Arab-Byzantine. Al-Ruha. trmp. Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan AH 65-86. Standing Caliph' type
Fals AE

23 mm, 2,64 g

Caliph standing facing, bearded, placing his right hand on the pommel of his sword; downwards to left, 'Muhammad' in Kufic; downwards to right, 'rasul Allah' ('Messenger of God' in Kufic) / Transformed cross standing on three steps; in field to left, mint name 'al-Ruha' in Kufic); around, 'bism Allah la ilaha illa Allah wahdahu Muhammad rasul Allah' ('In the name of God, there is no God but God alone; Muhammad is the messenger of God').

very fine

DOCAB -; Goodwin, Standing Caliph Coinage, Al-Ruha, 416; SICA I, 688; Album 3538 (RRR).

Al-Ruha (Edessa) was an ancient city (polis) in Upper Mesopotamia, founded during the Hellenistic period by King Seleucus I Nicator (r. 305–281 BC), founder of the Seleucid Empire. It later became capital of the Kingdom of Osroene, and continued as capital of the Roman province of Osroene. During the Late Antiquity, it became a prominent center of Christian learning and seat of the Catechetical School of Edessa. During the Crusades, it was the capital of the County of Edessa. From the Tareq Hani collection.