ISLAMIC, 'Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi, usurper, AH 201-203 / AD 817-819. Dirham (Silver, 25 mm, 2.91 g, 9 h), Madinat al-Salam, AH 202 = AD 817/8. SICA III, 1752. A lustrous example. Virtually as struck.
From the Tabib Collection, formed over the past 40 years.
This anonymous dirham was struck during Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi's short rule over Madinat al-Salam as a rival caliph to his relative al-Ma'mun. After al-Ma'mun forced to him to resign, Ibrahim dedicated himself to a live far away from politics and became a famous poet and musician.