Rare One-Year Type

5626660.

'Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muktafi. AH 289-295 / AD 902-908. AV Dinar (23.7mm, 5.03 g, 7h). Harran mint. Dated AH 291 (AD 903/4). Citing Wali al-Dawla in fourth line of obverse field.. Bernardi 228Hj; Album 243.2. VF. Rare.

Harran is the ancient town of Carrhae, where the Parthians famously inflicted a humiliating defeat on the Roman army of Marcus Licinius Crassus in 53 BC.

Wali al-Dawla, meaning ‘Protector of the State’, was the title given to al-Muktafi’s powerful vizier, al-Qasim b. ‘Ubaydallah. It is only found on coins dated AH 291 - the year of al-Qasim’s death - and occurs on almost all ‘Abbasid gold and silver coins struck in this year.