Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature Sale 3067 6-7 Sep 2018
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Islamic Dynasties
Danishmendid. 'Ayn al-Dawla Isma'il (AH 536-547 / AD 1142-1152) copper Dirham ND XF, No mint (Malatya), 13.36g, 37mm, A-1239 (RR), ICV-1301. AIN AΛ | ΔΑω (cursive and ligate) ΛΑC | O YIOC / TOY MЄ | ΓAΛOY MЄ | ΛHKI AMHP (MHP ligate) | AΛΟΥ ΓΑΖΗ ("Ayn al-Dawla, son / of the Great Amir Ghazi"). An intriguing and very rare issue, the present offering displays the finest execution--the legends are almost all fully struck and legible, except for a bit of the top line on each side--of any of the examples sold at auction that we have been able to locate, additionally clocking in at nearly a full gram heavier than either of the examples sold by Künker (11.20g and 12.57g) in October 2012, or that sold by Dix Noonan Webb in March of this year (11.49g). The selection of script also makes this piece all the more peculiar, not only due to the selection of Greek as the language of choice, but also the use of both cursive and standard forms, as well as the flexibility in transliterating Arabic words into Greek letters (most noticeable in the prince's name) at times, and using the full Greek in others ("son" is written as "yios", not "ibn" or "bin")--a fact interpreted by scholars as indicative of strong Byzantine influence. While the example auctioned by Künker in their Auction 216 (Lot 1610) hammered for just under $1200, we suspect the quality of the current piece will bring even more intense bidding, the edges free of chips and the surfaces largely clean and with only the most minimal of wear for a usually well-circulated and crude issue.
Ex. Numismatica Genevensis, 18 November 2002, Lot 1272
From the Collection of a Philhellene
HID02901242017
Estimate: 800-1000 USD
Danishmendid. 'Ayn al-Dawla Isma'il (AH 536-547 / AD 1142-1152) copper Dirham ND XF, No mint (Malatya), 13.36g, 37mm, A-1239 (RR), ICV-1301. AIN AΛ | ΔΑω (cursive and ligate) ΛΑC | O YIOC / TOY MЄ | ΓAΛOY MЄ | ΛHKI AMHP (MHP ligate) | AΛΟΥ ΓΑΖΗ ("Ayn al-Dawla, son / of the Great Amir Ghazi"). An intriguing and very rare issue, the present offering displays the finest execution--the legends are almost all fully struck and legible, except for a bit of the top line on each side--of any of the examples sold at auction that we have been able to locate, additionally clocking in at nearly a full gram heavier than either of the examples sold by Künker (11.20g and 12.57g) in October 2012, or that sold by Dix Noonan Webb in March of this year (11.49g). The selection of script also makes this piece all the more peculiar, not only due to the selection of Greek as the language of choice, but also the use of both cursive and standard forms, as well as the flexibility in transliterating Arabic words into Greek letters (most noticeable in the prince's name) at times, and using the full Greek in others ("son" is written as "yios", not "ibn" or "bin")--a fact interpreted by scholars as indicative of strong Byzantine influence. While the example auctioned by Künker in their Auction 216 (Lot 1610) hammered for just under $1200, we suspect the quality of the current piece will bring even more intense bidding, the edges free of chips and the surfaces largely clean and with only the most minimal of wear for a usually well-circulated and crude issue.
Ex. Numismatica Genevensis, 18 November 2002, Lot 1272
From the Collection of a Philhellene
HID02901242017
Estimate: 800-1000 USD