| Author |
 Replies: 14 / Views: 3,203 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Been trying to get into early Islamic but that was mostly on the backburner until recently (I only have one right now). I was originally into just Umayyad-era issues but became interested in its successor dynasty the Abbasids after learning about them and their history in my Islamic History class. I couldn't help but get excited when I found coins of caliphs I now recognized! I wanted a coin from this era that was problem-free and affordable (don't we all?), and I settled on this silver dirham of Caliph Al-Mansur of the Abbasid Caliphate. Quote:
Al-Mansur or Abu Ja'far Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mansur (95 AH - " 158 AH (714 AD - " 775 AD); Arabic: أبو جعفر عبدالله بن .ح.د ال.نصور) was the second Abbasid Caliph from 136 AH to 158 AH (754 AD - " 775 AD). He is generally regarded as the real founder of the Abbasid Caliphate. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Mansur (it's not a long read fortunately, if you want to learn more)  The (hopefully correct) attribution, based on what I found for this type on Forvm: Al-Mansur, Abbasid Caliphate AR Dirham Obv: Kufic legend: There is no deity except God alone He has no equal (in center); In the name of God. This dirham was struck in Madinat al-Salaam year 155 (of the Islamic era) (in margin); Rev: Kufic legends: Muhammad the Messenger of God (in center); Muhammad is the messenger of God. He sent him with guidance and the true religion to reveal it to all religions even if the polytheists abhor it (in margins) Mint: Madinat al-Salam (struck 771-772 AD) Ref: Album 213 Size: 25 mm wide Al-Mansur was the caliph that founded Baghdad, which was originally named Madinat al-Salam, meaning the "city of peace". It was constructed as a great round city next to the Tigris River, and it became the capital of the Abbasids and the most important city of the entire caliphate, and quickly becoming the most populous city in the world at the time. al-Khilāfah al-‘Abbāsīyyah, circa mid 8th-9th centuries:  (source: zonu.com) (More on the Abbasid Caliphate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid_Caliphate)Edited by VisigothKing
10/16/2014 1:16 pm
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Yes Sir! Love it. There just oodles of history on this piece.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Nice clear coin. They are fun to identify  On the few I have the 2x2 is full of scribbles to help read the coin. I have one from year "157" of the same mint. If you want to confirm your attribution, I have used Mitchiner and the number for my coin is #145. If you have (access to) Mitchiner, yours should be close by. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
thats a very attractive coins VK, the script is cool on those. I do want one, but it will have to be a target of opportunity...i'll just have to chance into a deal that's to good for me to refuse.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
5029 Posts |
VisigothKing that is a wonderful attribution.
|
|
Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Excellent coin VK, I've also been moving towards this same area.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Here mine from the same ruler and mint, but just another year for comparison:   And this is what I do to the reverse of the 2x2:  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
4778 Posts |
Thanks for the compliments guys! Very nice coin Medieval, although if the coin arrives with no info attached I don't think I'll be writing all that Arabic!  If any more people have Islamic coins from this era please feel free to post them. Here's my only other early islamic: Anonymous, Umayyad CaliphateAE Fals Obv: The Kalima, in 3-line script, within three circles Rev: In Arabic script: "Muhammad rasul Allah" Mint: Tabariya/Tiberias (struck 749 AD) Ref: Album 188 Size:21 mm, 4.05 gr  Edited by VisigothKing
10/16/2014 1:16 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Nice Job VK! I just bought one. ('cause of you.)
I got one of those minty looking Harun Al-Rashid Bagdad mint coins. Contemporary with Charlemagne.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Quote:
I just bought one. ('cause of you.) Awww I don't think I've ever gotten that before. I'm touched lol  (although if you happen to get in trouble for spending money on it, well... I don't know you lol) Can't wait to see it! I think I might have considered a Harun Al-Rashid coin in my browsing, before I settled on my coin of Al-Mansur |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
So if I'm trying to read the Arabic in the margins, would I read it counterclockwise from the top (since Arabic is right to left)? Or how exactly would that work?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
You know that's a good question my other Arabic coin is linear so I am not sure how to approach that. With that being said here my one good Arabic Coin. Billah yathiqu Isa' wa bihi yantasir Illah Muhammed rasul Allah al Amir Isa, which means: In God trusts Jesus and through him Victorious In God Mohamed is the messenger of Allah, Jesus "The coins of the Indian Sultanates"#AS24; Rajgor -. Very rare, the rarest of all Sindi silver qanhari dirhams according to "the coins of the Indian Sultanates". "Isa" is the arabic form of the name "Jesus". Sind was the first part of India to come under muslim rule. The earliest Amirs issued small silver coins (1/4 dirhams) - all carrying the name of the Amir, but without any dates, so they are very difficult to date exactly, especially since the Amirs of Sind are virtually unknown from other sources. These coins are generally not rare, but are difficult to find in high quality, like this coin.  Edited by Ancientnoob
10/16/2014 3:10 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Nice and interesting coin Anoob!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Quote:
... I don't think I'll be writing all that Arabic!
If any more people have Islamic coins from this era please feel free to post them.
Why not? I do that with many coins when I can not readily read the inscriptions. The only other coins from that period with Arabic script I have are a handful of reformed Omayyad (Umayyad if you prefer) coins, let me post two:   Fals from AH117 or AH119 (last part of date wording is missing) - cf.Mitchiner#72   Fals from the Tabariya mint - Mitchiner#91 Postscript to: Quote:
would I read it counterclockwise from the top Counterclockwise - Yes (*) From the top - you have to find the start, not necessarily at the top (*) Not aware of any coins which have the inscription the other way, but there might be some - once you are used to arabic and similar script you will recognise which is the right way up. Edited by Medieval
10/16/2014 11:07 pm
|
| |
Replies: 14 / Views: 3,203 |
|
Posted 10/15/2014 7:50 pm
