ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, AH 65-86 / AD 685-705. Fals (Bronze, 21 mm, 3.45 g, 3 h), 'Standing Caliph' type, Halab, AH 74-80 / AD 693/4-699/700. Caliph standing facing, bearded, placing his right hand on the pommel of his sword and whip hanging from his right elbow; around, 'J li' abd allah' abd al-malik amir al-mu'minin' ('for the servant of God, Abd al-Malik, Commander of the Faithful' in Kufic). Rev. Transformed cross standing on three steps; in field to left, wāf ('full weight' in Kufic); in field to right, mint halab ('Halab' in Kufic); around, part of the first Kalima reading 'la ilaha illa allah wahdahu muhammad rasul allah' ('There is no God but God alone; Muhammad is the Prophet of God'). DOCAB 115. Goodwin, Standing Caliph Coinage, Type I. SICA I, 612. A sharply struck and unusually complete example with attractive earthen highlights. Good very fine.

From a collection of Arab-Byzantine and Crusader coins, formed in the 1990s.