Madinat Al-Salam Islamic Coin Abbasid Silver Dirham Al-Amin Obverse Rabbi Allah
Description: Silver Dirham from the times of Al-Amin the son of Harun al-Rashid, the king associated with 1001 Arabian nights. Al-Amin was the official Abbasid Caliph of the Muslim empire in the period 193-198 AH (809 - 813 AD). Al-Amin is the sixth caliph of the Abbasid dynasty. His full name being Abu Musa Mohammed al-Amin. This is a dirham, weighs 2.9 grams and is 22 mm in diameter. The coin shows the date of minting as 194 AH and the city of minting as Madinat al-Salam or current day Baghdad the current capital of Iraq. The obverse has the central legend "Rabbi Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah" with the legend "Muhammad Rasul Allah, arsaluh bil huda wa din al haq liazharuh 'al al din kulh walaw karah al mushrikon" surrounding it along the edge. The reverse has the central legend "La Ellah Ela Allah; Wahduh La Sharik Lahu" in the center with the date and mint name surrounding it along the edge. Please note the coin is much better than the scan 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: 194 AH or 810 AD.
Mint: Madinat al-Salam or current day Baghdad the current capital of Iraq.
Size and weight: This is a dirham weighs ~2.9 grams and is ~22 mm in diameter.
References: It is Album #221.1 and is listed in Al'Ush Catalog of Islamic coins preserved in the national museum of Qatar as #1787.
Condition: I would grade this coin as a good very fine or much better. The coin has very readable calligraphy and has nice eye appeal. The coin is clean and bright with minor bag marks and surface scratches. A quality coin, which would make a great addition to your collection. Please note the coin itself is much better than the scan shows with very well defined and legible calligraphy. Please 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-Saffah 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). Al-Ma'mun took over the throne after killing his brother al-Amin, who succeeded his father in 193AH (809 AD).
