Numismatica Genevensis SA

Auction 12  –  18 - 19 November 2019

Numismatica Genevensis SA, Auction 12

Ancient and World Coins

Part 1: Mo, 18.11.2019, from 3:00 PM CET
Part 2: Tu, 19.11.2019, from 10:00 AM CET
The auction is closed.
Live bidding registration until Sunday 17th midnight.

Description

Abbasid Caliphate, third period & Great Seljuq
al-Mustazhir billah b. al-Muqtadi, AH 487-512 (1094-1118 CE) & Ghiyath al-din Muhammad, AH 492-511 (1105-1118 CE). Dinar AH 505, Mu'askar al-Imam. Five lines of inscription surrounded by a double circular legend / Five lines of inscription surrounded by a circular legend. 2,93g. Unpublished. Cf. Jafar Saljuq Period, obv. S.MS.503B, rev. S.MS.509B; cf. Hennequin, G: Catalogue des Monnaies Musulmanes de la Bibliothèque Nationale Vol. IV, Asie Pre-Mongole: Les Salguqs et leurs Successeurs, Paris, 1985 No. 27; cf. Jafar, Y: The Seljuq Period in Baghdad 447-552 H: A Numismatic and Historical Study, London, 2011, S.AK504.
Extremely fine.
At first sight this coin appears to be an Abbasid dinar struck only in the name of the Caliph al-Mustazhir in Madinat al-Salam. However, closer examination shows that the mint name is actually Mu’askar followed by al-Iman (literally "the citadel of the Iman") which was undoublty another epithet for the capital of the Abbasids, Madinat al-Salam (Bagdad). This mint name is recorded by Yahya Jafar in his book The Seljuq Period in Baghdad, but omitted by Hennequin of the Bibliothèque Nationale and by Album in his Checklist. The events behind this issue clearly involve the Caliph al-Mustazhir who at that time was striking coinage in his own name in Madinat al-Salam, as well as that of his heir ‘Umdat al-din abu’l-Mansur and the Great Saljuq ruler Ghiyath al-din Muhammad, but without the name of Sanjar who, at this time, was usually listed as viceroy under Muhammad. The name Mu’askar with its military conotation suggests the existence of a temporary military mint located maybe in the citadel or a military camp just outside Madinat al-Salam. This is confirmed by the workmanship on the dies, which is clearly that of a die-sinker from the capital.

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Price realized 15'000 CHF
Starting price 15'000 CHF
The auction is closed.
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