Baldwin's

VOLUME I

THE

MAHD AL-DAHAB

COLLECTION OF

ISLAMIC COINS

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MAHD AL-DAHAB

COLLECTION OF

ISLAMIC COINS

VOLUME I

Mahd Al-Dahab Acknowledgements:Layout 2

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The Mahd al-Dahab Collection of Islamic Coins

is the culmination of a lifetime’s collecting having taken over

50 years to compile. It was started in Saudi Arabia back in the 1950s and has been added to over the intervening years.

Acknowledgements:

Faisal K. Adham Ian Barnes, Oxford A H Baldwin & Sons Ltd, Numismatists Since 1872, London AndrĂŠ de Clermont, Islamic Numismatic Specialist, London Robert Darley-Doran, Academic Islamic Specialist, Winchester Jamm Design Ltd., Middlesex

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MAHD AL-DAHAB

COLLECTION OF

ISLAMIC COINS

The magnificent Mahd al-Dahab Collection of Islamic Coins comprises 4,199 coins

with 1,274 struck in gold and nearly 3,000 in silver and copper. It is essentially in two parts; the coinage of the early Arab Caliphates in gold and silver and the coinage of the

Arabian Peninsula in all metals. The collection of the Arabian Peninsula is, without doubt, the finest of its kind, being the result of over sixty years of endeavour, and

contains the largest number of coins from the Holy City of Makka known in any

collection. The Mahd al-Dahab Collection is the most important in private hands as it

possesses a disproportionately high number of rarities and many previously unrecorded pieces. Although it is not comparable in size to the holdings of the British

Museum in London, the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, The Hermitage in St. Petersburg or the American Numismatic Society in New York, it is of such quality that

it could form the foundation to a new national collection. Indeed a number of the coins in the collection are not to be found anywhere in the above institutions. The Mahd alDahab Collection is irreplaceable and could not be replicated no matter how great the

cost or the length of time required. The acquisition of The Mahd al-Dahab Collection of Islamic Coins therefore would give the new owner, whether an institution or an individual, a unique historical treasure.

An outline of The Mahd al-Dahab Collection follows mentioning a number of the

most important coins.

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Part One

coinage of the early Arab Caliphates in gold and silver

Part One comprises 1,149 gold and 843 silver individually selected coins which span the Islamic world from al-Andalus in the west to the sub-continent in the east, and concentrates on the great dynasties of the Arab Muslim world from the first to the tenth century of the Hijra. Coins issued by the great historical figures such as Abd al-Malik bin Marwan, Harun al-Rashid, al-Mamun and Salah al-din are to be found in the collection. Equally, the renowned cities of Cordoba, Seville, Fas, Tunis, Trablus, Cairo, Damascus, Baghdad and the Holy City of Makka are represented. The coins have been selected for their historical importance, their artistic merit and their numismatic rarity. The Arabic inscriptions on the coins trace the history of calligraphy as great art and contribute further to the importance of the coins as historical documents.

Umayyad

The Umayyad gold coins in this collection are undoubtedly the finest in private hands, whilst the silver coins also possesses many pieces of the highest rarity. This series commences with the transitional Arab-Byzantine coinage and is followed by the reformed coinage of the Caliph ‘Abd al-Malik bin Marwan.

Some of the highlights are as follows:-

Arab-Byzantine Solidus, an adaptation of a Byzantine solidus of Heraclius and his two sons, issued in 72 or 73 h. This is the earliest Arab coin to bear the words of the kalima in its legends and is excessively rare.

Complete set of the 56 Umayyad Reformed dinars, commencing with the 77 h dinar, the most famous of all Islamic coins.

Dinar 100 h with the mint name Ifriqiya. This is the first time a mint name appears on the Reformed gold coinage. Excessively rare and one of only four or five known.

Dinar, half and one third dinars 102 h al-Andalus; the first reformed coinage to be struck in Spain.

Dinar 105 h with the additional legend Ma’dan Amir al-Muminin bi’l Hijaz. This coin is of the highest rarity and has never appeared for public sale. No example is known in any private collection.

Dinar 114 h with the mint name Ifriqiya, only the second recorded example, the other specimen in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris.

Dinar 122 h with the mint name Ifriqiya. This coin was most likely minted for the intended invasion of Sicily in the year 122 h. Of the highest rarity; only two or three known.

A group of 17 half and one-third dinar struck between 91-103 h. Included amongst them is the half dinar of the year 101 h which is unpublished and therefore excessively rare.

Silver dirham of the mint al-Zawabi struck in the year 79 h, one of only two recorded examples.

Silver dirham of the mint of al-Jazira struck in the year 79 h, the only known example.

Silver dirham of the mint of Tawwaj struck in the year 82 h, the third recorded example.

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Abbasid

This caliphate (132-656 h) survived for half a millennium and witnessed an enormous development in the scope and scan of the Islamic coinage. The names of the ruler, his heir, the mint city and often the regional governor were introduced and became regular features on the coins. Some of the most remarkable are:-

al-Saffah, dinar 132 h – the first issue of the Abbasid Caliphate. There are two examples in the collection with both styles of Kufic legends.

Harun al-Rashid, dinar 171 h – naming Harun as Amir-al-Mu’minin. This is the first time the name of a ruling caliph was inscribed on a gold coin.

al-Mutawakkil, dinar 234 h – struck in the Holy City of Makka. An excessively rare issue, previously unpublished. There are five additional Abbasid dinars from this mint dated 248 h, 252 h, 282 h, 292 h and 293 h. (Note: there are ten further dinars struck in Makka in the second part of this collection). al-Mutawakkil, dinar 246 h – struck in Arminiya. One of three known. al-Muqtadir, dinar 305 h – struck at Antakiya. One of three known.

al-Radi, five dinar 325 h – struck at Madinat al-Salam. This piece is of the highest rarity.

al-Radi, medallion silver five dirham 325 h – struck at Madinat al-Salam. This piece is of the highest rarity. al-Muttaqi, double dinar 329 h – struck at Madinat al-Salam. This is an exceptionally rare and beautiful medallion style donative piece. al-Muqtafi, dinar 552 h – Madinat al-Salam. This coin marked the re-emergence of Abbasid power after a period during which the caliph enjoyed only nominal power.

al-Musta’sim, dinar 656 h – Madinat al-Salam. This coin was struck during the six week period when alMusta’sim remained Caliph, before Baghdad was sacked by the Mongols. This piece is of the highest rarity.

Fatimid

The Fatimid Caliphate seized power from the Aghlabids in the Maghrib in the year 297 h, conquered Egypt in 358 h and established their new capital al-Qahira (Cairo). They were deposed by the Ayyubid al-Nasir Yusuf (Saladin) in 567 h. Fatimid expansion into Syria resulted in the minting of coins in many different cities, nearly all of which are represented in this collection. Of particular mention are the following:al-Madhi ‘Ubayd Allah, dinar 308 h – al-Qayrawan. al-Qa’im, dinar 326 h – al-Mahdiya.

Abu Yazid Makhlad, dinar 333 h – al-Qayrawan.

Mint of Filastin – 13 gold dinars.

Mint of Dimashq – 5 dinars.

Mint of Tabariya – 3 dinars.

Mint of Halab – 3 dinars.

Mint of Barqa (mint on the coast of Eastern Libya) – an excessively rare dinar struck by al-Mustansir in the year 448 h.

Mint of ‘Ashqalan (in Palestine) – dinar 509 h. One of four examples known.

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Regional Dynasties

The coinage of the regional dynasties is equally outstanding. Some of the most important rarities are as follows:Tulunid. Ahmad b. Tulun, dinar 265 h – struck at Hims.

Ikhshidid. Muhammad b. Tughj, dinar 332 h – struck at Filastin.

Qaramatid rulers of Bahrain, dinar 361 h – struck at Filastin.

Qaramatid rulers of Bahrain, dinar 368 h – struck at Filastin, believed to be the only known example.

Burid. 2 dinars struck at Damascus dated 530 h and 538 h.

Ayyubid – al-Nasir Yusuf I (Saladin), dinar 583 h – struck at Dimashq. Issued to commemorate Saladin’s conquest of Jerusalem.

Bahri Mamluk. al-Ashraf Musa II, dinar 649 h – struck at al-Qahira.

The coinage of al-Andalus and the Maghrib. This is one of the most outstanding parts of the

collection. It contains issues from all the great Muslim cities of Spain – Cordoba, Grenada, Malaga, Seville and Valencia; and the great North African cities of Fas, Ceuta, Sijilmasa, Marrakesh, Trablus and Tilimsan. This series is regarded by many as artistically the finest of all Islamic coinages.

Mukramid. 15 dinars dated between 410-436 h – struck at the mint of ‘Uman. An exceptional run from this rare mint.

Rum Saljuq. Kaykhusraw II, dinar 635 h – struck at Qunya. All gold coins from this dynasty are rare.

Buwayhid. 8 gold dinars issued between 368-405 h – struck at the mint of ‘Uman. Like the Mukramid issues, these coins are rare.

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Part TWO

coinage of the Arabian Peninsula In this part of the collection the coinage spans from the second century Hijra through to today and includes the coinages of the Abbasids, Fatimids and all the regional tribes of the Peninsula.

The early period comprises coins of the first five centuries of the Hijra and opens, as it should, with coinage of the Holy City of Makka. Most outstanding is the dinar of the Caliph al-Mu’tazz struck in the Holy City in the year 252 h. It is recorded that the gold for this issue came from the metal which had first been used to cover the Makam Ibrahim, the stone behind which the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) prayed when he performed the circumnambulation of the Holy Ka‘ba, and which bears the footprints of the Prophet Ibrahim impressed into its surface at the time that he was building the Holy House. It can safely be said that no public collection of coins in the world possesses an example of this piece which so eloquently symbolises the importance of this sacred spot. The second period covers the later medieval period from the sixth through to the eighth century Hijra. The third period brings the history of Arabia up to modern times.

To be found in the collection are:-

A complete set of the silver dirhams struck at the mint of al-Yamama from the year 165 until 170 h, when coinage in The Najd ceased.

Coins struck in Makka al-Mukarrima, the first being an Abbasid gold dinar of 227 h followed by those of 234, 248, 249, 252 h. The first two are the only known examples, and are unpublished

Gold dinars and silver dirhams struck in the Holy City of Makka during the reigns of the Caliphs al-Mutawakkil, al-Mu‘tadid, al-Muktafi and al-Muqtadir.

A Fatimid dinar of the Caliph al-Mu’izz dated 363 h, the earliest and only recorded example of this coin from the Holy City of Makka.

A Fatimid dinar of the Caliph al-‘Aziz dated 366 h, only the second known example of this coin from the Holy City of Makka.

The Asir provided the gold for the dinars struck in Baysh, Bisha and ‘Aththar in the late fourth and early fifth centuries of the Hijra. These coins bear the names of the Abbasid Caliphs al-Muti‘, al-Ta‘i’ and al-Qadir.

A unique hoard of silver dirhams from ‘Aththar, Makka and other rare mints from the early years of the fourth century of the Hijra.

A good representation of coins from the southern Tihama extending to the Hadramawt.

A unique and unpublished group of early tribal copper coins from the eastern region of Saudi Arabia.

They bear tribal marks (wisam) which provide an unrivalled record of early Islamic growth on the shores of the Arabian Gulf.

Coinage from the seventh, eighth and ninth centuries of the Hijra which bear the names of rulers and of previously unrecorded mint towns.

A unique and unpublished silver coin of Abd al-‘Aziz I struck in the Holy City of Makka in the year 1215 h.

A comprehensive group of copper coins of Su‘ud bin ‘Abd al-‘Aziz struck in the Holy City of Makka between 1219-1223 h.

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VOLUME I

highlights from THE

MAHD AL-DAHAB COLLECTION OF

ISLAMIC COINS

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Dechristianised copy of a Byzantine solidus of the Emperor Heraclius and his two sons struck in the reign of the caliph 窶連bd al-Malik bin Marwan in the year 72-73 of the Hijra.

This is the earliest Islamic gold coin to contain the kalima, the statement of faith, bismillah la ilah illa Allah wahda la sharik lahu Muhammad rasul Allah (no god but God unique, He has no associate, Muhammad is the messenger of God).

(Ref 1, Vol II)

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Arab-Latin solidus (dinar) struck in Spain (al-Andalus) in the Indiction year 11, 94 of the Hijra, during the reign of al-Walid I b. 窶連bd al-Malik.

As in Africa (Ifriqiya), this piece, the earliest Islamic coinage of Spain, was inscribed with Latin legends and Byzantine Indiction dates. (Ref 2, Vol II)

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Umayyad dinar, 77 H, without mint name, time of ‘Abd al-Malik bin Marwan.

In the year 77 of the Hijra the Caliph ‘Abd al-Malik introduced a fully Islamic gold coin carrying legends found in the Holy Qur’an. This is the most sort-after Islamic coin, whose legends set the pattern for centuries to come. (Ref 45, Vol II)

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A set of the Umayyad full, half and third dinars, time of the caliph Yazid II bin 窶連bd al-Malik, struck in al-Andalus in the year 102 H.

While all three of these coins are individually very rare, to have a set of all three denominations is found only in the American Numismatic Society in New York.

(Ref 282, 283, 284, Vol II)

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Umayyad dinar, time of ‘Umar II bin ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, 100 H.

This is the earliest Umayyad post-reform dinar struck in Ifriqiya, probably in the city of Qayrawan in Tunisia, in 100 h. Although it is a full dinar, its legends are identical to those found on the half dinar denomination from Syria. (Ref 264, Vol II)

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THE

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MAHD AL-DAHAB

COLLECTION OF

ISLAMIC COINS

The magnificent Mahd al-Dahab Collection of Islamic Coins comprises 4,199 coins

with 1,274 struck in gold and nearly 3,000 in silver and copper. It is essentially in two parts; the coinage of the early Arab Caliphates in gold and silver and the coinage of the

Arabian Peninsula in all metals. The collection of the Arabian Peninsula is, without doubt, the finest of its kind, being the result of over sixty years of endeavour, and

contains the largest number of coins from the Holy City of Makka known in any

collection. The Mahd al-Dahab Collection is the most important in private hands as it

possesses a disproportionately high number of rarities and many previously unrecorded pieces. Although it is not comparable in size to the holdings of the British

Museum in London, the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, The Hermitage in St. Petersburg or the American Numismatic Society in New York, it is of such quality that

it could form the foundation to a new national collection. Indeed a number of the coins in the collection are not to be found anywhere in the above institutions. The Mahd alDahab Collection is irreplaceable and could not be replicated no matter how great the

cost or the length of time required. The acquisition of The Mahd al-Dahab Collection of Islamic Coins therefore would give the new owner, whether an institution or an individual, a unique historical treasure.

An outline of The Mahd al-Dahab Collection follows mentioning a number of the

most important coins.

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Umayyad dinar, time of Hisham bin 窶連bd al-Malik, struck in Ifriqiya in the year 122 H.

By this time the legends on the gold dinars in both east and west followed the same wording and pattern, with the exception that the Umayyad mints in Ifriqiya and al-Andalus bore their mint names in the reverse marginal legend. It is possible that this coinage was struck to support the first Muslim campaign against the Byzantines in Sicily.

(Ref 321, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, time of al-Saffah bin Muhammad, without mint name 132 h.

The Abbasid revolution was displayed in the coinage by substituting the words of Qur’an surah 112 with Muhammad rasul Allah in the reverse field on both their dinars and dirhams. (Ref 410, Vol II)

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Abbasid dirham, time of al-Saffah, Madinat al-Salam 146 H.

In the reign of the al-Saffah, and at the outset of that of al-Mahdi, the Abbasid caliphs moved their capital from one place to another in Iraq. In 146 h, with the founding of Madinat al-Salam (‘City of Peace’) in the village of Baghdad they established a permanent home. (Ref 468, Vol II)

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Abbasid dirhams, time of al-Mahdi bin al-Mansur, al-Yamama 165, 169 H and al-Hadi bin al-Mahdi 170 H.

The earliest mint place to be established in the Arabian peninsula was al-Yamama, the district around today’s Saudi Arabian capital, al-Riyadh. The first coin was dated 165 and bears the name Hajjar in the reverse field. The second also struck by al-Mahdi, bears the name ‘Abd Allah bin Sa’id, and the third, the latest dated issue of 170 gives the name of the ephemeral caliph al-Hadi. (Ref 535, 559, 563, Vol II)

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Abbasid dirham, Madinat al-Salam 170 H Abbasid dinar without mint name 171 H, Harun al-Rashid bin al-Mahdi.

When the Caliph Harun al-Rashid seized power from his brother al-Hadi in 170 h, he made the change abundantly clear on both his dirhams and dinars by including his name, Harun, prominently in the reverse legends. (Ref 569 AV, 601 AR, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, time of al-Ma’mun bin al-Rashid, without mint name 207 H.

In 206 h the Caliph al-Ma’mun introduced a reform-style dinar which was probably struck in the Abbasid capital, Madinat al-Salam. Like the traditional coinage, it lacked a mint name but contained a Qur’anic passage which related to al-Ma’mun’s triumph over his brother al-Amin. (Ref 715, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, al-Musta’in billah, Makka 248 H.

This is an Abbasid dinar of conventional design struck in the name of the Caliph al-Musta’in in the Holy City of Makka in 248 h. While this mint name became more frequently encountered at this time, it is still very rare. (Ref 817, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, al-Musta’in billah, Makka 249 H.

This coin was issued in Makka in the year 249 h when the Caliph al-Musta’in included the name of his heir, al-‘Abbas, in the legends in the obverse field. (Ref 821, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, al-Mu’tazz billah, Makka 252 H.

The gold for this famous dinar of the Caliph al-Mu’tazz dated 252 h came from the covering of the Makam Ibrahim in the Holy City of Makka. No public collection possesses an example of this coin. (Ref 829, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, al-Muhtadi billah, San‘a’ 256 H.

Because the short reign of the Caliph al-Muhtadi took place in part of the years 255 and 256 h, coins bearing his name are seldom found. This is a particularly good example of a dinar from San‘a’ in the Yemen. (Ref 840, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinars, al-Mu’tadid billah, Makka 282 and 283 H.

These two dinars from the Holy City of Makka are in a particularly fine state of preservation, which suggests that they were struck in a period of great prosperity under the rule of the powerful caliph al-Mu’tadid. (Ref 875, 876, Vol II)

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Abbasid medallion dinar, al-Mu’tadid billah, Barda’a 286 H.

This remarkable coin was struck in the Azeri city of Barda’a, probably while al-Mu’tadid was on military campaign in the region. Its broad flan and especially artistic legends make it clear that it was intended for presentation to members of the Caliph’s court and army. (Ref 879, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, al-Muktafi billah, Harran 290 H.

It was in the late third century of the Hijra that Abbasid mints proliferated in Syria and northern Iraq. Harran was one of these, famous in former days as the capital of the Umayyad caliph Marwan II. It has now declined to the status of a small village in southern Turkey. (Ref 892, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, al-Muktafi billah, Makka 291 H.

This dinar from the Holy City of Makka is unusual both because of the mint place and the fact that it omits the name of the wazir, Wali al-dawla, which was usually found in the obverse field of all of al-Muktafi’a coins dated 291 h. (Ref 895, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, al-Muqtadir billah, al-Rahba 302 H.

Abbasid coinage from al-Rahba, a town in Syria, is generally only found bearing the name of al-Muqtadir. It provides evidence that at this time Syria was experiencing a period of prosperity. (Ref 1928, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, al-Muqtadir billah, Antakiya 305 H.

Antakiya/Antioch is another rare Syrian mint, although one which appeared in the coinage of the Tulunids and Hamdanids as well as the Abbasids. (Ref 932, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, al-Muqtadir billah, Tabariya 308 H.

Tabariya/Tiberius, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in Palestine, was a provincial capital under the Umayyads and later a mint town used by the Abbasids, Ikhshidids, Qarmatids and Fatimids. (Ref 1023, Vol II)

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Abbasid medallion dinar, al-Muqtadir billah, Madinat al-Salam 318 H.

This is another example of the special donative coinage that was given as gifts by the Abbasid caliphs. Its calligraphy is of the highest standard of Kufic script, and it bears the names of the Caliph al-Muqtadir and his heir al-窶連bbas, later the Caliph al-Radi.

(Ref 1038, Vol II)

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Abbasid medallion dinar, al-Radi billah, Madinat al-Salam 325 H.

This magnificent coin is unusual in several respects. It mixes legends normally found on the reverse with the abbreviated kalima usually found on the obverse, and includes a beautiful floral device. This was probably taken from the plasterwork designs used in decorating the rooms of the caliphal palaces in Madinat al-Salam and Surra man ra’a (Samarra). It is one of the masterpieces of all Islamic art. (Ref 1079, Vol II)

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Abbasid medallion dinar, al-Radi billah, Madinat al-Salam 329 H.

This is another medallion dinar struck in the last year of the reign of al-Radi. It bears the name of the caliph’s son and heir, Abu’l-Fadl, who failed to succeed his father after the latter’s deposition in 329 h. (Ref 1110, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, al-Muti‘ lillah, Baysh (3)35 H.

The mountains of south-west Arabia on the Tihama coast contained alluvial gold which the local amirs used for their coinage. Baysh was one of these settlements, where they struck coinage omitting their names but acknowledging the Abbasid caliph al-Muti‘, who was a prisoner of the Buwayhids in Baghdad. (Ref 1116, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, al-Muti‘ lillah, ‘Aththar 348 H.

The most prolific mint in the Tihama in the mid-fourth century of the Hijra was the port town of ‘Aththar. It was able to strike gold coinage in the name of the Caliph al-Muti‘ from the gold dust which was brought down from the mountains for that purpose.

(Ref 1121, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, al-Nasir li-din Allah, Madinat al-Salam 598 H. More than two centuries after the Abbasid caliphate was stripped of its secular power, the Saljuqs permitted the revival of its rule in Iraq. This coin of the well known Caliph al-Nasir bears the name of his heir Abu-Nasr, later the Caliph al-Zahir, on the reverse.

(Ref 1139, Vol II)

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Abbasid dinar, al-Musta’sim billah, Madinat al-Salam 656 H.

The year 656 h marks the end of Abbasid power, just as 132 h marked its beginning. In the first days of the month of Muharram Madinat al-Salam was besieged by the forces of the Ilkhan Hulagu, and capitulated within a few days. At this time the city reverted to its original, popular name, Baghdad. After Musta’sim’s murder a shadow caliphate lived on under the Mamluks of Egypt. Later the office of caliph was claimed by the Ottomans after their conquest of Cairo. (Ref 1166, Vol II)

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Page 46

Spanish Umayyad dinar, 窶連bd al-Rahman III, al-Andalus 324 H.

In North Africa and Spain the beginning of the fourth century witnessed the arrival of two new caliphates - that of the Fatimids in Qayrawan and the Spanish Umayyads in Cordoba. After the success of the Fatimid al-Mahdi, the first of these Spanish caliphs, 窶連bd al-Rahman III al-Nasir li-din Allah, was not slow in proclaiming himself caliph, as can be seen in the legends on this coin. (Ref 1219, Vol II)

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Page 47

Spanish Umayyad dinar, Sulayman, al-Andalus 400 H.

After the brilliant reign of 窶連bd al-Rahman III, the Spanish Umayyad dynasty went into slow decline under al-Hakam and Hisham II. By the end of the fourth century of the Hijra the realm had sunk into civil war, nominally ruled over by different caliphs. This coin was struck by the ephemeral caliph Sulayman, and after many rapid changes of ruler, nothing more was left of unified Islamic power in Spain beyond a nominal allegiance to phantom caliphs. (Ref 1230, Vol II)

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Nasrid dinar, Muhammad IX b. Nasr, Gharnata undated

The Nasrids were the builders of the great al-Hamra complex in Granada.

This, one of the beautiful coins struck by the last Muslim rulers in Spain, contains the Nasrid motto la ghalib illa Allah - No victory without God’s (help), and on the reverse the mint name Gharnata (Granada). Muhammad IX reigned between 821 and 856 h, but his rule was interrupted three times.

This coin can be attributed to his first period of rule, 821-830. (Ref 1237, Vol II)

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Page 49

al-Murabitid, dinar, Yusuf bin Tashufin (480-500 H) with heir ‘Ali bin Yusuf (496-500 H), Balansiya undated

The Murabitid rulers of the Maghrib originated in west Africa and had their capital in Sijilmasa in the interior of Morocco. Yusuf bin Tashufin was the true founder of the dynasty, and he extended his rule into southern Spain, as can be seen from this coin from Balansia (Valencia). Yusuf’s rule was shared with his son and heir ‘Ali. (Ref 1284, Vol II)

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al-Murabitid, dinar, 窶連li bin Yusuf (500-537 H), Malaqa undated 窶連li bin Yusuf ruled both in Morocco and Spain. This coin from the first year of his reign was struck in Malaqa (Malaga). As this mint was active for only four years, its coins are notably rare. On the reverse is found the title of the Abbasid caliph without his regnal name, showing that the Murabitids were Sunni. (Ref 1285, Vol II)

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Page 52

al-Muwahhid, dinar, Abu-Ya’qub Yusuf II (610-620 H), without mint name, undated

The Muwahhids (Unitarians) struck some of the handsomest coins produced in the west.

This piece, which lacks both a mint name and a date, was probably struck in their capital Fas (Fez) in Morocco. The square in circle design resembles building inscriptions, which was followed by several of the succeeding dynasties. (Ref 1297, Vol II)

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Page 53

Sa’adian Usurper, dinar, Abu’l-Mahalli, known on his coinage as Abu’l-‘Abbas Ahmad al-Mahdi, Marrakush 1021 H. “Abu Mahalli” claimed descent from the Prophet Muhammad’s uncle al-‘Abbas.

He devoted his life to Allah, named himself the Mahdi (Messiah) and waged holy war to end the rule of the Sa‘adian Sharifs. Abu Mahalli led his followers to confront the Sa‘adian ruler, who put up no resistance. He took on all the trappings of royalty, won great popularity and took advantage of the available gold to strike coins in his own name. However, having assured his followers of his divine power, he was killed in battle by a single shot, and Marrakesh returned to Sa‘adian rule. (Ref 1328, Vol II)

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Page 54

Tulunid, Harun bin Khumarawayh, Filastin 291 H.

This coin was struck by the last Tulunid governor of Egypt, Harun bin Khumarawayh.

It showed that, even in the year of his overthrow by the forces of the Abbasid caliph, the Tulunids still controlled Palestine from their seat of government at al-Ramla.

(Ref 1351, Vol II)

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Page 55

Ikhshidid, in the names of ‘Ali bin al-Ikhshid and Abu’l-Misk Kafur, Misr 353 H.

Abu’l-Misk Kafur was the famous eunuch who served as wazir of the Ikhshidid dynasty in Egypt until his death in 356 h. Because of his disability he could not be recognised as ruler, but was obliged to use the first initial of his name, kaf, on his coinage. (Ref 1371, Vol II)

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Fatimid, ‘Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi, al-Muhammadiya 320 H.

‘Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi, the founder of the Fatimid caliphate, first ruled from Qayrawan in central Tunisia and then moved his seat to al-Mahdiya on the eastern coast. Late in his reign the mint name al-Muhammadiya appeared on his coinage which, for lack of an important city in North Africa bearing this name, probably conceals that of the actual mint place, possibly Tunis. (Ref 1380, Vol II)

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Fatimid, dinar, Isma’il al-Mansur in the name of his father al-Qa’im, al-Mahdiya 335 H.

In the last years of the reign of al-Qa‘im he was ejected from Qayrawan by the famous rebel Abu-Yazid. After his death in 334 h, al-Qa’im’s son al-Mansur kept his father’s death secret and continued to issue coinage from al-Mahdiya in al-Qa’im’s name.

After the defeat of Abu-Yazid al-Mansur began to issue coinage in his own name.

(Ref 1388, Vol II)

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Page 59

Fatimid, dinar, al-Mu’izz li-din Allah, Misr 358 H.

In 358 h the Fatimids accomplished their long-term goal, the capture of Egypt. They first took Fustat, and in the next year they established the town of al-Qahira (Cairo) to commemorate their victory over the Ikhshidids. (Ref 1396, Vol II)

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Page 60

Qarmatid, dinar, anonymous (al-Sadat al-Ru’asa), Filastin 358 H.

This excessively rare coin was issued by the Qarmatid/Qaramita of Bahrain when they attacked the Ikhshidids in Palestine. It was issued when they temporarily displaced the Iskhshidid Ahmad bin ‘Ali. (Ref 1376, Vol II)

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Page 61

Fatimid dinar, al-‘Aziz billah, Makka 366 H.

After al-Mu’izz conquered Egypt he went on to seize the Holy City of Makka in the Hijaz. This excessively rare dinar was struck in the name of his successor al-‘Aziz during the latter’s struggle with the Qarmatids. (Ref 1410, Vol II)

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Qarmatid dinar, anonymous (al-Sadat al-Ru’asa), Filastin 368 H.

This dinar marks the end of the Qarmatid occupation of Palestine. After removing Qarmatid influence from Makka the Fatimid forces of al-‘Aziz defeated the Qarmatids in the first days of 368 h, prompting their return to Bahrain. (Ref 1377, Vol II)

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Page 64

Fatimid dinar, al-Zahir li-A‘zaz din Allah, Tabariya 424 H.

Al-Zahir had three main coinage types. This dinar is an example of the second, which was used between the years 420 and 425 h, struck in Tabariya (Tiberius) in Palestine.

One of the features of this coinage type was the presence of a single letter in the centre of the die, in this case the ta of Tabariya - a rare type from a very rare Fatimid mint.

(Ref 1467, Vol II)

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Page 65

Fatimid dinar, al-Mustansir billah, Sabra 438 H.

This coin refines our knowledge of history. When the Fatimids moved from Tunisia to Egypt they left behind Zirid governors who ruled over a restive Sunni population.

The Zirids wished to break with their distant Shi’ite masters, the Fatimids, and began their revolution by changing the name of their capital al-Mansuriya to its previous name, Sabra. It is recorded that this change took place in 439 h, but this coin clearly shows that the Zirid revolution began in 438 h. (Ref 1488, Vol II)

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Page 66

Fatimid dinar, al-Mustansir billah, Barqa 448 H.

When the Zirids completed their revolution in Tunisia by repudiating their allegiance to the Fatimids, the Caliph al-Mustansir flew into a rage and determined to destroy the Zirids. He sent a band of Bedouin to retake the country. It is likely that this coin, struck in Barqa not far from today’s Benghazi in Libya, was struck to pay the invading army.

(Ref 1524, Vol II)

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Page 67

Fatimid dinar, al-Mustansir billah, 窶連ththar 474 H.

This previously unrecorded dinar from the Red Sea port of 窶連ththar in the Tihama shows the continuation of Fatimid control in the south-western Arabian peninsula. (Ref 1545, Vol II)

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Fatimid dinar, al-Must‘ali billah, ‘Akka 488 H.

al-Must‘ali was the younger son of the caliph al-Mustansir, whose rule was challenged by his elder brother Nizar, founder of the Isma’il Muslims of Persia whose leader is the Agha Khan. ‘Akka (Acre) on the coast of Palestine was a mint which operated briefly under al-Mustansir and al-Must‘ali. (Ref 1554, Vol II)

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Page 70

Fatimid dinar, al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah, Asqalan 509 H.

al-Amir succeeded al-Must‘ali in 495 h and struck most of his coinage in Egypt. This rare dinar comes from the Palestinian mint of Asqalan, south of Acre, which for a time was the chief Fatimid port in Palestine. (Ref 1558, Vol II)

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Page 71

Fatimid dinar, al-Muntazir li-amr Allah, al-Iskandariya 525 h.

al-Muntazir (the ‘Expected’) was the imaginary son of al-Amir, who died without issue leaving a pregnant concubine whose child’s birth was never recorded. This coin demonstrates the extreme importance that the Fatimids placed on direct descendants of the Isma’ili imams. (Ref 1567, Vol II)

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Page 72

Ayyubid dinar, al-Nasir Salah al-din Yusuf, al-Qahira 568 H.

al-Nasir Yusuf (known in the west as Saladin), the first Ayyubid governor of Egypt, overthrew the last Fatimid caliph, al-‘Adid, and brought Egypt back into Sunni allegiance. Saladin was sent to Egypt by his Zangid overlord, Nur al-din Mahmud bin Zangi, and he issued coins in the latter’s name until Nur al-din’s death in 569 h.

(Ref 1574, Vol II)

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Ayyubid dinar, al-Salih Najm al-din Ayyub, al-Qahira 640 H.

This dinar, struck in al-Qahira, was issued by the last effective Ayyubid ruler of Egypt, al-Salih Ayyub, in 640 H, showing the name of the last Abbasid caliph, al-Musta’sim.

When he died in 647 al-Salih left no legitimate heirs, which left the way open for the Mamluk commanders to choose their own ruler. (Ref 1597, Vol II)

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Bahri Mamluk dinar, al-Ashraf Musâ II, al-Qahira 649 H.

All coins in the name of al-Ashraf Musâ II were struck by the Mamluk ruler Aybak, who used the Ayyubid Musâ as a formal justification for his own de facto rule. Musâ was a son of al-Ma’sud Yusuf, the Ayyubid ruler of the Yemen. This coin, while entirely Ayyubid in its form and legends, is emphatically one of the first Mamluk issues. (Ref 1600, Vol II)

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Page 76

Bahri Mamluk dinar, al-Zahir Baybars, al-Qahira 6(60) H. al-Zahir Baybars was the first of the Bahri Mamluk sultans of Egypt.

His coins are easily identified by the figure of a leopard marching leftwards.

In 660 h he gave refuge to a son of the Abbasid Caliph al-Zahir, who received the title of al-Mustansir, which is seen on this coin. From this time on the Mamluks recognised the nominal spiritual overlordship of the Abbasid caliphs, who existed as no more than shadow court officals in Cairo.

(Ref 1602, Vol II)

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Burji Mamluk dinar, al-Nasir Faraj, Madinat Halab 809 H.

In 791 h a smooth change was made when the Burji Mamluk, al-Zahir Barquq, seized control from the last feeble descendant of the Bahri Mamluk al-Nasir Muhammad.

Barquq was succeeded by his son, al-Nasir Faraj, who included the name of his father in his coinage legends. Dinars from Aleppo were attractively ornamented and the handsomest of all al-Faraj’s coins. (Ref 1623, Vol II)

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Page 78

Anonymous, Mahdi of the Sudan, gold “guinea”, “Misr” 1255 H. regnal year 2

It is recorded that when the Mahdi siezed power in the Sudan he used an Egyptian guinea bearing the tughra of the Ottoman Sultan ‘Abd al-Majid as a pattern for his gold coinage. It is clear that this coin is a reasonable copy, but that it would only fool those who had to accept it in Umdurman (Khartoum), the Mahdi’s capital. (Ref 1662, Vol II)

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Anonymous, Mahdi of the Sudan, silver “majidiya”, “Qustantiniyya” 1255 H. regnal year 9

This is a previously unrecorded and unpublished copy of an Ottoman majidiya/20 qurush of the Sultan ‘Abd al-Majid with the accession year 1255 h, regnal year 9. As in the previous coin, the Mahdi of the Sudan were copying coins that were in current use in the Sudan. (Ref 1664, Vol II)

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Mahdi of the Sudan, silver majidiya, without mint name but struck in Umdurman, 1302 H, regnal year 5.

This is the famous Mahdi of the Sudan crown piece, an imitation of the Ottoman majidiya/20 qurush. On the obverse the tughra reads bi-amr al-Mahdi, and on the reverse duriba fi al-Hijra (struck in the Hijra) 1302 h, with the regnal year 5 above. The Mahdi of the Sudan’s coinage is rare in comparison with that of his successor the Khalifa. (Ref 1663, Vol II)

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Page 82

Rassid 1st period (284-298 H), dinar, al-Hadi ila’l-Haqq, San’a’ 284 h.

This is the earliest dated Rassid coin, and a very rare issue. The dynasty the Rassids established survived until 1382 h, and is certainly one of the longest-lasting dynasties in all history. (Ref 1690, Vol II)

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Page 83

Ziyadid dinar, Ishaq bin Ibrahim, Zabid 349 H.

The Ziyadis were a Sunni dynasty, and this coin acknowledges the Abbasid Caliph al-Muti‘. Their seat of government was located in Zabid in the Tihama, and their early coinage is particularly attractive. (Ref 1681, Vol II)

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Amirs of ‘Aththar dinar, Abu-Muhammad al-Mu’ammar, ‘Aththar 363 H.

At about the same time that the Ziyadis were striking coinage in their own name, their neighbours to the north, in the Asir, began to emulate them, both acknowledging the Abbasid Caliph and placing their own names in the reverse field. (Ref 2014, Vol II)

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Amirs of 窶連ththar dinar, Bushri bin 窶連bd Allah al-Tarafi, 窶連ththar 400 H.

This extremely rare coin follows the pattern of other rulers of the port town of 窶連ththar.

This one acknowledges the Abbasid caliph al-Qadir billah. (Ref 2026, Vol II)

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Zurayid dinar, Imran bin Muhammad, 窶連dan 557 H.

The Zurayhids succeeded the Sulayhids as rulers of the south-western Arabian port city of Adan. This extremely rare example of their coinage bears the name of the last Zurayhid Amir, Imran bin Muhammad. (Ref 2064, Vol II)

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Page 88

Ayyubid of the Yemen, dirham, al-Mu’izz Isma’il, Ta’izz 598 H.

al-Mu’izz Isma’il was a conventional Ayyubid prince for the first four years of his reign, but then he proclaimed himself to be the Imam al-Hadi ila’l-Haqq al-Amawi. This pretension outraged his subjects, who put him to death for his impiety. (Ref 2090, Vol II)

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Rassid 2nd period, silver mansuri dirham, al-Mansur 窶連bd Allah, al-Qahira 614 H.

The design of the mansuri dirham is based on an 8-pointed star in a windmill-like pattern. A similar design was probably used in architectural decoration, as it is rather attractive, but fiendishly difficult to read unless one is experienced in Kufic calligraphy.

(Ref 2162, Vol II)

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Rassid 2nd period, silver mahwadi dirham, al-Mahdi Ahmad, San‘a al-Yaman 650 H.

This distinctive coin, known as the mahdawi dirham, was issued by al-Mahdi Ahmad, a rival prince in the Rassid dynasty, from 646 to 656 h. The kalima is in the obverse field with the mint name around, while the ruler’s names are in the reverse field and in the four marginal segments. (Ref 2175, Vol II)

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Rasulid silver dirham, al-Mansur ‘Umar, Madinat Mabyan 635 h.

This is a coin of the first Rasulid ruler. Al-Mansur ‘Umar was initially an officer under the Ayyubids of the Yemen, but after the extinction of that dynasty he became de facto Sunni ruler in the Yemen. During his reign he had to contend with the Shi’ite Rassids in the north. Madinat Mabyan was a village which was periodically under Rasulid control.

(Ref 2227, Vol II)

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Rasulid gold dinar, al-Mu’ayyad Da’ud, ‘Adan 718 H.

While practically all the Rasulid coinage was struck in silver, there were occasional, very rare gold issues which copied the square in circle design introduced by the Muwahhids in North Africa. The principal difference is that, unlike the latter, the Rasulids included both the mint name and the date in their legends. (Ref 2368, Vol II)

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Rasulid gold dinar, al-Mujahid 窶連li, 窶連dan 735 H.

This is the only known example of a Rasulid gold coin struck in Adan dated 735 h, the latest gold coin of this dynasty. It is suggested that the square in circle design was used for the gold coinage because its North African prototypes were important trading coins throughout the Islamic world, and were trusted in trade with India. (Ref 2390, Vol II)

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Page 95

Qasimid, gold ‘imadi riyal, al-Mutawakkil Yahya bin Muhammad, Dar al-Khilafat San‘a’ al-Yaman 1344 H.

This handsome coin is a gold version of the silver ‘imadi riyal. By this time, 1344 h, the Qasimids in the Yemen were the last dynasty to strike their coins with traditional Islamic legends. (Ref 2701, Vol II)

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Wajihid Governors of Oman, silver dirham, Yusuf bin Wajih/Muhammad bin Yusuf, ‘Uman 328 H.

During the early fourth century Oman was ruled by a series of local governors. Towards the end of Yusuf’s reign he arranged that his coinage should bear his son’s name as well as his own in the obverse field of his dinars and dirhams. (Ref 2772, Vol II)

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Govenors of Oman, silver dirham, Halaj bin Hatam, ‘Uman 359 H.

Halaj bin Hatam was the Buwayhid governor of Oman between the years 358 and 361 h.

The obverse of this coin contains the names of the Buwayhids Rukn al-dawla and his son ‘Adud al-dawla, and on the reverse those of the Abbasid caliph al-Muti‘ and Halaj bin Hatim. In 361 h the Buwayhids took direct control of the country. (Ref 2769, Vol II)

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Sultanate of Oman, presentation gold riyal sa’idi, Qaboos bin Sa’id, no mint name 1391 H. This large gold coin was the first coinage of Qaboos bin Sa’id, the present Sultan of Oman. One hundred examples of this presentation coin were struck for distribution to important civil and military leaders. On it, the name of the denomination is riyal sa’idi, which was first introduced by the Sultan’s father. It was renamed the riyal omani shortly after this coin was struck.

(Ref 3380, Vol II)

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Kingdom of the Hijaz, gold hashimi dinar, al-Husayn bin 窶連li, Makka al-Mukarrima 1334 H.

During the First World War the British supported the revolt of the Arabs in the Hijaz against the Ottoman Turks. They backed the Sharif of Makka, al-Husayn bin 窶連li, to be the ruler of the country with his sons as lieutenants. He proudly proclaimed that this coin represented the renaissance of the Arab lands. (Ref 2964, Vol II)

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Sa’udi Hijaz, copper half qirsh (silvered), ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al Sa’ud, Umm al-Qura 1343 H.

This is the earliest coinage of King ‘Abd al-‘Aziz of Saudi Arabia. When his forces seized the Holy City of Makka from the Hashimids they used the existing coinage of al-Husayn bin ‘Ali for their own purposes by restriking them with new legends, and cutting the value of the original denominations in half. What began is that the one qirsh was restruck as a half qirsh, but leaving evidence of its original design. (Ref 2978, Vol II)

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Sa’udi Hijaz, copper quarter qirsh (silvered), ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al Sa’ud, Umm al-Qura 1343 H.

Stocks of the Hashimid half qirsh were similarly overstruck with the tughra of ‘Abd al-‘Aziz and the date 1343 h, with the mint name Umm al-Qura, ‘Mother of Cities’.

The silver wash on this piece has largely worn away. (Ref 3008, Vol II)

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Sa’udi Hijaz, copper half qirsh, ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al Sa’ud, Umm al-Qura 1344 H regnal year 2.

In the following year, 1344 h, a copper half qirsh was issued in Makka giving it the name Umm al-Qura. On the obverse was the King’s name in a tughra reading ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, and to the right Al Sa’ud, beneath which is regnal year 2. This was the last occasion on which ‘Abd al-‘Aziz imitated the Ottoman coinage. (Ref 3151, Vol II)

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Hijaz, Najd and Dependencies, cupro-nickel qirsh, no mint name 1345 H.

This previously unpublished and unrecorded pattern coinage of the one qirsh dated 1345 h, is the only type known for this piece. Although it shows an Ottoman-style tughra, it has an additional legend, ‘King of the Hijaz, and the Najd and the Dependencies beneath it, without any regnal year. (Ref 3159, Vol II)

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Hijaz, Najd and Dependencies, silver one, half and quarter riyals, 窶連bd al-窶連ziz bin 窶連bd al-Rahman al Sa窶冰d, Makka al-Mukarrima 1348 H.

This is a specially produced proof striking set of the 1348 h Saudi silver coinage. These sets were intended for distribution to the royal house and to important worldwide mint establishments as examples of the new currency. (Ref 3172, 3173, 3174, Vol II)

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Kingdom of Sa’udi Arabia, gold half sa’udi guinea, ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al Sa’ud, Makka al-Mukarrima 1354 H.

This is a unique example of a half gold guinea from Saudi Arabia. It was intended as a pattern for the 1354 h gold coinage which, in the event, was never struck for distribution.

(Ref 3236, Vol II)

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Kingdom of Sa’udi Arabia, silver sa’udi one, half and quarter riyals, ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al Sa’ud, Makka al-Mukarrima 1354 H.

While the silver coinage of the dates 1346 and 1348 h. were struck on the standard of the Maria Theresa thaler and the Egyptian 20 ghurush piece, with the establishment of Riyadh as the seat of government, the next issue, that of 1354 h, was based on the standard of the Indian rupi, which was used throughout the eastern region and the Gulf states. Once again, while this coinage is commonly found, a proof set such as this was produced in very small quantities and is of the highest rarity. (Ref 3237, 3238, 3239, Vol II)

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Sa’udi Arabia, gold pattern guinea riyal, ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al Sa’ud, Makka al-Mukarrima 1370 H. This is the pattern for the first gold coinage of Saudi Arabia.

The design of the obverse is identical to the issued coinage, but the description of the denomination on the reverse is inscribed without the vowel marks. This is the only example known.

(Ref 3266, Vol II)

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Burid dinar, Abaq, acknowledging the overlordship of the Iraq Saljuq Mas’ud and the Great Saljuq Sanjar, Dimashq 538 H.

Damascus was the westernmost extension of Saljuq power. The Burids were an ephemeral dynasty which lasted for no more than half a century. Surprisingly, their coinage resembled that of the Fatimids, although the legends were purely Sunni, acknowledging the Abbasid Caliph al-Muqtafi. (Ref 3771, Vol II)

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Rum Saljuq dinar, 窶連la al-din Kaykubadh I, Siwas 621 H.

While the Rum Saljuq rulers of Anatolia struck a very abundant silver coinage, their gold is notably rare. They were Sunni in their beliefs, inscribing the name of the Abbasid Caliph until his overthrow in 656 h. Kaykubadh, a great builder, was known for his caravanserais and religious buildings in Sivas and Konya. (Ref 3782, Vol II)

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Rum Saljuq dinar, ‘Ghiyath al-din Kaykhusraw II, Qunya 642 H. This is the last coinage type of Ghiyath al-din Kaykhusraw II. It is typical of the finest products of the Rum Saljuq mints. This piece once again uses the square in circle designs introduced in far-off Morocco. (Ref 3785, Vol II)

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Page 114

Rum Saljuq dinar, reign of the Three Brothers, Qunya 648 H. After the Rum Saljuq forces were defeated by the Mongols, followed by the death of Kaykhusraw II, the Mongols chose to administer Anatolia at a distance, but, wanting to avoid fratricidal conflict, they made all three of Kaykhusraw’s sons joint rulers of the state - an unprecedented event in the history of Islam. The reverse of this coin bears the names ‘Izz al-din, Rukn al-din and ‘Ala al-din, one below the other. (Ref 3788, Vol II)

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Rum Saljuq presentation dinar, ‘Izz al-din Kaykawus II, without mint name, undated

The names of the Sultan Kaykawus II appear on the obverse and of the Abbasid Caliph al-Musta’sim on the reverse of this dinar. It is an unpublished piece that is unusual in that it lacks both mint name and date, which suggests that it was intended for presentation to members of the Sultan’s court. (Ref 3787, Vol II)

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Ottoman, gold presentation five ashrafi, Ahmad III bin Muhammad, Qustantaniyya 1115 H.

This piece is generally considered to be the most beautiful of all Ottoman coins. It places the Sultan’s tughra in what appears to be a garden, which, considering that the reign of Ahmad III was known as ‘the Tulip Period’, is entirely appropriate. These large presentation pieces were inspired by contemporary Venetian issues of similar size.

(Ref 3876, Vol II)

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Ottoman, gold five guineas/500 ghurush, ‘Abd al-‘Aziz bin Mahmud, gold five guineas, Misr 1277 H. regnal year 15 This magnificent five guinea/500 ghurush coin was struck in tiny numbers as gifts for the Khedive’s family and court.

(Ref 3895, Vol II)

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Samanid dinar, Nasr II bin Ahmad, Madinat Farwan 324 H.

While this coin is somewhat unattractive, it is of the highest rarity being struck in the name of the Samanid Nasr II bin Ahmad from the Afghan mint of Madinat Farwan in the year 324 h. While much of the Samanids’ gold may have originated in Afghanistan, most of it was converted into coins at the mint of Nishapur in eastern Khurasan.

(Ref 3973, Vol II)

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Samanid dinar, ‘Abd al-Malik II bin Nuh, Bukhara 343 H.

This coin, struck in the name of the Samanid ‘Abd al-Malik II bin Nuh, is interesting in that it comes from the rare gold mint of Bukhara, nominally the Samanid capital. It lacks the name of the current Abbasid caliph from its reverse legends. Shortly after it was struck the Samanids affirmed their loyalty to al-Ta‘i’ lillah. (Ref 3985, Vol II)

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Samanid dinar, Isma’il II bin Nuh, Naysabur 391 H.

The coinage of the last Samanid amir, Isma’il bin Nuh, is excessively rare, this being the first dinar recorded in his name. He and Mahmud of Ghazna played ‘musical chairs’ in Nishapur until Isma’il was done to death by his rival. A sad end to a proud dynasty.

(Ref 3998, Vol II)

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Buwayhid dinar, ‘Adud al-dawla, al-Basra 372 H.

‘Adud al-dawla became chief amir al-umara of the Buwayhid dynasty in 366 h.

In the following year, when he married the daughter of the Caliph al-Ta‘i’, he forced his father-in-law to give him an additional title, Taj al-Milla (‘Crown of the Community’).

This dinar places the Sultan’s names and titles on the obverse and that of al-Ta‘i’ on the reverse. (Ref 4011, Vol II)

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Buwayhid dinar, Sultan al-dawla abu-Shuja‘, Madinat al-Salam 404 H.

The later Buwayhids managed to attract more and more titles, so that their actual names were buried under verbage and their coins became very overcrowded. This one, a rather handsome piece, was struck in Madinat al-Salam (Baghdad) before mint production in this city underwent a steep decline. (Ref 4047, Vol II)

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Buwayhid dinar, al-Malik al-Rahim Khusrawfiruz, al-Ahwaz 445 H.

Khusrawfiruz was the last Buwayhid ruler known to have issued coins. The only gold mint known from his reign was al-Ahwaz in Khuzistan, one of the great trading cities of the period. These coins were probably struck to facilitate the export trade with India.

(Ref 4052, Vol II)

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Great Saljuq dinar, Malik Shah bin Muhammad/ Khutlugh Beg, Shiraz 434 H (sic) (974 H.)

The Great Saljuqs succeeded the Buwayhids as rulers of Iran and Iraq. This coin is a ‘throwback’ to the design of the first period Abbasid dinars, having only single marginal legends at a time when double ones were normally used. Shiraz was occasionally ruled by strong governors, such as Khutlugh Beg whose name appears on this coin. The date in the obverse marginal legend, 434 h, is erroneous, and the correct one would probably be 474 h. (Ref 4107, Vol II)

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Ilkhan dinar, Ghazan Mahmud, Shiraz 698 H.

Ilkhan post-reform coinage began around the year 698 h for gold. It became the custom for geometric, or other readily discernable patterns, to create distinctive coin types carrying information for even totally illiterate people. Ghazan Mahmud placed a pentafoil on his obverse and Uygur and Arabic legends on the reverse. Dates are found in both obverse and reverse margins. (Ref 4145, Vol II)

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Ilkhan dinar, Sati Beg Khatun, Hamadhan 739 H.

Sati Beg Khatun was one of the few female rulers in Islam. In the political chaos that followed the death of Abu Sa’id in 736 h, she was placed upon the throne after three rulers came and went. She lasted less than a year and left a few dinars, such as this, all of which are of the highest rarity. (Ref 4157, Vol II)