Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Islamic Auction 1 25 May 2022
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Fatimids. al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah. AH 341-365 / AD 953-975. AV Dinar (22.9mm, 4.20g, 5h). Al-Mansuriya mint. Dated AH 342 / AD 943/4. Obverse: Three concentric circular legends, the middle reading: muhiya sunna Muhammad wa sayyid al-mursilin wa warith majd al-'umma al-mahdiyin. Reverse: Three concentric circular legends, the middle reading: wa 'Ali ibn Abi Talib wasiyy al-rasul na'b al-fadul wa zawj al-zahra al-batul. Nicol 388. Superb EF. Rare, and an exceptional example of this attractive and short-lived type..
Between AH 341 and 343, Fatimid coins struck at al-Mansuriya bore the additional legends transcribed above: 'And 'Ali b. Abi Talib is the Chosen One of the Prophet, and His most excellent representative, and the husband of the Radiant Chaste One, Renewer of the Sunna of Muhammad, Lord of Messengers, and heir of the glory of the Community of the Mahdis.' It has been suggested that this robust Shi'ite declaration proved unpopular in the Fatimid lands, since it was removed from the coinage after AH 343.
Between AH 341 and 343, Fatimid coins struck at al-Mansuriya bore the additional legends transcribed above: 'And 'Ali b. Abi Talib is the Chosen One of the Prophet, and His most excellent representative, and the husband of the Radiant Chaste One, Renewer of the Sunna of Muhammad, Lord of Messengers, and heir of the glory of the Community of the Mahdis.' It has been suggested that this robust Shi'ite declaration proved unpopular in the Fatimid lands, since it was removed from the coinage after AH 343.