Summary

Dihram coin issued by Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik (Al-Walid I).
Struck at the Damascus mint in the year AH 94 (712-713 AD).

Obverse Description

At centre Arabic legend in three lines (translation: 'There is no deity except God alone He has no equal'); around Arabic legend (translation: 'In the name of God. This Dirham was struck in Dimashk in the year four and ninety').

Reverse Description

At centre within a circle of dots Arabic legend in four lines (translation: 'God is one God the eternal and indivisible who has not begotten and has not been begotten and never is there His equal'); around Arabic legend (translation: 'Muhammad is the messenger of God He sent him with guidance and the true religion to reveal it to all religions even if the polytheists abhor it').

Edge Description

Plain.

Significance

The coinage reform which led to the issue of this coin began in 77 AH (696-697 AD) under the Umayyad Caliph 'Abd al-Malik. It removed all symbolism associated with Byzantine or Sassanian rule. Instead a purely inscriptional coin-type, giving in Arabic (script and language) the Muslim confession of faith, and various Qur'anic verses were employed.

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately

  • Date Issued

    94 AH

  • Issued By

    Umayyad Caliphate

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: Centre text translation 'There is no deity except God alone He has no equal'. Text around translation 'In the name of God. This Dirham was struck in Dimashk in the year four and ninety'. Reverse: Centre text translation 'God is one God the eternal and indivisible who has not begotten and has not been begotten and never is there His equal'. Text around translation 'Muhammad is the messenger of God He sent him with guidance and the true religion to reveal it to all religions even if the polytheists abhor it'.

  • Denomination

    Dirham

  • Material

    Silver

  • Axis

    06

  • Classification

    Coins, Umayyad caliphate, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Overall Dimensions

    27 mm (Outside Diameter), 2.75 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    BMC.99 [Link 1]
    [Book] Poole, Stanley L. 1875. Catalogue of Oriental Coins in the British Museum. I., 16 Pages

  • Keywords

    Religions: Islam, Arabic Language