad. AH 328-356 / AD 939-967. AR Dirham (27.2mm, 3.54g, 1h).
Ramhurmuz mint. Dated AH 349 (AD 960/1). Citing Rukn al-Dawla as overlord. Treadwell Ra349; Album 1543.2. Near VF. Scarce. (5678068) $60
Ex Baldwin’s Islamic List 11 (April 2006), no. 174.
179 Buwayhids (Buyids). ‘Adud al-Dawla Abu Shuja’. AH 338-372 / AD 949-983. AR Double Dirham (28.1mm, 5.77g, 10h). Arrajan mint. Dated AH 348 (AD 959/60). Citing Rukn al-Dawla as overlord. Abu Shuja‘ in bottom line of obverse legend. Treadwell – (cf. Ar339b for type); Album 1550.1 var. VF, reverse slightly double-struck, minor edge splits. Very rare. (5678067) $125
Ex Baldwin’s Islamic Coins Auction 11 (13 July 2006), lot 239.
180 Buwayhids (Buyids). Baha’ al-Dawla Abu Nasr Firuz Kharshah. AH 379-403 / AD 989-1012. AV Dinar (25.5mm, 2.56g, 11h). Posthumous issue. Madinat al-Salam mint. Dated AH 404 (AD 1013/4). Treadwell Ms404Ga; Album 1573. Creased, pin marks in fields. Good Fine. Rare. (5660152) $225
181 Ghaznavids. Yamin al-Dawla Abu’l-Qasim Mahmud. AH 388-421 / AD 998-1030. AV Dinar (23.3mm, 3.05g, 5h). Harat mint. Dated AH 411 (AD 1020/1). Qatar 4863; Album 1607. Traces of mounting, some weakness. Near VF. (5661785 ) $375
182 Ghaznavids. Yamin al-Dawla Abu’l-Qasim Mahmud. AH 388-421 / AD 998-1030. AV Dinar (23.4mm, 3.85g, 5h). Naysabur mint. Dated AH 415 (AD 1024/5). Letter sin above obverse field. Cf. Qatar 4832 (with Abu’lQasim below obverse, rather than below reverse as here); Album 1606. Near VF. (5661779) $395
183 Ghaznavids. Yamin al-Dawla Abu’l-Qasim Mahmud. AH 388-421 / AD 998-1030. AV Dinar (23.4mm, 4.11g, 2h). Naysabur mint. Dated AH 417 (AD 1026/7). Ornament above obverse field. SNAT XIVa, 575; Album 1606. VF. (5661788) $385
184 Ghaznavids. Yamin al-Dawla Abu’l-Qasim Mahmud. AH 388-421 / AD 998-1030. AV Dinar (22.2mm, 2.79g, 11h). Naysabur mint. Dated AH 419 (AD 1028). SNAT XIVa, 578 (same dies); Qatar 4838; Album 1606. Near VF, light graffiti on reverse. (5657357) $350
185 Kakwayhids. Faramurz. AH 433-443 / AD 1041-1051. AV Dinar (27.2mm, 2.35g, 9h). Isbahan mint. Dated AH 435 (AD 1043/4). Citing the Great Seljuq ruler Tughril Beg as overlord. Album 1592.2; ICV 1656. Near EF, minor weakness in margins. (5660193) $475
186 Seljuqs, Great Seljuq. Muhammad Alp Arslan. AH 455-465 / AD 1063-1072. AV Dinar (22.4mm, 3.25g, 7h). Naysabur mint. Dated AH 461 (AD 1068/9). SNAT XIVa, -; Alptekin -; Album 1670. Good Fine, edge shaved. (5660154)
$275
187 Seljuqs, Great Seljuq. Jalal al-Dawlah Malikshah I. AH 465-485 / AD 1072-1092. AV Dinar (24.7mm, 2.83g, 12h). Al-Rayy mint. Dated AH 484 (AD 1091/2). Obverse field: nasr / la ilaha illa Allah / wahdahu la sharik lahu / al-Muqtadi bi-amr Allah / al-Sultan al-Mu‘azzam / Reverse field: fath / Muhammad rasul Allah / Shahanshah Mu‘izz / al-dunya wa’l-din / Abu’l-fath Malikshah. Cf Miles, Rayy 244 (with al-Sultan al-Mu‘azzam on reverse); Album 1674. VF, some marginal weakness and edge a little ragged. (56573580)
$325
Ex Morton & Eden 72 (15 December 2014), lot 866.
188 Seljuqs, Great Seljuq. Rukn al-Din Barkiyaruq. AH 486-498 / AD 1093-1105. AV Dinar (25.3mm, 3.68g, 2h). Madinat al-Salam mint. Dated AH 488 (AD 1095). Jafar S.MS.488A; Album 1682.1. Good VF, slightly buckled flan. (5657359)
$325
This dinar was evidently struck in the first part of the year AH 488, since it preserves Barkiyaruq’s older title of Mu‘izz al-Dawla. Later in this year Barkiyaruq received a new title, Adud al-Dawla, possibly following the defeat of Tutush, his uncle and rival, on 7 Safar AH 488
189 Seljuqs, Great Seljuq. Rukn al-Din Barkiyaruq. AH 486-498 / AD 1093-1105. AV Dinar (23.1mm, 2.55g, 2h). Amul mint. Dated AH 489 (AD 1095/6). Citing the local governor Arghush. Stern —; Album 1682.1. VF, crudely struck on a slightly buckled flan. Rare. (5678139) $350
190 Seljuqs, Great Seljuq. Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad I Tapar. AH 491-511 / AD 1105-1118. AV Dinar (25.6mm, 2.23g, 10h). Al-Rayy mint. Dated AH 493 (AD 1099/1100). Diler, Islamic Mints p. 625, 10016-b; Miles, Rayy ; Album 1683. Near VF, edge shaved, some weak striking. Rare. (5660050) $375
191 Seljuqs, Great Seljuq. Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad I. AH 492-511 / AD 1099-1118. AV Pale Dinar (21.5mm, 2.84g, 4h). Balkh mint. Dated AH 494 (AD 1100/1). Citing Sanjar as viceroy. Ayat al-Kursi on reverse. SNAT –; Album 1685A. Near VF, lightly cleaned, weak in parts. Rare with clear mint and date. (5675929) $495
192 Seljuqs, Great Seljuq. Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad I Tapar. AH 491-511 / AD 1105-1118. AV Dinar (24.4mm, 2.64g, 10h). Madinat al-Salam mint. Dated AH 500 (AD 1106/7). Jafar S.MS.500; Album 1683. Near VF, creased and with slightly ragged edge. (5660051) $275
193 Seljuqs, Western Iran. Mughith al-Din Mahmud II. AH 511-525 / AD 1118-1131. AV Third-Dinar (20.8mm, 1.32g, 11h). Nihawand mint. Dated AH [5]22 (AD 1128). Citing Yurunqush. Album 1688B. VF, obverse struck off-centre. (5678142) $195
194 Seljuqs, Kerman. Ahmad Qawurd (Qara Arslan). AH 440-465 / AD 1048-1073. AR Dirham (24.2mm, 4.44g, 11h). Jiruft mint. Dated AH 446 (AD 1054/5). Reverse field: Seljuq bow-and-arrow tamgha above, citing the Great Seljuq overlord Chaghri Beg in bottom line. Album 1698; ICV 1849. Edge clip. VF, softly struck. (5660157 ) $225
195 Ghorids (Main Line). Mu’izz al-Din Muhammad. AH 567-602 / AD 1171-1206. AV Dinar (28.5mm, 4.92g, 4h). Mint-name (Ghazna) and date not visible. Citing his brother Ghiyath al-din Muhammad. Album 1759; ICV 1917. VF, slightly bent, flat in parts. Scarce. (5660159) $350
196 Artuqids of Kayfa & Amid. Fakhr al-Din Qara Arslan. AH 543-570 / AD 1148-1174. Æ Dirham (29.4mm, 11.79g, 6h). Without mint-name. Dated AH 562 (AD 1166/7). S&S 7; Album 1820.7. Fine. Scarce. (5692203) $75
197 Artuqids of Mardin. Husam al-Din Timurtash. AH 516-547 / AD 1122-1152. Æ Dirham (26.2mm, 6.59g, 10h). Mardin mint. Dated AH 542 (AD 1147/8). Diademed and draped bust right, bearded; mint and date in margin / Ruler’s name and titles. S&S 25.1; Album 1826.2. VF, some weak striking. (5660053) $185
198 Artuqids of Mardin. Qutb al-Din Il-Ghazi II. AH 572-580 / AD 1176-1184. Æ Dirham (30.5mm, 11.80g, 11h). Without mint-name or date. S&S 31.1; Album 1828.1. VF, minor double-striking on reverse. (5692201) $75
199 Artuqids of Mardin. Husam al-Din Yuluq Arslan. AH 580-597 / AD 1184-1200. Æ Dirham (31.9mm, 14.49g, 10h). ‘Death of Saladin’ type. Without mint-name. Dated AH 589 (AD 1193). S&S 35.1; Album 1829.3; ICV 1208. Near VF. (5678075) $110
200 Artuqids of Mardin. Husam al-Din Yuluq Arslan. AH 580-597 / AD 1184-1200. Æ Dirham (31.2mm, 12.84g, 12). ‘Death of Saladin’ type. Without mint-name. Dated AH 589 (AD 1193). Citing the Ayyubid ruler Al-‘Adil Abu Bakr as overlord. S&S 35.2; Album 1829.3. Near EF. Rare in this condition. (5704700) $385
Ex Elsen 82 (11 December 2004), lot 914
201 Artuqids of Mardin. Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan. AH 597-637 / AD 1200-1239. Æ Dirham (28mm, 11.80g, 11h). Without mint-name. Dated AH 620 (AD 1123/4). Bare head right, ruler’s name and titles around / Five-line legend, date to right, top and left. S&S 43; Album 1830.7. Dark green patina, pin-marks in fields from cleaning. Near VF. (5660054) $125
202 Artuqids of Mardin. Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan. AH 597-637 / AD 1200-1239. Æ Dirham (28.9mm, 9.28g, 8h). Mardin mint. Date unclear. S&S 47; Album 1830.10. Near VF. (5692202) $75
POST-MONGOL ASIA
203 Great Mongols. temp. Chingiz (Genghis). AH 602-624 / AD 1206-1227. AV Dinar (21.7mm, 3.89g, 4h). Uncertain mint. Date off flan. With title qa’an. Citing the caliph Al-Nasir. Album 1966; ICV 1943. Good Fine, minor double-striking. Rare. (5678066) $750
Magnificent 10-Dirhams of Töregene Khatun
204 Great Mongols. temp. Töregene Khatun. Regent, AH 639-644 / AD 1241-1246. AR 10-Dirhams (31mm, 28.31g, 12h). Struck in the name of the ‘Abbasid caliph al-Musta‘sim (AH 640-656). Al-Balad al-Kurraman mint. Dated AH 641 (AD 1243/4). Obverse: al-Musta’sim / billah Amir / al-Mu’minin in three lines, within square frame, floral ornaments in segments / Reverse: duriba hadha / fi al-balad / al-Kurraman in three lines within square frame; bi-Tarikh sana - t ihda - wa arba’in - wa sitt mi’at in segments . Cf. Triton XXII (8 January 2019), lot 1234 (same dies) Good VF. Excessively rare. (5660037) $22500
The Mongol conquest of eastern Afghanistan in AH 618 (AD 1221/2) included the the region of al-Kurraman, a river district in what are today the tribal borderlands between Afghanistan and Pakistan. As a new part of the vast Mongol empire, the inhabitants began to strike large and impressive silver coins there. These are entirely anonymous and have purely secular legends: one side carries the mint-name, while the other bears a Persian legend threatening consequences for anyone who does not accept the coin. It is not known exactly when they were struck, but they are believed to date from the reign of Ögedei Khan (AH 624-639 / AD 1227-1241).
Following the death of Ögedei in AH 639 (AD 1241), a period of turmoil followed while the succession was resolved. Ögedei Khan’s wife, Töregene (Turakina) became regent, ruling the vast Mongol empire for five years until she could arrange for her son Güyük to be elected Great Khan in AH 644 (AD 1246). This accomplished, her regency ended, and she retired to live on one of Ögedei’s estates. Unfortunately, relations between Töregene and Güyük soon soured, and Töregene died shortly after her son’s accession, in circumstances which remain unclear. Two decades later, her nephew, Kublai Khan, posthumously granted her the Chinese title of Empress Zhaochi
During her five-year regency, Töregene ruled with full authority as Great Khatun – the female counterpart to the Great Khan - a remarkable achievement in a society generally dominated by men. Dignitaries who visited her court included no less a personage than the Sultan of the Seljuqs, two princes from Georgia, and Grand Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich (the father of Alexander Nevsky, who died mysteriously shortly after his visit). But it is recorded that Töregene also received emissaries from the ‘Abbasid caliph, alMusta‘sim, and this may explain how this magnificent presentation issue came to be struck. Its legends and design are clearly based on the earlier anonymous large silver coins from Kurraman, but with the name and titles of the ‘Abbasid caliph replacing the threatening Persian legend on the obverse. It is difficult to see why else the inhabitants of Kurraman, living thousands of miles from Baghdad, might have decided to strike special coins naming the new caliph - but it would have been entirely appropriate for such coins to have been presented to the caliph’s emissaries by the Great Khatun - Töregene.
205 Ilkhanids. Anonymous temp. Hulagu or Abaqa. AV Pale Dinar (30.5mm, 2.52g, 9h). Hexagram type. Mintname and date not visible. Album G2132. Fine, edge split, some peripheral weakness. Rare. (5678144) $325
206 Ilkhanids. Baydu. AH 694 / AD 1295. AV Dinar (23.2mm, 4.06g, 5h). Madinat Tabriz mint. Dated AH 694 (AD 1295). Diler 248; Album 2164. Near EF, a little weak striking. (5660055) $460
207 Ilkhanids. Öljeytü (Uljaytu). AH 703-716 / AD 1304-1316. AR 2-Dirhams (21.8mm, 4.29g, 7h). Type B. Astarabad mint. Mint-name above Muhammad in obverse field. Diler 365; Album 2184. Overstruck with traces of undertype visible on reverse. Near EF. (5660161) $75
208 Ilkhanids. Abu Sa‘id Bahadur. AH 716-736 / AD 1316-1335. AV Dinar (25.4mm, 8.59g, 3h). Type D. Isfahan mint. Dated AH 722 (AD 1322/3). Diler 502; Album 2202. Near EF, small weak area on each side. (5678235) $795
209 Ilkhanids. Abu Sa‘id Bahadur. AH 716-736 / AD 1316-1335. AV Dinar (23.6mm, 8.68g, 12h). Baghdad mint. Dated AH 723 (AD 1323). Diler 502; Album 2202. Struck from worn dies. Near EF, some lustre. Rare. (5661161) $875
Ex Morton & Eden 95 (24 October 2018), lot 193.
210 Ilkhanids. Abu Sa‘id Bahadur. AH 716-736 / AD 1316-1335. AR 6-Dirhams (29.3mm, 10.75g, 11h). Type C (’Mihrab’ type). Baward mint. Dated AH 719 (AD 1319/20). Diler 488; Album 2199. Minor marks. Good VF, overstruck on uncertain undertype. (5660056) $165
211 Ilkhanids. Abu Sa‘id Bahadur. AH 716-736 / AD 1316-1335. AR 2-Dirhams (23.7mm, 3.65g, 8h). Type D. Akhlat mint. Dated AH 722 (AD 1322). Diler 502; Album 2202. Light deposit. Good VF, a little off-centre. (5660166) $125
212 Qutlughkhanid. Qutlugh Turkan. AH 655-681 / AD 1257-1282). AV Dinar (27.7mm, 5.04g, 11h). Balad Kirman mint. Dated AH 677 (AD 1278/9). Citing the Ilkhanid ruler Abaqa as overlord. Diler 123; Album 1935. VF, minor weakness. Rare. (5704701) $750
Ex Spink (22 September 2014), lot 812.
213 Jalayrids. Jalal al-Din Husayn I. AH 776-784 / AD 1374-1382. AV Dinar (21.9mm, 7.35g, 3h). Madinat alSalam Baghdad mint. Dated AH [78]2 (AD 1381/2). Obverse: Square kalima in angular Kufic with mint-name in centre, names of the four Rashidun around / Reverse: Ruler’s name and titles in three lines, within square border with knot ornament midway along each side; date around. Rabino pl. VII, 16; Album 2304. Near VF. Rare. (5661163) $875
214
215
214 Safavids. Tahmasp I. AH 930-984 / AD 1524-1576. AV Quarter-Mithqal (11.6mm, 1.15g, 3h). Yazd mint. Dated AH 961 (AD 1553/4). Album O2593. Good VF, traces of mounting. (5660057) $195
215 Zands. Muhammad Karim Khan. AH 1164-1193 / AD 1751-1779. AV Quarter-Mohur (17.6mm, 2.78g, 3h). Type B. Dar al-Sultanat Isfahan mint. Dated AH 1107 (sic), for AH 1170). Album 2790; KM 518. Traces of mounting. Near EF. (5660058) $325
216 Qajars. Fath ‘Ali Shah. As Shah, AH 1212-1250 / AD 1797-1834. AV Toman (23.8mm, 6.18g, 9h). Type S2. Khuy mint. Dated AH 1217 (AD 1802/3). Album 2860C; KM 739.2. Near EF. Rare. (5626668) $875
