Watch List notes:

ZANJ, 'ALI B. MUHAMMAD (258-271h). Dirham, al-Madinat al-Mukhtara 263h. OBVERSE: In field: la ilaha illa | Allah wahdahu | la sharik lahu | Muhammad ibn | amir al-mu'minin. REVERSE: In field: 'Ali | Muhammad | rasul | Allah | al-Mahdi 'Ali ibn Muhammad. WEIGHT: 3.40g. REFERENCE: ICV 1424 (a coin of this mint and date illustrated); Album 1432 RRR. CONDITION: Minor marginal weakness, about very fine and extremely rare. The name 'Zanj', which survives in the modern place-name Zanzibar, was given to black African slaves brought into southern Iraq to improve agricultural land by clearing away salt. Their living and working conditions were appalling, and in 255h they revolted under the leadership of the 'Ali b. Muhammad mentioned on this coin. He was a Persian 'Alid, who proclaimed himself the Mahdi and waged a vicious campaign against the caliph which saw great destruction and loss of life. Al-Madinat al-Mukhtara was founded by the rebels downstream from Basra, and was completely destroyed in 270h when the revolt was finally quashed by the caliph's brother, al-Muwaffaq.
(2500-3000 GBP)