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 Replies: 18 / Views: 3,241 |
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Pillar of the Community
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5155 Posts |
I really thought I would be doing the numismatic community a disservice by not picking up one of these coins. While I am not an avid collector of Early Islamic coins I am an avid collector of coins.  I saw this lonely dirhem of Harun Al-Rashid looking rather minty right after reading VK post. I blame him for taking advantage in my time of weakness and showing something historic, interesting and awesome when I have the 'bay window open. This coin comes only partially attributed and to Abbasid Caliph Harun Rashid with the mint of Baghdad. I know a little bit out the history and literature behind the ruler and a quick "google" could fill in the blanks. I must admit when someone says Abbasid Caliph, its Al-Rashid that comes to mind. He ruled the Caliphate from Baghdad, Iraq (Medinat-al-Salam.) He gave Charlemagne a clock that apparently played tricks every hour. He ruled at the height of the Caliphate, under his leadership great strides were made in the arts and sciences. Al-Rashid is made famous in literature, it is thought that this is the same man whose court in luxury are the setting for the take 1000 and 1 nights. I believe I have the attribution correct...any corrections would be encouraged and appreciated... Abbasid Caliphate Medinat al-Salam.(Baghdad, Iraq) Harun Al-Rashid (763-809 AD) AR Dirham 22 mm x 2.96 grams Struck AH 193 (809 AD) Obverse: "There is no God except Allah alone. He has no partner" in the central field, "In the name of Allah this dirhem was struck at Medinat al-Salam in the year one hundred ninety three" in the margins Reverse: "Allah is one, Allah is eternal. He begets not neither is he begotten" in the central field, "Mohamed is the profet if Allah whom he sent with guidance and the religion of truth that he may make it victorious over every other religion. Minted in 193 AH = 809 AD. Ref: Lavoix 843.  Edited by Ancientnoob
10/23/2014 3:41 pm
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
435 Posts |
I got myself one of these a while back, for the same reasons. Time to listen to some Rimsky Korsakov methinks!
Edited by Valecrucis
10/23/2014 4:10 pm
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Always good to venture into new fields. Nice coin. The one I got I bought unidentified and was very pleased to find out that it was Harun al-Rashid. Mine is a little earlier and is a slightly different type (citing 'Al Amin'), it's Mitchiner#174var so yours should be close by - get your magnifying glass out to decipher the date and mint  |
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Pillar of the Community
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Correct me if I'm wrong, the date reads 193? 809AD.
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
I'll have a try at deciphering it later, when I'm back home.
The date section will look like '*** 9 *** 9 ***' = 100 & tenth & ones (for the numbers one has to switch to 'left to right' reading).
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Moderator
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23731 Posts |
Very nice coin Nate, Added another to my list of ones I have to get.
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Pillar of the Community
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4778 Posts |
Quote:
I blame him for taking advantage in my time of weakness and showing something historic, interesting and awesome when I have the 'bay window open. Good, good... let the overbuying flow through you  Definitely impressed by it. I would certainly welcome something like that into my little Islamic collection. Any chance you might want to divulge what you spent on this silvery gem? Unfortunately I don't have a coin of Charlemagne to complement your Al-Rashid, but I do have a coins of Charlemagne's son Louis, who had a similar friendly relationship with Al-Rashid's son, Al-Mamun, when both ruled their respective domains.  |
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
I am a little rusty, haven't deciphered Islamic coins for some time - you have no right to kill me if I got it wrong  See 'jcmworld's comment: Seems I got it wrong, couldn't make it out on the obverse. Need to reboot my brain. Edited by Medieval
10/24/2014 01:58 am
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Pillar of the Community
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5155 Posts |
At this point I feel good we came to see the same date. Thanks bro for breakdown. Very appreciated.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Gorgeous coin VK. I lo e it and want it. OH and $35.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
435 Posts |
I feel utterly frustrated. Despite making constant back and forth comparisons between that Arabic number chart and your coin, I am unable to draw the parallel. For one thing I am thrown by the long horizontal lines, but even putting those aside I cannot see it. I have a coin which is (apparently) 188AH and I am having precisely the same problem. 😤😤😤
Edited by Valecrucis
10/23/2014 11:05 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
567 Posts |
Nate, your obverse is on the right. I see Madinat al Salaam, 193.
Islamic H (haw) below reverse.
A-219.9, SICA 1703.
What's in that marked up in that picture above is incorrect. The mint/date formula is not on the reverse.
Obv: "bism'Allah (dinar/dirham/fals) durib'a (mint name) sana (year- 1's, 10's, 100's separated by the word "b")". - "By the grace of God this dirham was created at Madinat al Salaam in the year three and ninety and one hundred."
193 is written as "three and ninety and one hundred" in words.
Kalima in center.
A hoard of about 30,000 appeared in the 80's. I have one, too, different dies though.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
435 Posts |
Jcmworld...first....thank you for relieving me of my fool's errand in trying to compare the Arabic number chart to the wrong section of Ancientnoob's coin. Just ignore the following if it is a bit of an imposition, but it would help me a great deal if you were able to do a similar image to the misleading one, but now with the date correctly highlighted. I am still struggling. If not, perhaps you could just tell me at what 'O' clock it appears on the coin?
Edited by Valecrucis
10/24/2014 09:37 am
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Pillar of the Community
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567 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
WOW. JCM great work! Awesome graphic. I am glad you were able to school us a little. This turned out to be an interesting and very educational thread thanks to everyone's contributions.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
435 Posts |
JCM I cannot thank you enough. That is exactly what I needed to help me get things clear. Thank you! '''
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Replies: 18 / Views: 3,241 |
Posted 10/23/2014 4:28 pm
