Morton & Eden Ltd
Auction 69 10 April 2014
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ABBASID, AL-MU'TAMID (256-279h)
Dinar, Fars 274h
OBVERSE: In field: la ilaha illa | Allah wahdahu | la sharik lahu | al-nasir li-din Allah | al-Muwaffaq billah
REVERSE: In field: lillah | Muhammad | rasul | Allah | al-Mu'tamid 'ala-'llah | Ahmad b. al-Muwaffaq billah
WEIGHT: 4.16g
REFERENCE: Bernardi type 184 (but unrecorded for this mint)
CONDITION: Test mark on edge, good very fine and of the highest rarity
NOTE: These two extremely rare coins record a brief period when the Abbasids regained control of the province of Fars. This had been held by the Saffarids under 'Amr b. al-Layth for much of al-Mu'tamid's reign, when revolts elsewhere including the Zanj rebellion in southern Iraq (see lot 45) and the emergence of the Tulunids in Egypt had prevented the caliph from taking robust action against them. In 271h, however, with the Zanj suppressed and a new and more conciliatory Tulunid amir in place, al-Mu'tamid was finally in a position to turn his attention to the Saffarids. 'Amr b. al-Layth was publicly cursed in the mosques and deprived of all the governorships which the caliph had reluctantly been obliged to grant him, while a powerful army under Sa'id b. Makhlad left Wasit for Fars. Sa'id's forces then joined those of the Dulafid Ahmad b. 'Abd al-'Aziz whowas now appointed Governor of Fars and Kirman in 'Amr's stead.
Sa'id b. Makhlad won a victory against 'Amr's governor in Fars during 272h, only to be recalled to Wasit later that year. The Saffarids seem to have suffered a further defeat in 273h, this time at the hands ofthe future caliph al-Mu'tadid, although the Abbasids were again unable to build on their success; al-Mu'tadid was also recalled to Iraq, while 'Amr b. al-Layth retreated to Kirman. In 274h, the caliph's brother al-Muwaffaq entered Kirman hoping to engage 'Amr once more, but failed to make contact and was obliged to withdraw, initially to Fars and then back to Iraq, leaving Fars in the hands of the Saffarids. Negotiations between the two sides ended in 275h with 'Amr reinstated as Governor of Fars, Kirman, Sistan and Khurasan, for which he undertook to deliver ten million dirhams per annum in tax revenue, plus a further 500000 dirhams as a personal gift for al-Muwaffaq.
Estimate: £4000 - 6000
Dinar, Fars 274h
OBVERSE: In field: la ilaha illa | Allah wahdahu | la sharik lahu | al-nasir li-din Allah | al-Muwaffaq billah
REVERSE: In field: lillah | Muhammad | rasul | Allah | al-Mu'tamid 'ala-'llah | Ahmad b. al-Muwaffaq billah
WEIGHT: 4.16g
REFERENCE: Bernardi type 184 (but unrecorded for this mint)
CONDITION: Test mark on edge, good very fine and of the highest rarity
NOTE: These two extremely rare coins record a brief period when the Abbasids regained control of the province of Fars. This had been held by the Saffarids under 'Amr b. al-Layth for much of al-Mu'tamid's reign, when revolts elsewhere including the Zanj rebellion in southern Iraq (see lot 45) and the emergence of the Tulunids in Egypt had prevented the caliph from taking robust action against them. In 271h, however, with the Zanj suppressed and a new and more conciliatory Tulunid amir in place, al-Mu'tamid was finally in a position to turn his attention to the Saffarids. 'Amr b. al-Layth was publicly cursed in the mosques and deprived of all the governorships which the caliph had reluctantly been obliged to grant him, while a powerful army under Sa'id b. Makhlad left Wasit for Fars. Sa'id's forces then joined those of the Dulafid Ahmad b. 'Abd al-'Aziz whowas now appointed Governor of Fars and Kirman in 'Amr's stead.
Sa'id b. Makhlad won a victory against 'Amr's governor in Fars during 272h, only to be recalled to Wasit later that year. The Saffarids seem to have suffered a further defeat in 273h, this time at the hands ofthe future caliph al-Mu'tadid, although the Abbasids were again unable to build on their success; al-Mu'tadid was also recalled to Iraq, while 'Amr b. al-Layth retreated to Kirman. In 274h, the caliph's brother al-Muwaffaq entered Kirman hoping to engage 'Amr once more, but failed to make contact and was obliged to withdraw, initially to Fars and then back to Iraq, leaving Fars in the hands of the Saffarids. Negotiations between the two sides ended in 275h with 'Amr reinstated as Governor of Fars, Kirman, Sistan and Khurasan, for which he undertook to deliver ten million dirhams per annum in tax revenue, plus a further 500000 dirhams as a personal gift for al-Muwaffaq.
Estimate: £4000 - 6000