Madinat al-Salam Mint Abbasid Silver Coin Al-Mu'tadid Dirham 285 AH / 898 AD Good Very Fine or Better
Description: Silver nicely toned and almost very fine silver Dirham from Al-Mu'tadid, who ruled the Muslim empire in the period 279-289 AH (892 - 902 AD). Al-Mu'tadid is the caliph who ushered in the third period of the Abbasid rule and the decline of the dynasty. His full name being Abu al-Abbas Ahmed al-Mu'tadid Bellah. This is a dirham, weighs ~3.3 grams and is ~24 mm in diameter. The coin shows the date of minting as 285 AH and the mint as Madinat al-Salam or current day Bahgdad the capital of Iraq. The obverse of the coin has the words "Muhammad Rasul Allah" with the name "Al-Mu'tadid Bellah" below it all and the words "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 an inside circle with the an additional legend along the edge. The reverse also has the words "La Illaha ell Allah, Wahduh la Sharik Lah" in the center. Please note the coin is darkly toned but is much 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: 285 AH or 898 AD.
Mint: Madinat al-Salam or current day Baghdad the capital of Iraq.
Size and Weight: This is a dirham weighs 3.3 grams and is ~24 mm in diameter.
References: It is Album #242, it is listed in Al'Ush Catalog of Islamic coins preserved in the national museum of Qatar as#2093, and is Wilkes 422.
Condition: For international buyers, please note that the new US postal rates for overseas shipping are very high and we are unable to change them. Additional charges will be incurred depending on the value of the item. Please check the cost of shipping before bidding. I would grade this coin as a good fine or better. The coin has very readable calligraphy and is nice looking. The coin shows some wear to the inscription, but it is still very well defined. The coin has dark toning and quite a bit of soiling embedded into the calligraphy. The coin has a few scratches and some bag marks. Be that as it may the coin is very nice and 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. 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 lead the revolt against the Umayyad establishment 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-Mu'tadid is the first caliph in the third period of the Abbasid caliphate and is the caliph who ushered the decline of the dynasty.
