Umayyad Silver Dirham al-Walid ibn Abdel Malik 95 AH 714 AD Wasit Mint Very Fine
Description: A beautiful good very fine or much better Umayyad silver dirham struck in 95 AH (714 AD) during the reign of the Caliph al-Walid son of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. Al-Walid I, ruled the Islamic world in the period 86-96 AH (705-715 AD). Al-Walid's father Abd al-Malik is the Umayyad Caliph responsible for the reformed coinage in the Islamic world. This beautiful coin clearly shows the mint location being Wasit and the year of minting being 95 AH. The coin has a lovely well-centered strike, a very pleasing appearance, and is much better than the photos suggest. It does have some soiling which can be seen in the photos. Please carefully review the photos presented as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: Struck 95 AH or 714 AD.
Mint: The coin clearly shows mint location being Wasit.
Size and weight: This is a silver dirham, weighs ~2.2 grams and is ~24 mm in diameter.
References: It is Album 128, it is Wilkes #297, and is listed in Lane Poole Catalogue of the Collection of Arabic Coins Preserved in the Khedivial Library in Cairo Egypt as 188-190.
Condition: I would grade this coin as a good very fine or much better with a nice and well centered strike having beautiful Calligraphy. The coin is lightly toned and has soil staining especially on the obverse. It has honest wear commensurate with its circulated state and age with very readable and clear calligraphy. The coin is much better than the photos suggest with great eye appeal. The coin also has some minor surface scratches and minor bag marks. It is problem free, great looking, and is much better than the photos show. Definitely a nice quality and beautiful coin. Please see photo for additional condition information.
Historic Perspective: The Muslim Arabs used existing gold and silver coinage in lands they conquered. At that time the nascent Islamic nation did not have a monetary system and did not strike neither gold nor silver coins, instead the conquering Arabs used the Byzantine monetary system already existing in Egypt for most of the gold coins and the Sassanian monetary system already existing in Iran for most silver coins with minor modifications. In 77 AH (699 AD) Abd al-Malik Ibn Marwan the Umayyad caliph instituted a monetary system and began striking the first Islamic coins including the gold Dinar and silver dirham. The dinar weighed 4.25 grams, or one mithqal, of the highest purity gold possible. The dirham weighed about 2.85 of the purest possible silver composition, which would maintain a solid coin. At the time the center of power and the main gold coin mint was located in Dimishq (current day Damascus in Syria), while silver coins were minted throughout the Muslim empire.
