ISLAMIC, 'Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Saffah, AH 132-136 / AD 749-754. Dirham (Silver, 24 mm, 2.77 g, 8 h), al-Kufa, AH 135 = 752/3. ‘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 al-Kūfa sana khams wa thalāthīn wa miʾa’ (‘In the name of Allah. This dirham was struck in al-Kufa in the year 135’ in Arabic). Rev. Within three concentric circles, ‘Muḥammad / rasūl / Allāh’ (‘Muhammad is the messenger of Allah’ 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 211. Areas of weakness and with some scratches, otherwise, very fine.

From an important collection of Byzantine and Islamic coins and seals, formed over the past 25 years.