Morton & Eden Ltd
Auction 69 10 April 2014
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
UMAYYAD, TEMP. 'ABD AL-MALIK B. MARWAN (65-86h)
Dirham, Arminiya 81h
OBVERSE: In border: annulets o o o o o
In margin: mint-name written Armiya (sic, lacking one 'tooth' before the ta marbuta)
REVERSE: In border: annulets o o o o, with name of governor (?) between those at twelve and three o'clock
WEIGHT: 2.62g
REFERENCES: Klat 46.a, same reverse die; SCC –
CONDITION: Some double-striking on obverse, toned and with old marks in fields on both sides (especially the obverse), otherwise almost very fine and extremely rare
NOTE: One example of this type recorded by Klat.
Umayyad dirhams are notable for the almost complete uniformity of their legends, which remain standard throughout the coinage with the exception of the mint and date. It is very rare for an Umayyad dirham to bear even an additional letter in the reverse field, let alone an additional word in the outer border as found on this specimen. Apart from this type, the only comparable example is the unique coin of Adharbayjan 78h (Klat 23.a) which repeats the mint-name in the border on the obverse.
Klat did not suggest a reading of the mysterious word in the reverse border, although this was clearer on his example (see the enlargements below, with the right-hand illustration showing the name highlighted in red). It is clearly not a repetition of the mint-name as on the Adharbayjan coin, and is presumably a proper name of some kind. If so this represents the only known instance of an individual being named on the post-Reform Umayyad coinage.
Estimate: £2000 - 3000
Dirham, Arminiya 81h
OBVERSE: In border: annulets o o o o o
In margin: mint-name written Armiya (sic, lacking one 'tooth' before the ta marbuta)
REVERSE: In border: annulets o o o o, with name of governor (?) between those at twelve and three o'clock
WEIGHT: 2.62g
REFERENCES: Klat 46.a, same reverse die; SCC –
CONDITION: Some double-striking on obverse, toned and with old marks in fields on both sides (especially the obverse), otherwise almost very fine and extremely rare
NOTE: One example of this type recorded by Klat.
Umayyad dirhams are notable for the almost complete uniformity of their legends, which remain standard throughout the coinage with the exception of the mint and date. It is very rare for an Umayyad dirham to bear even an additional letter in the reverse field, let alone an additional word in the outer border as found on this specimen. Apart from this type, the only comparable example is the unique coin of Adharbayjan 78h (Klat 23.a) which repeats the mint-name in the border on the obverse.
Klat did not suggest a reading of the mysterious word in the reverse border, although this was clearer on his example (see the enlargements below, with the right-hand illustration showing the name highlighted in red). It is clearly not a repetition of the mint-name as on the Adharbayjan coin, and is presumably a proper name of some kind. If so this represents the only known instance of an individual being named on the post-Reform Umayyad coinage.
Estimate: £2000 - 3000