Cordoba AH 388 dirham
This specimen was lot 1310 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 39 (Winter Park, FL, May 2026), where it sold for $540. The catalog description[1] noted,
"SPAIN (Al-Andalus), Umayyads, Caliphate of Córdoba, AR dirham, Hisham II, 388 AH (998 AD), mint of al Andalus الأندلس, NGC AU 58 Star. Beautiful, deep, rich toning, very bold struck with fully readable inscriptions.
- Obverse (IA) Central inscription:
لا اله الا الله وحده لا شرك له محمد There is no God but God alone He has no partner Muhammad Marginal inscription: بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بالاندلس سنة ثمانية وثمانين وثلاثمائه bism Allāh duriba hādā l-dirham bi-l-Andalus sana thamaniya wa thamanun wa thalatha mia In the name of God. This dirham was struck in al Andalus in the year three hundred and eighty eight.
- Reverse (IIA) Central inscription:
الامام هشام امير المؤمنين المؤيد بالله عامر The Imam Hisham Commander of the Faithful al Mu’ayyad bi Allah Amir Marginal inscription: محمد رسول الله ارسله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله ولو كره المشركون Muhammad rasul Allāh arsula bil-hudá wa dīn al-haqq liyužhirahu `alá ad-dīn kullih wa law kariha al-mushrikūn
Muhammad is the Messenger of God. He sent him with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all religions, even though the polytheists may oppose it. NGC #8437663-015. Pedigreed to Aureo & Calicó auction 447, March 2025, lot 1051."
An Arab army invaded Visigothic Spain in 711 AD and, finding little resistance, quickly conquered the whole peninsula except the northernmost mountains. Their attempts to also take France were defeated at the battle of Toulouse in 721 AD and again at the battle of Poitiers in 732. The Umayyad caliphate in Syria collapsed in 750 AD and a refugee prince, Abd al-Rahman, arrived in Spain in 755 AD and soon established himself as overlord of Spain. This dirham was struck for Hisham II (976-1013), third caliph of Cordoba. Ascending the throne at the age of ten, Hisham was never more than a figurehead and was overthrown more than once.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 3.11 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-492, Vives-538; Frochoso-47.
- 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]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.
Links to:
- Cordoba AH 337 dirhem, Abd al-Rahman III al-Nasir, Madinat al-Zahra mint
- Seville AH 467 dinar, Muhammad ibn ‘Abbad al Mu‘tamid
- Coins and currency dated 998