al-Muhammadiya Mint Abbasid Silver Coin Al-Mansur Dirham 158 AH / 775 AD Nice Very Fine
Description: Silver Dirham from Al-Mansur, who ruled the Muslim empire in the period 136-158 AH (754 - 775 AD). Al-Mansur is the second caliph of the Abbasid dynasty. His full name being Abu Jafar Abdul Allah al-Mansur. This is a dirham, weighs 2.8 grams and is 24 mm in diameter. The coin shows the date of minting as 158 AH and the mint as al-Muhammadiya. The obverse of the coin has the words "Muhammad Rasul Allah" with the letter " WAW " below it in the center and the verse "Muhammad Rasul Allah, arsaluh bil huda wa din al haq liazharuh 'al al din kulh walaw karah al mushrikon" along the edge. The reverse shows the name of the mint and the date in a circle along the edge. It also has the words "La Illaha ell Allah, Wahduh la Sharik Lah" in the center. Please note the coin is better than the photos suggest with very well defined and legible calligraphy. A definite quality coin. Please carefully review the images presented as they part and parcel of our description.
Date: 158 AH or 775 AD.
Mint: al-Mohammadiya.
Size and Weight: This is a dirham weighs 2.8 grams and is ~24 mm in diameter.
References: It is Album #213.1 but is not listed in Al'Ush Catalog of Islamic coins preserved in the national museum of Qatar and not listed in Lane Poole's Catalogue of Islamic Coins Preserved in the Khedivial Collection in Cairo, Egypt.
Condition: I would grade this coin as a very fine. The coin has very readable calligraphy with some minor double striking that is obvious along the edge of the obverse. The coin has light toning, shows some wear, has a few nicks in the field which can be seen in the photos, has no appreciable losses, and has a few scratches. Be that as it may the coin is very fine and would make a great addition to your collection. Please note the coin itself is much better than the photos shows with very well defined and legible calligraphy. A definite quality coin.
Historic Perspective: Abbasid is an Arabic ruling dynasty, originally based in Madinat al-Salam (current day Baghdad) that expanded the Muslim empire and lasted from 750 Ad to 1258 AD. It was named for al-Abbas (566?-652), paternal uncle of the prophet Muhammad. ). Al-Safah leaded the revolt against the Umayyad established and became the first Abbasid Caliph upon the overthrow of the Umayyad caliph in 132 AH / 749 AD. During the first century of the Abbasid rule the empire experienced a time of unprecedented cultural, artistic and economic development, particularly during the reigns of Harun al-Rashid (786-809) and his son al-Ma’mun (813-833).
