Al-Andalus (1145-46) qirat
The first specimen was lot 1778 in Steve Album Auction 54 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2026), where it sold for $168. The catalog description[1] noted, "ALMORAVID: Ishaq b. 'Ali, 1145-1146, AR qirat, Qurtuba (Córdoba), ND, elegant naskhi script, with mint name Qurtuba, VF-XF, RR." The second specimen was lot 1319 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 39 (Winter Park, FL, May 2026), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description[2] noted,
"SPAIN (Al-Andalus), Almoravids, AR quirate, Ishaq ibn 'Ali, 540-541 AH, rare, NGC AU 55, "top pop," ex-Tonegawa. Bold strike with choice toning, tied with one other for finest in the NGC census.
Obverse IA: لا اله الا الله محمد رسول الله lā ilāha illā / Allāh / Muḥammad rasūl Allāh There is no god but God. Muhammad is the Messenger of God.
Reverse IIA: المسلمين امي ناصر الدين اسحاق بن علي al-muslimīn / amīr / Nāṣir al-Dīn / Isḥāq ibn ʿAlī Commander of the Muslims / Defender of the Faith / Ishaq ibn ‘Ali
The Almoravid empire controlled from its origins the trans-Saharan gold routes, largely channeled through the commercial center of Sijilmasa, which enabled the abundant striking of gold dinars.
The situation with silver was very different. Silver issues appear in the form of qirates of roughly one gram and in even smaller fractions, sometimes reaching divisions as small as 1/16 with weights below 0.06 grams. This extremely small module was not arbitrary but rather the result of the scarcity of silver during the Almoravid period. Despite these material constraints, engravers succeeded in adapting the epigraphic design to an exceptionally reduced surface, producing compositions of remarkable precision and elegance.
The qirate presented here is an excellent example of these emissions and stands out particularly for the quality of its strike and the refinement of its calligraphy, revealing the hand of a highly skilled engraver capable of resolving the epigraphic composition with balance and clarity within such a minute field. NGC #8437663-005. Pedigreed to the Tonegawa Collection (stated on label), Auction III (Aureo & Calicó 453, June 2025, lot 449)."
Ishaq ibn 'Ali was the last amir of the Almoravids and spent most of his brief reign fleeing Almohad attacks. He was killed in the fall of Marrakesh. Even so, he had time to have gold dinars struck in Marrakesh, Seville, Granada and Cordoba and this silver qirat.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, the first specimen 0.96 g, the second specimen is 0.92 gram.
Catalog reference: Cayón-664, A-475A, H-1052. The second specimen is Vives-1896; Hazard-1041; FBM-E2; Eustache-576.
- Album, Stephen, Checklist of Islamic Coins, 3rd Ed. Santa Rosa, Stephen Album Rare Coins, 2011.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, 2 volumes, Madrid: Cayón-Jano S.L., 2005.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 54, featuring selections from the Kenneth A. Bovenkamp Collection of Ottoman Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
- [2]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Auction 39, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Jorge Ugaz Collection of Lima Silver Cob 2 Reales and the Darby Collection of Guatemala Silver Cobs, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2026.
Link to:
- al-Andalus AH 537 dinar, Ali Bin Yusuf, Seville mint
- al-Andalus (1163-84) 1/2 dinar, Abu Ya'qub Yusuf
- Coins and currency dated 1145