Yemen-Abbasid No Date (813-833 AD) 1 dirham
The Abbasid dynasty was the third Islamic caliphate, founded in 750 AD. They overthrew the Ayyubid dynasty and built their capital in Baghdad. Their power extended over some 150 years, gradually losing influence, and were expelled by the Mongols from Baghdad in 1258 AD.
The specimen shown was lot 264 in Steve Album sale 16 (Santa Rosa, CA, May 2013), where it sold for US$200.60. The catalog description reads[1]:
"ABBASID OF YEMEN: al-Ma'mun, 813-833, AR local dirham, NM, ND, without the caliph's name, citing the governor Ahmad below the reverse field, with Qur'an verse 30:3-4 in obverse margin, 9:33 in reverse margin, thus the opposite of the normal location, some porosity, crude VF, RRR. Ahmad is known from gold dinars of San'a dated AH213. The calligraphy on this piece is identical to that of a gold dinar of San'a 214 that bears the name of the caliph (Zeno-97534) but without citing any governor."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.01g, silver.
Catalog reference: A-1050.
- Album, Stephen. Checklist of Islamic Coins. Santa Rosa, 1998. Stephen Album.
- [1]Album, Stephen. Stephen Album Rare Coins - Auction 16. Santa Rosa, 2013. Stephen Album Rare Coins.
- Mitchiner, Michael. Oriental Coins and their Values - The World of Islam. London, 2000. Hawkins Publications.
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