Watch List notes:

DULAFID, AHMAD B. 'ABD AL-'AZIZ (265-280h) Donative double-dirham with gilded border, Mah al-Basra 272h Obverse: below field: al-Nasir li-din Allah | al-Muwaffaq billah | Ahmad b. 'Abd al-'Aziz Reverse: below field: Dhu'l-wizaratayn Weight: 5.25g Reference: cf Vardanyan 7 (a standard dirham of this mint and date). Traces of mounting, otherwise very fine to good very fine and excessively rare. 'Abd al-'Aziz was still loyal to the Abbasid caliph when this handsome donative coin was produced, and the legends accordingly acknowledge al-Muwaffaq with his title al-Nasir li-din Allah, which he received after suppressing the Zanj rebellion in 270h. For an Abbasid donative double-dirham struck at Surra man ra'a in 245h, also with gilding, see Sotheby's, 25 May 2000, lot 377 (where illustrated on front cover).

(1000-1200 GBP)