Abbasid Caliphate  Madinat Balkh
Harun al-Rashid   170 AH - 193 AH

Dirham AR 24

SHH 582

Parameter Obverse Reverse Notes Reference Provenance

2.48 g   23.5-24.5 mm   0.6 eqmm   8:00 o'clock   VF σmax(SigmaTest, 240 Hz) = obv. 57.5, rev. 58.0 MS/m Inscription. Inscription "The Abbasid Caliphate succeeded the Umayyads in AH 132/749 AD after a brief revolutionary period, and they continued to rule the Islamic world for over five centuries. This is a scarce silver dirham, 24.5 mm in size, from the first period of Abbasid coinage. It is from the reign of Caliph Harun al-Rashid (AH 170-193/786-809 AD). Harun al-Rashid was the Caliph about whom the Thousand and One Nights was written, later the basis for Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherezade. This coin was struck in Madinat Balkh (City of Balkh, in present-day northern Afghanistan) in AH 188. Album 219.11, in the name of ‘Abd Allah (al-Ma'mun) as second heir to the caliphate. It grades Fine with most everything readable (clear mint and date). The coin looks like someone wadded it up and straightened it out again. I have no idea how a flan could get this crinkled. It isn't pretty, but it is an early example of one of the eastern mints. [Jim Farr, seller] Album 219.11 Ex Jim Farr, 28.10.2001