FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board
Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Medieval, Islamic and Crusader Coins Discussion Forum => Topic started by: blot-sven on October 12, 2005, 02:42:50 pm
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When I bought this coin it was attributed to Amir Ahmad Ibn Ismail (minted in Samarkand 914). I´m having big trouble trying to read arabic. I just wonder, is the attribution correct?
Many thanks in advance!
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The attribution is correct:Amir Ahmad Ibn Ismail ;The mint also:Samarkand;but the date is more complicated and need time .
nassif
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Hello, the attribution is coorect except the date is AH 295 (AD 907). To help those learning to read Arabic the legends are as follows: The left (obverse) image has at center the Kalima "la ilah illa Allah/ wahdahu/ la sherikh kahu" or "There is no god but God alone. There are no others with Him". The inner circular legend is the mint and date formula which reads "bism Allah duriba haza al-dirham bi-Samarqand sanat khams wa tis'in wa mi'atain" or "in the name of God was struck this dirham at Samarqand in the year five and ninety and two hundred". The outer marginal legend is Qur'an 30:3-4. If you have Plant, you can find it on p.48.
The right (reverse) image reads at center; "lillah/ Muhammad / rassul Allah/ al-Muqtafi Billah/ Ahmad bin Isma'il". This begins with the dedication "to Allah" and then continues the Kalima (Muhammad is the prophet of Allah) from the obverse and then citing the Abbasid Caliph al-Muqtafi as well as the Samanid ruler. The marginal legend is Qur'an 9:33 (see Plant p. 43).
The Caliph al-Muqtafi died in AH 295, the first year of Ahmad b. Isma'ils reign. Not only does this confirm the date but it must be relatively rare for coins of this ruler to cite al-Muqtafi rather than al-Muqtadir who succeded al-Muqtafi as caliph.
Regards,
Dave Tranbarger
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Thanks a lot for the info!