Samanid, Isma‘il b. Ahmad (279-295h), dinar, Samarqand 291h, obv., in third and fourth lines of field: Abu’l-Husayn Wali al-dawla | al-wazir, 4.24g (Bernardi -; SNAT XVa -), very fine and extremely rare. Almost all Abbasid gold and silver coins issued in the year 291h name al-Muktafi’s vizier, who appears on these coins as Wali al-dawla. While Samanid dirhams bearing his name are known from Samarqand, this appears to be the first recorded dinar of this type, which also features his full name and title.

Estimate: GBP 1000 - 1500