Morton & Eden Ltd
Auction 69 10 April 2014
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ABBASID, AL-MUTI' (334-363h)
Donative dirham, without mint or date
OBVERSE: Caliph on horseback riding to left, right hand holding reins, left hand on the hilt of a sword which hangs at his side; to either side of his head: lillah – al-Fadl
REVERSE: Horned bull kneeling to left, with hump on his back and decorated flanks; above: al-Muti' lillah
WEIGHT: 2.94g
REFERENCE: Ilisch B I 5, citing a single example (not illustrated)
CONDITION: From a mount (as is common with donative pieces), light scratches on reverse, almost very fine and of the highest rarity
NOTE: This remarkable type is ultimately derived from the bull-and-horseman drachms of the Hindu Shahi dynasty, struck circa 850-950AD. Examples for al-Muqtadir are known in gold and in silver (the latter in some numbers), including one variety which preserves two Brahmi characters above the bull on the reverse. Why such a distinctive type should have been revived under al-Muti' is unclear.
Estimate: £4000 - 6000
Donative dirham, without mint or date
OBVERSE: Caliph on horseback riding to left, right hand holding reins, left hand on the hilt of a sword which hangs at his side; to either side of his head: lillah – al-Fadl
REVERSE: Horned bull kneeling to left, with hump on his back and decorated flanks; above: al-Muti' lillah
WEIGHT: 2.94g
REFERENCE: Ilisch B I 5, citing a single example (not illustrated)
CONDITION: From a mount (as is common with donative pieces), light scratches on reverse, almost very fine and of the highest rarity
NOTE: This remarkable type is ultimately derived from the bull-and-horseman drachms of the Hindu Shahi dynasty, struck circa 850-950AD. Examples for al-Muqtadir are known in gold and in silver (the latter in some numbers), including one variety which preserves two Brahmi characters above the bull on the reverse. Why such a distinctive type should have been revived under al-Muti' is unclear.
Estimate: £4000 - 6000