ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, AH 65-86 / AD 685-705. Fals (Bronze, 21 mm, 2.01 g, 1 h), 'Standing Caliph' type, Ma'arrat Misrin, AH 74-80 / AD 693/4-699/700. Caliph standing facing, bearded, placing his right hand on the pommel of his sword and whip hanging from his right elbow; to left, 'Amir al-Mu 'minin' ('Commander of the Faithful' in Kufic); to right, Khalifat Allah' ('Caliph of God'). Rev. Transformed cross standing on three steps; in field to right, 'ma'arrat' in Kufic; in field to left, 'misrin' in Kufic; around, part of the first Kalima reading 'la ilaha illa Allah wahdahu Muhammad rasul Allah' ('There is no God but God alone; Muhammad is the messenger of God'). DOCAB 125. Goodwin, Standing Caliph Coinage, Ma'arrat Misrin, Type I. SICA I, 676. A lovely and sharp piece with beautiful earthen highlights. Good very fine.
From a collection of Arab-Byzantine and Crusader coins, formed in the 1990s.