ISLAMIC, 'Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Mutawakkil, AH 232-247 / AD 847-861. Dirham (Silver, 27 mm, 2.66 g, 1 h), a donative issue citing the caliph al-Mutawakkil 'ala Allah. Surra man Ra'a, AH 238 = AD 852/3. Album 230B. Stephen Album 16 (2013), 163. Very rare and nicely toned. Holed and slightly wavy along one edge, otherwise, good very fine.

From the Tabib Collection, formed over the past 40 years.

S. Album points out the superior caligraphy on the donative issues of al-Mutawakkil ('He who relies on God' in Kufic) from Surra man Ra'a (Samarra), the city in which the caliph resided throughout his reign. It is worth noting that this coin was struck one year after al-Mutawakkil completed the world-famous Great Mosque of Samarra.