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Dynasty: Abbasids
Ruler: al-Mansur
Reigned: 136-158 AH (754-775 AD)
Denomination: AV Dirhem (anonymous)
Date of Issue: 144 AH, 761 AD
Mint: Basra
Obverse: (Kuffic) Centre: "There is no God except Allah. (There is) no partner to him." (Kalima).
Margin: "In the name of Allah this Dirhem was minted in el-Basrat in the year 144" (Bismillah)
Reverse: (Kuffic) Centre: "Mohammed the messenger of Allah"
Margin: "Muhammad is the messenger of God. He sent him with guidance and the true religion to prevail over all other religions even if the polytheists abhor it." (Sura 9 Verse 33) ("Second Symbol")
Reference: Album 213
Weight: 2.9 gms
Diameter: 15.8 mm
Comment:

ABBASID DYNASTY - AL-MANSUR

  • Al-Mansur was the brother of Abu al-Abbas and became Caliph in 754 AD.
  • He constructed his new capital at Baghdad.
  • To consolidate his regime, he arranged the murder of Abu Muslim, the general who had lead the armies of al-'Abbas to victory over the Umayyads.
  • He claimed, to be both the religious and secular authority. This alienated Shi'ite Muslims who had wanted the Imam to be made Caliph.
  • Literature and scholarship began to flourish under al-Mansur, particularly the emergence of a Persian influence.
  • There was an increase in the conversion of non-arabs to Islam. Under the Umayyads, this had been discouraged because of the benefits of the jizya, or the tax on non-Moslems.

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