808 Islamic Coin Abbasid Silver Dirham Madinat al-Salam Harun Al-Rashid 192 AH
Description: Silver Dirham from the time of Harun al-Rashid the Caliph mentioned in the famous Arabian nights stories (1001 nights). Harun al-Rashid ruled the Muslim empire in the period 170-193 AH (786 - 809 AD). Al-Rashid is the fifth caliph of the Abbasid dynasty. His full name being Abu Jafar Harun al-Mahdi. This is a dirham weighs ~2.9 grams and is ~21.5 mm in diameter. The coin shows the date of minting as 192 AH and mint name as Madinat al-Salam or current day Baghdad the capital of current day Iraq. The coin is anonymous for the ruler. The obverse of the coin has the words “Muhammad Rasul Allah" in the center with the legend Muhammad Rasul Allah, arsaluh bil huda wa din al haq liazharuh 'al al din kulh" along the edge and the letter "heh" below it. The reverse has the words“La Illaha ella Allah, Wahduh la Sharik Lah” in the center with the legend “Bi Issm Allah Duriba haza al-dinar bi Madinat al-Salam sanat ethnain wa tisein wa ma'a” along the edge. The coin is extremely fine with some residual luster and has great eye appeal. A definite quality coin. Please carefully review the images presented as they part and parcel of our description.
Date: 192 AH or 808 AD.
Mint: Madinat al-Salam or current day Baghdad the capital of current day Iraq.
Size and weight: This is a dirham weighs ~2.9 grams and is ~21.5 mm in diameter.
References: It is Album #219.2, it is listed in Al'Ush Catalog of Islamic coins preserved in the national museum of Qatar as#1753 and it is Wilkes 384.
Condition: I would grade this coin as choice extremely fine with well centered strike and very readable calligraphy. The coin is nice, has great eye appeal and shows minor wear to the high points. The coin is clean with nice clear fields having minimum surface marks such as scratches and bag marks. A great looking coin, which would make a great addition to your collection. Please note the coin itself is much better than the photos show with very well defined and legible calligraphy. A definite quality coin. Please see photos for additional condition information.
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).
