Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (26.5mm, 2.35 g, 10h). Zaranj mint. Dated AH 101 (AD 719/20). VF.

Islamic Auction 4 – Session 1
Lot: 34. Estimated: $ 2 500

Umayyad Silver and Bronze, Silver

Sold For $ 2 250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Umayyad Caliphate, Silver coinage. AR Dirham (26.5mm, 2.35 g, 10h). Zaranj mint. Dated AH 101 (AD 719/20). Klat 412 (same reverse die as illustration); al-‘Ajlan 101/7. Hoard-stained, some pin-marks from attempted cleaning. VF. Very rare.

Umayyad dirhams bearing the mint-name Sijistan are known for all years between AH 90 and AH 102 (Klat 432-444), and it is generally accepted that these coins were struck at Zaranj, which was the provincial capital. This being so, the existence of rare dirhams dated AH 101 and 102 with the mint-name Zaranj, apparently struck concurrently with the Sijistan issues, requires explanation.

The account in the Tarikh-i Sistan makes it clear that AH 101 was a year of considerable turmoil in the province, with at least three men being appointed to govern there in this year alone. One of these, Sabbak b. al-Munzar, was a viceroy appointed by the governor of Khurasan, while two others, ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Abdallah and Mu‘arrak b. al-Salt, were appointed directly by the caliph ‘Umar. The Tarikh-i Sistan implies that Sabbak’s governorship ran concurrently with those of ‘Umar’s two appointees, and that two different sources of authority were therefore attempting to rule in Sijistan. The operation of two dirham mints in the province during this period is therefore explicable if we assume that one was under the control of Sabbak and the other was striking coins for ‘Umar’s governors.

The distinctive epigraphy on Umayyad dirhams from Zaranj, memorably described by al-‘Ush as ‘bad and alien’, is a consequence of the dies having been prepared locally rather than by any central authority.

The final winners of all CNG Islamic Auction 4 – Session 1 lots will be determined during the live sale that will be held on 19 October 2023.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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