ISLAMIC - Lots 280-388
UMAYYADS - Lots 280-323
280 In the time of al-Walid AH 86-96/705-715 AD. GOLD Dinar, NM AH 94. A -127. Choice EF 325.
281 AR Dirham, Arminiya AH 95. Scarce. Toned. Nice full flan EF 100.
282 AR Dirham, Arminiya AH 96. Scarce. Irridescent toning EF 100.
283 AR Dirham, Bihqubadh al-Asfal AH 90. Cf. Walker (Arab-Sass) Page cix, note 2. Extremely Rare. Slight
crimping EF 6,000.
When Walker wrote his landmark Catalogue of the Arab-Byzantine and Post-reform Umayyad Coins, only 4 specimens were known of this coin: one in the E.T. Rogers Collection, one in the Bibliotheque Nationale, one in the Khedivial Collection, and one in his own. Since then, some others have come to light, but the coin is still extremely rare and a great prize for the advanced Umayyad collector.
284 AR Dirham, al-Basra AH 79. First year of issue of post-reform Dirhams at al-Basra. Light scratch in obv. Field EF 75.
285 AR Dirhams (2), al-Taymara AH 92 and 96. Scarce. First About VF / Choice F, the latter deep toned EF with some clipping in outer margin (2) 75.
Extremely Rare and Important Dirham of al-Jazira AH 95
286 AR Dirham, al-Jazira AH 95. Listed in Shams-Eshragh's tables, but apparently otherwise unrecorded. Extremely
Rare. Small diebreak in obverse field. Light clipping and light dirt Almost EF 6,000.
287 AR Dirham, Jayy AH 90. Tiny pellet in central legend above wow of waheda. Scarce. Some clipping Choice
288 AR Dirham, Jayy AH 94. Squarish obverse marginal legend, tight at bottom, so close to central legend. Very Scarce. Tiny press on rim. Trivial staining on reverse Choice, About as Struck 100.
289 Lot of two AR Dirhams. Junday Sabur AH 90 and 91. Scarce (2) Both EF 100.
290 AR Dirham, Dastawa AH 94. Scarce. Clipped outer margin F / About VF 65.
291 Lot of two AR Dirhams, al-Rayy AH 91 and 94. Scarce. First has graffito in obverse field. The latter toned
(2) About EF and EF 100.
292 AR Dirham, Sijistan AH 92. RARE. Residue on reverse (probably removable). Light clipping. Toned About EF 200.
293 AR Dirham, Sarakhs AH 93. RARE EF 300.
Sarakhs, in Khurasan, lies between Marv and Nishapur.
294 AR Dirham, Maysan AH 96. Walker 510, Qatar 941. Very Rare. Trivial crimping, generally nice full flan. Lightly toned Choice VF 2,000.
Maysan was the chief town of a sub-district near al-Basra in lower Iraq.
295 Lot of two AR Dirhams. Manadhir AH 91 and 95. Scarce (2) VF and About EF 90.
296 AR Dirham, Herat AH 90. Scarce. Light dirt in reverse margin. Toned EF 125.
297 AR Dirham, Herat AH 95. Scarce EF 125.
298 AR Dirham, Hamadhan AH 91. Scarce. Clipping in outer margin EF 75.
299 In the time of Sulayman, AH 96-99/715-717 AD. AR Dirham, Arminiya AH 97. Scarce. Toned EF 100.
300 AR Dirham, Arminiya AH 99. Chipping in outer margin About EF 70.
301 AR Dirham, Bahrusir AH 97. Walker, page 296, Shams-Eshragh 718. Extremely Rare. Lightly toned EF 7,500.
AH 97 was the only recorded year of activity at this RRR mint. The example offered here is far superior to one offered in Sotheby's May auction. Another great prize for the most advanced Umayyad collector.
302 AR Dirham, Jayy AH 97. Scarce. Slight clipping Choice EF 75.
303 AR Dirham, Herat AH 99. Pellet below lam alif in third line of obverse central legend, wa joining 9 and 90 is idio- syncratic, resembling Greek q. Walker 518. Very Rare. Light dirt. Toned VF 2,000.
This is the last recorded year for the striking of Umayyad Dirhams at this mint.
304 In the time of 'Umar the Pious, AH 99-101/717-720 AD. AR Dirham, Arminiya AH 100. Scarce. Toned
305 AR Dirham, al-Kufa AH 101. Scarce. Crimped outer edge EF 60.
306 In the time of Yazid II, AH 101-105/720-724 AD. AR Dirham, al-Kufa AH 102. Scarce. A few light scratches in
fields. Nice broad flan. Toned EF 100.
307 In the time of Hisham, AH 105-125/724-743 AD. AR Dirham, al-Andalus, AH 111. With extra circle around obverse
field. Not mentioned in Walker. Extremely Rare. Slight clipping and slight weakness of strike in outer margin.
Attractive style Almost EF 1,000.
308 AR Dirham, al-Bab AH 120. Four annulets with open pellets in obverse margin. Rare. Light dirt in reverse margin. Attractively toned EF 250.
Al-Bab was the old name for the Caucasian city of Derbent.
309 AR Dirham, Balkh AH 115. With Bakh repeated three times in obverse margin between triangles of three pellets.
Walker 307, Qatar 716. Rare. Slight crimping and scratches in reverse field VF 250.
310 AR Dirham, Dimashq AH 110. Rare. Light crease. Nicely toned with amber hues EF 250.
311 AR Dirham. al-Mubaraka AH 108. Triplet of three pellets above the third line of the central obverse legend. Rare. Toned Almost EF 250.
Striking only during the years AH 107-110 and 116-120, al-Mubaraka was the epithetical name for Balkh.
312 AR Dirham, al-Mubaraka AH 109. Tiny pellet above waheda. Rare EF 250.
313 Lot of four AR Dirhams of al-Basra. AH 81, 100, 101, 128. Some with light dirt. One with light crease
(4) Average VF to EF 75.
314 Lot of five AR Dirhams of Darabjird. AH 91, 92, 94, 95, 96 (5) Average VF to EF 100.
315 Lot of 10 AR Dirhams of Dimashq. AH 80, 82, 83, 86, 87, 88, 90, 91, 94, 95. Some with light dirt, mostly nice flans (10) Generally VF+ to EF 150.
316 Lot of seven AR Dirhams of Dimashq. AH 87, 98, 99, 100, 104, 105, 113. Nice calligraphy and interesting evolution of usage of diacritical points. Attractively toned(7) Average EF 120.
Dirhams of Dimashq are noted for their interesting calligraphy. Another aspect, though, is not often noticed. Although diacritical points are generally not used in Kufic writing, especially on coinage, Dimashq Dirhams (and some other larger mints) often show some diacritical points. In this lot, the "b" of "zuriba" has a diacritical point below on all the coins, save AH 113. While the piece from AH 87 also has a diacritical point below the "b" of "bi -Dimashq."
317 Lot of three AR Dirhams of Nahr Tira. AH 90, 94, 95. Scarce. Light crimping (3) Average About VF to VF 75.
318 Lot of ten AR Dirhams of Wasit. AH 85-94. One of each date. Some with light dirt (10) Generally Choice VF to
Choice EF, and nice flans 150.
319 Lot of twelve AR Dirhams of Wasit. AH 95-99, 104-110. One of each date. Some with light dirt (12) Generally Choice VF to EF and nice flans 175.
320 Lot of twenty-two AR Dirhams of Wasit. AH 111-119, 120 (five annulets), 120 (three annulets), 121-125, 126 (five annulets, al-Walid II), 126 (seven annulets, Ibrahim), 127, 128, 130, 131. Two with scratches. Some with light dirt (22) Generally VF to EF, and mostly nice flans 250.
The annulet varieties represent changes in Governor. For the turbulent year AH 126, the number of annulets on the Dirham is the only means of determining which of the three rulers in that year the piece can be assigned.
321 Lot of seven AR Dirhams. Ardashir Khurra AH 98; Istakhr AH 93; al-Basra AH 80; Kirman AH 91; Sabur AH 91;
Suq al-Ahwaz AH 90; Mahi AH 92 (7) About VF to About EF 125.
322 Lot of seven AR Dirhams. Istakhr AH 94; Kirman AH 97, 101; Sabur AH 97; Surraq AH 90 (test cut from edge to field); Suq al-Ahwaz AH 94, 96. A few with light dirt (7) About VF to About EF 125.
323 Lot of six AR Dirhams. Istakhr AH 97; Kirman AH 95 (three test slashes); Sabur AH 96, 98 (one with diacritical
point below b of bi-); Marv AH 93, 99 with two pellets below (heavy chipping) (6) Average About VF to Choice VF 80.
ABBASIDS - Lots 324-336
324 al-Saffah, AH 132-136/749-754 AD. AR Dirham, Ramhormuz AH 135. Three sets of three large pellets in triple
braid outer circle/ inner triple braid circle. EXTREMELY RARE and apparently unpublished. Light dirt Choice EF 750.
Tiesenhausen and, much more recently, Album record AH 134 as the only year Abbasid Dirhams were struck at Ramhormuz (in the Province of Khuzistan
325 al-Mansur, AH 136-158/754-775 AD. AE Fals, (Bukhara) AH 151. Fancy openwork design reverse center. Citing
al-Mahdi as heir. A 320. RARE. Edge clip Good F 75.
326 al-Mahdi, AH 158-169/775-785 AD. AR Dirham, Adharbayjan AH 168. Citing Nasir? RARE. Thin obverse test
slash VF 130.
327 AR Dirham, Kirman AH 166. Arabic del above reverse field. Scarce. Toned About VF 45.
328 Harun al-Rashid, AH 170-193/786-809 AD. GOLD Dinar, NM AH 171. Egyptian issue citing the Governor Musa.
A 218.7. Rare EF 300.
329 AR Dirham, al-Rayy AH 179. With fi wilayat Muhammad bin Yahya in obverse marginal inscription. Citing Ja`far.
RARE. Test slash from obverse edge to top line of central legend
330 al-Amin, AH 193-198/809-813 AD. AR Dirham, Ma`dan Bajunays AH 195. Citing `Ubayd. Muhammad al-Amin
named as khalifa and Amir al-muminin. A 221.3. RARE Armenian mint. Some residue in margin (likely removable) EF 125.
331 al-Ma'mun, AH 194-218/810-833 AD. AR Dirham, Madinat Isbahan AH 199. Citing Dhu`Riyasatayn, Arabic letter
ayn below. Six large annulets. A 223.4. Test slash at reverse edge EF 35.
332 AR Dirham, Madinat Isbahan AH 207. Arabic letter ha or jeem below. Additional marginal inscription (Qur'an
XXX:3-4). A 223.5. Slight double-striking in margins. Toned Choice VF 30.
333 AR Dirham, Samarqand AH 195. Tiny Arabic letter ha, Kha or jeem top, middle of shahada, tiny mim below. Tiny Arabic letter ayn above Muhammad and tiny mim below al-Fadl on reverse. 5 in date a bit blundered and coin shows evidence of a possible overstrike. Miles 246, Rare Islamic Coins (ANS NMM No.118). RARE. Small obverse test slash EF 135.
334 AR Dirham, al-Muhammadiya AH 195. Citing al-Fadl above and Zahir below. Naming Ma'mun as Imam and ibn
Amir al-mu'minin . A 223.1. RARE About EF 75.
335 al-Mu`tasim, AH 218-227/833-842 AD. AR Dirham, Madinat al-Salaam AH 218. Anonymous type. A 226. Scarce.
Toned EF 50.
336 al-Mutawakkil, AH 232-247/847-861 AD. AR Dirham, Madinat al-Salaam AH 241. Citing heir al-Mu`tazz. A 230.3.
Scarce. Slight crease. Toned VF 50.
337 IDRISIDS (of Morocco). Idris II, AH 175-213/791-828 AD. AR Dirham, Wah'ba (a possible reading of this rare and Uncertain mint used during Idris' expansion) AH 187. Idris above, Ali below. Cf.Eustache 426-7. RARE. Thin test
slash on reverse, slight rim bend About EF 150.
338 IKHSHIDIDS. Abu'l-Qasim Unugur b. al-Ikhshid, AH 334-349/946-961 AD. GOLD Dinar, Filastin AH 337. Citing
the Caliph al-Muti`. A 676. Slightly crinkly Choice VF 300.
339 BAHRI MAMLUKS. Baybars, AH 658-676/1260-1277 AD. GOLD Dinar, al-Qahira d.o.f. 4.20 gm. Four-line legend
with Baybars heraldic device, the lion l. below. / Four-line legend ending in w'din al haqq, mint above. Cf. Balog 36.
Scarce EF 400.
340 BURJI MAMLUKS. Barsbay, AH 825-841/1422-1438 AD. GOLD Dinar, al-Qahira AH 834. 3.36 gm. Four-line
legend obv. and rev. divided by three horizontal rigid cables. Balog 706. Choice VF 125.
341 ZIYADIDS OF YEMEN. `Ali b. al-Muzaffer, fl. AH 420s-440s?/1030-1050s AD. GOLD Dinar, Zabid AH 424
(or 427). Central legend in triple circle. A-1072. Rare. Somewhat mushy calligraphy as is typical Choice EF 300.
342 TAHIRIDS. Tahir b. `Abd Allah, AH 230-248/845-862 AD. AE Fals, al-Shash AH 241. Citing the Caliph al-Mut- awakkil. Good, legible calligraphy for this type. Struck on broad flan. A B1395. VERY RARE About EF 225.
343 AE Fals, al-Shash AH 241. Another as above, but smaller legend (somewhat crude) in margins and smaller flan.
VERY RARE VF 200.
344 BANIJURIDS. Ahmad b. Muhammad, Ca. AH 286-297/899-910 AD. AR Dirham, Balkh AH 292. Ahmad ibn
Muhammad ibn Ahmad. Citing the Samanid overlord Isma`il ibn Ahmad. A 1435. Ornate device below overlord's name.
Attractive style. RARE EF 75.
SAMANIDS - Lots 345-353
345 Ya`qub b. Ahmad, fl. AH 265/878-879 AD. AE Fals, al-Shash AH 265. Three pellets below b of Ya`qub. A-A1442.
EXTREMELY RARE. Deep brown EF 250.
Only year and type known for this ephemeral Samanid.
346 Isma`il b. Ahmad, AH 279-295/892-907 AD. AE Fals, al-Shash AH 292. Citing Yahya. A 1444. Scarce. Yellow-
brown Choice VF 50.
347 Ahmad b. Isma`il, AH 295-301/907-914 AD. AR Dirham, Andaraba AH 297. Annulet below. A 1446. Slightly weak.
About EF 50.
348 Nasr II b. Ahmad, AH 301-331/914-943 AD. AR Dirham, Andaraba AH 310. A few small splits at edges Choice EF 50.
349 AR Heavy Dirham, Samarqand AH 310. 5.54 gm. Broad flan. RARE? Small flan crack on outer edge About as
350 AE Fals, Tunkach Ilaq AH 305. A 1452. VERY RARE. Typical weakness in margins EF 150.
351 Abd al-Malik I b. Nuh, AH 343-350/954-961 AD. AE Fals, Tirmid AH 346. A 1463. VERY RARE VF 150.
352 Mansur I b. Nuh I, AH 350-365/961-976 AD. AE Fals, Bukhara AH 352. A 1467. Light file lines typical for issue VF 45.
353 SAMANIDS OF AKHSIKATH (Ferghana Valley). Bakr b. Malik, fl. AH 335-341/946-952 AD. AE Fals, Akhsikath
AH 342. Malik/ Bakr. Cf.A F1477. VERY RARE VF 175.
In Album's Second Checklist, it is noted that Falus of Bakr were struck only at Nasrabad, however, they were also struck at Akhsikath.
354 VOLGA-BULGARIANS. Anonymous, Ca. AH 300-310/913-922 AD. AR Dirham, n.d. 3.08 gm. Imitating Samanid
Dirham of al-Shash. Inverted and blundered reverse central legend. Well-formed Arabic letters, but total gibberish. No
special marks. A Q1481. VERY RARE Choice EF 200.
355 AR Bracteate-style Dirham. 2.06 gm. Uniface. Imitating Samanid Dirham of Nasr b. Ahmad. Not brockage, but deliberately struck thin and uniface with retrograde obverse mirror-image. Interesting. VERY RARE EF 250.
QARAKHANIDS - Lots 356-373
Little is known of the Qarakhanid royal house's origins. In "Turkestan Down to the Mongol Invasion", Barthold posits they were a Toguz Oghuz clan who captured the Balasagun region of the Issyl Kul from the Qarluq Turks. By the 10th Century AD, they ruled the regions of Ili and Chu and Kashgaria, where the Qarakhanid king Satoq Bughra-khan (died c. 955 AD) promoted Islam.
In 999 AD, the Qarakhanid ruler Arslan Ilek Nasr took the last Samanid ruler prisoner and annexed Transoxiana. The expanded Qarakhanid "empire,'' though would not be allowed cohesion. Embroiled in family rifts and warring with the powerful Ghaznavid realm of Mahmud, the Qarakhanids of Transoxiana were also beset by the Khitans and then the powerful Seljuqs. By 1089, the Qarakhanids of Bukhara and Samarqand were in vassalage to the Seljuqs. Conversely in Ili and Kashgaria, at about the same, the Eastern Qarakhanid rulers were consolidating their hold. But not for long. The pagan Qarakhitans, the "Black Khitans" under their first gurkhan, Ye-lu Ta-shih emerged from southwest Manchuria and Jehol and subjugated the Qarakhanids in Kashgaria and Ili (petty Qarakhanid kings though would continue to hold sway here until the early 1200s). In 1137, the Qarakhitans defeated both the Western Qarakhanids and their Seljuq overlords; Bukhara and Samarqand became their vassals. By the beginning of the 13th Century, the Qarakhitans fell foul of their other vassals, the Khwarezmians. Both, though, were essentially obliterated with the emergence of the Mongol onslaught under Chingiz Khan.
Qarakhanid coinage has long been one of the least understood of the many Islamic series, largely as a result of the bewildering array of nomenclature cited on coins. Each Qarakhanid used an assortment of names and titles, while their coinage normally cites a ranking order of overlord down to local ruler. Over 300 different names appear on the coinage in over 1,000 different forms and combinations. Important recent studies by Davidovich, Federov and, most notably, Kochnev, however, has shed considerable light on the Qarakhanid series.
356 Nasr b. `Ali, Ca. AH 383-403/993-1012 AD. AE Fals, Ferghana AH 386. Khan (not struck up) in beaded circle in
triangular legend/ Tegin al-Jalil (blundered). Cf. Kochnev 31, A 3303. RARE VF 75.
357 Ahmad b. `Ali, Ca. 384-407/994-1016 AD (as Great Khan after AH 388). AR Dirham, Balasaghun AH 404. Qutb
al-Dawla Khaqan Ahmad ibn `Ali. Kochnev 332. VERY RARE. Minor edge chipping EF 160.
Ahmad's territory was originally confined to Ilaq. After AH 394, he added Balasaghun and Isbijab. This was the only year that the mint of Balasaghun, in what is now Southern Kazakhstan, was active under this name. In other years, Ahmad's capital is named on coins Quz Urdu.
358 AR Dirham, Quz-Urdu AH 405. Nasr al-Millah Ahmad ibn `Ali Qara Khaqan. Triple marginal inscriptions. Large
floral device above Muhammad in central field. Kochnev 290. RARE. Minor edge chip. Toned About as Struck 150.
359 E Fals, Akhsikath AH 403. Rv. Allah in crescent above central legend. al-Malik al-`adl khan. In margin: al-Amir al-sayid Ahmad ibn `Ali. Kochnev 302. RARE Choice VF 80.
360 Yusuf b. `Abd Allah at al-Shash, AH 394-396/1004-1006 and 403-405/1012-1014. AE Fals, al-Shash AH 395.
Yusuf in double circle in looped corner square. Kochnev 159 (type not noted in Album checklist). EXTREMELY RARE Edge chip. Weak
361 Muhammad b. `Ali, Ca. AH 393-415/1003-1024 AD. AR Dirham, Taraz AH 400. Takin/ Muhammad/ bin `Ali.
Kochnev 251. Scarce. Light porosity. Weak margins with small spot of residue. Small chip Choice VF 125.
362 AR Dirham, Taraz AH 400. Takin/ Muhammad bin `Ali in one line, device like arrowpoint below. Muhammad's titles
in margin: al-Amir al-Mumakkan al-Mansur Sana' al-Dawla Takin. Cf.Kochnev 251. Scarce. Thin flan cracks at edge, some corrosion in margins, somewhat grainy Choice VF 125.
363 AE Fals, Ilaq AH 404. Sekha al-Dawla, sword above, drawn bow pointed downward below / Prophetic statement and
overlord Ahmad b. `Ali cited as Qutb al-Dawla khan in fancy thick `brocade' circle. Muhammad b. `Ali cited in margin.Cf.Kochnev 338. VERY RARE. Chocolate brown Choice EF 150.
364 Ahmad b. Nasr, at Isbijab and Shash, fl. AH 389-404/999-1014 AD. AR Dirham, Isbijab AH 400. Squared obverse
margin legend / Matt/Ahmad bin `Ali Mu`izz al-Dawla. Citing overlord Ahmad b. `Ali in margin as al-Amir al-Sayid al Malik al-Muzaffer Qutb al-Dawla Nasr al-Millah. Kochnev 226. RARE. A few small flan cracks at edge and a bit grainy Choice VF 125.
365 AR Dirham, Isbijab AH 401. Circular obverse margin legend. Otherwise similar to above. Kochnev 226. RARE. Grainy, light residue in rev. margin Choice VF 125.
366 Nizam al-Dawla Abu`l-Muzaffar Tungha-tegin, fl. AH 399-404/1009-1014 AD. AR Dirham, Shash AH 400. Razi/
Nizam al-Dawla al-Muzaffar Tungha-tegin. Kochnev 260. RARE. Corrosion in margins, grainy Choice VF 125.
367 Nizam al-Dawla Abu`l Muzaffer Tungha-tegin, fl. AH 399-404/1009-1014 AD. AE Fals, Samarqand AH 404. Dirham-
style. Tungha-tegin / Khan Tungha-tegin. Kochnev 355; A 3334. VERY RARE. A few small edge chips. Crude VF 80.
368 `Ali b. al-Hassan, as Great Khan, After AH 416-426/ 1025-1035 AD. AR Dirham, Khutlukh Urdu AH 420. With
long obverse margin inscription: fi wilayat al-khan al-ajall qutb al-dawla wa nasr al-millah wa `uddat al-din. Great khan cited as `Ali ibn al-Hassan/Tafghaj Bughra Qara Khaqan `Ali in central legends. RARE. Fine style Choice EF 165.
369 AR Dirham, Khutlukh Urdu AH 425. Great Khan cited as Tafghaj Bughra Qara Khaqan `Ali ibn al-Hassan. Tiny
uncertain word above obverse central legend, crescent (or open annulet) in center, tiny Arabic letter tah below. Cf. Kochev 784. RARE. Fine style Choice EF 165.
In the AH 420's. Dirhams struck at Khutlukh Urdu ("Great Horde," modern Dabusiya) were superbly engraved.
370 QARAKHANID VASSALS. Muhammad b. Mansur, dihqan of Ilaq, fl. AH 391-395/1001-1006. AE Fals, Ilaq
AH 395. Double margin inscription, Muhammad rasul Allah at center in beaded circle / In square: Dihqan al-Jalil Muhammad ibn Mansur. Kochnev 144; A 3430. VERY RARE. Some typical weakness of strike
371 Muzaffar Kiya, dihqan at Saghaniyan, fl. AH 395-406/995-1005 AD. AR Dirham, al-Saghaniyan AH 395. Muzaffar/
Kiya on obverse. Qarakhan overlords Ahmad b. `Ali and Nasr b. `Ali cited on reverse as Badshah Nasir al-haqq khan al-mu`ayyad al-`adl Ilak Nasir. No inner circle on obverse. Kochnev 153; A 3432. VERY RARE. Some double-striking EF 175.
372 AR Dirham, Qasr al-Saghaniyan AH 396. Inner circles obverse and reverse. Muzaffar/Kiya on obverse. Qarakhan
overlords Ahmad b. `Ali and Nasr b. `Ali cited on reverse as Nasir al-haqq khan al-mu`ayyad al-`adl Ilak Nasir. Cf.Kochev 170; A 3432. VERY RARE EF 200.
373 AR Dirham al-Saghaniyan AH 400. Inner circles obverse and reverse. On obverse dihqan's title? Rukn al-Dawla.
Dihqan and overlords cited on reverse as Muzaffar/Nasir al-haqq khan al-Mu`ayyad al-`adl Ilak Nasir. Kochnev 239; A 3432. VERY RARE. Tiny edge chip EF 200.
374 GHAZNAVIDS. Sebuktegin as Samanid governor in central Khurasan, AH 384-387/994-997 AD. GOLD Dinar,
Herat AH 385. Citing his Samanid overlord Nuh II b. Mansur. A-1596. Rare. Some weakness in margins and press on edge About
375 GREAT SELJUQS / GOVERNORS OF SHIRAZ. In the name of Malikshah, AH 465-485/1072-1092 AD. GOLD
Dinar, Shiraz AH 482. Citing the Governor Khutlugh Beg (Oner). Engraver's name in tiny letters in upper margin. Cf.A-1674. Extremely Rare. Slight natural bend About VF 400.
A rare occurrence of the engraver signing his work.
376 ZANGIDS OF SYRIA. al-Salih Isma'il, AH 569-577/1174-1181 AD. Æ large Fals, Halab AH 571. 4.07 gm. Citing
the Caliph al-Mustadi. Diademed Fourth Century-style Roman bust r. / Royal protocol. SS 76, A 1854.1. Nice green patina. Sharp bust
377 ZANGIDS OF AL-JAZIRA. al-Mu`azzam Mahmud, AH 605-648, with Wali `Ahad al-Zahir as heir. Æ Dirham,
NM AH (6)3(9). 9.47 gm. Tamgha in obverse center. SS 89; A 1884. Scarce. Some earthen residue VF 50. Last known coin type issued by the Zangids of al-Jazira.
378 GREAT MONGOLS. Time of Mongke, AH 649-658/1251-1260 AD. Broad AE Khani Dirham, n.m, n.d. visible, but
type of Otrar. Cf.A C1979. VERY RARE VF 100.
379 GOLDEN HORDE. Anonymous issue of Berke, issued Ca. 1259-1266 AD. GOLD Dinar, Sabzewar n.d. 3.38 gm.
In wide and thin band circle: The Kalima in three lines with decorative device above and annulet either side, below
mint name, only war clear, presumably Sabzewar, margin legend mostly off flan / In a wide and thin band circle: Khan/al-Imam al/-`azam al-Na/-sir al-din/Allah. Cf. Davidov 37: G. Fedorov-Davidov, Klad zolotych monet XIII v. iz Srednei Azee (Hoard of Gold Coins of the 13th Century from Central Asia), Numizmatika e Epigrafika, Vol. II, 1960, p. 128. This coin is as the Semerech'e (Jety-Su) hoard specimen in Davidov's article, except this one clearly has a mint name on the obverse. EXTREMELY RARE and important. A few thin flan cracks from edges. Typcial weakness of
strike VF 500.
After sacking Aleppo and slaughtering its citizens, the Ilkhan Hulagu with his general Kitbuqa occupied Syria in the early months of 1260 AD. The Muslim West was in a panic. Hulagu, however, returned to Persia. Following the Great Khan Mongke's death in China, a war of succession had broken out between Mongke's brothers Kublai and Ariq-boga. More importantly, Berke the khan of the Kipchak (Golden Horde) was threatening the fledgling Ilkhanate on the Caucasian frontier.
Unlike Hulagu who favored Christianity, his cousin Berke was ardently in favor of Islam and was appalled by Hulagu's sack of Baghdad and destruction of the Abbasid Caliphate. According to the historian, Rashid al-din, Berke said: "He [Hulagu] has sacked all the cities of the Muslims and, without consulting his kinsmen, has brought about the death of the caliph. With the help of Allah, I will call him to account for so much innocent blood."
To oppose his cousin, Berke sought an alliance with Baybars and his Mamluks (who had crushed Kitbuqa and the Mongols at Ain Jalut after Hulagu left Syria, thus saving the rest of the Islamic World from the ravages of the Mongols). Although the Mamluks were nominally enemies of the Mongols, they were defenders of Islam, and Baybars, himself of Kipchak origins, encouraged Berke's overtures. Embassies were exchanged and Berke declared outright war on Hulagu. Hulagu, though, took the offensive first, crossing the Darbent Pass, which demarcated the two khanates and moved into Kipchak territory. Berke's nephew Nogay, however, launched a surprise attack on Hulagu's forces and forced them back into Azerbaijan. Berke's forces soon encircled the Persian Ilkhanate and disrupted it through continual attacks from the Caucasus and the Amu Darya. It was this civil war among the Chingiz-Khanites that put a final stop to Mongol conquest.
Hulagu died in 1265, and his eldest son and successor Abaqa brought an end to the Ilkhan-Kipchak war. Nogay's army was beaten by Abaqa's troops and forced back into Shirvan. Berke himself then came through the Darbent with a larger army but died in the march up the Kura. On his death his army withdrew.
The Dinar above was issued during a Kipchak incursion into Ilkhan territority during the civil war.
380 IRAN. Safavid Dynasty. Sultan Husayn, AH 1105-1135/ 1694-1722 AD. AR rectangular 5 Shahi, Tabriz AH 1127.
8.51 gm. Titles, mint and date / "Shi'a Kalima" in two lines. A 2677.1. A little grainy VF 45.
381 AR rectangular 5 Shahi, Tabriz AH 1129. 8.66 gm. Titles in rectangle, inscription around, with mint and date in central cartouche / "Shi'a Kalima" in two lines, inscription around. A 2677.2. Scarce. Slight d/s on Kalima side Choice VF 60.
382 BUKHARA AMIRATE. Manghit Dynasty. Ma'sum Shah Murad, AH 1200-1215/ 1785-1800. GOLD Tilla,
AH 1204 (dated both sides). 4.59 gm. In the name of the deceased (marhum) Amir Daniyal. Amir Daniyal marhum ghazi in circle, pellet clusters in field, cruciform and pellet border / Mint and date in cruciform and pellet bordered circle. A 3027. Very Rare. Nice VF 150.
During the reign of the last Janid (Astrakhanid) ruler, Abu'l Ghazi Khan, the Manghit chief Ma'sum Shah Murad, who was married to Abu'l Ghazi's daughter, became the real ruler of Bukhara, ascending the throne in 1785.
383 KHANS OF KHIVA. Muhammad Amin Khan, AH 1261-1271/ 1845-1855 AD. GOLD 1/2 Tilla, Dar al-Sulatanat Khwarizm AH 1261. 2.25 gm. Titles and date in tear-drop cartouche, pattern around / Mint and date in octagon, pattern around. A 3082; C 65a. Very Rare About as Struck 600.
384 AFGHANISTAN. Durrani. Ahmad Shah, AH 1160-86/ 1747-72 AD. GOLD Mohur, Muqaddas Mashad, dateless
type. 10.98 gm. 4-line couplet with titles. / Julus formula with mint and its honorific. KM 639. Scarce Choice EF 300.
This is actually a coin of the Afshar ruler, Shahrukh. Mashhad, the holy Shiite city in Khurasan, was the capital of the Afsharid domain. Following the Durrani occupation in AH 1163, it came under nominal Durrani suzerainty and coins were struck in the name of Durrani rulers.
385 GOLD Mohur, Shahjahanabad (AH 1173) RY 14. 10.76 gm. Four-line poetic couplet. / Julus formula with mint and
regnal year. KM 765. RARE. Lightly toned About EF 550.
Struck during Ahmad Shah's 13-month occupation of the Mughal capital (his second occupation).
386 Taimur Shah as Sultan, AH 1186-1207/ 1772-1793 AD. GOLD Mohur, Dar-al-Sultanat Kabul AH 1188, RY 3.
10.92 gm. Three-line poetic couplet. / Mint and date. KM 435. Scarce EF to About UNC 300.
387 DELHI SULTANATE. Tughluq Dynasty. Muhammad III b. Tughluq, AH 725-752/ 1325-1351. GOLD Dinar, n.m,
AH 734. 10.97 gm. Titles and date. / Four-line legend in fancy 5-point floral star. Raj 1216. Scarce About EF 350.
388 GOLD Tanka, n.m, n.d. In the name of the "shadow" Caliph al-Hakim II. Abu'l Abbas Ahmad khalid Allah mulkahu / al-Hakim b'Amr al-mu'minim. Raj 1222. One small test cut on edge Choice EF 275.