ISLAMIC, 'Abbasid Caliphate. al-Rashid, AH 170-193 / AD 786-809. Dirham (Silver, 24 mm, 2.83 g, 9 h), Madinat al-Salam, AH 170 = 786/7. ‘lā ilāha illā / Allāh waḥdahū / lā sharīka lahū’ (‘There is no deity but Allah, the One, there is no partner to Him’ in Arabic); in the margin, ‘bism Allāh ḍuriba hādhā al-dirham bi Madīnat al-Salām sana sabʿīn wa miʾa’ (‘In the name of Allah. This dirham was struck in Madinat al-Salam in the year 170’ in Arabic). Rev. Citing a certain al-ʿAla, ‘Muḥammad rasūl / Allāh ṣalla Allāh / ʿalayh wa sallam / li’l-khalīfa al-Rashīd / al-ʿAlā’ (‘Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. May Allah bless him and grant him peace. For Caliph al-Rashid. al-ʿAla’ in Arabic); in the margin, ‘Muḥammad rasūl Allāh arsalahū bi al-hudā wa dīn al-ḥaqq liyuẓhirahū ʿalā al-dīn kullih wa law kariha al-mushrikūn’ (‘Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. He sent him with guidance and the religion of truth, so that He may make it overcome all religions, even though the unbelievers may dislike it’ in Arabic). Album 219.5. Very rare. Areas of weakness and with some deposits, otherwise, very fine.

From a European collection, formed before 2005.