Item number: A143

Year: AD 1359-1360

Material: Gold

Size: 10.0 x 10.0 mm / thick: 0.3~1.0 mm

Weight: 0.63 g

Provenance: Spink 2023

This object is a gold coin minted and issued during the reign of Sultan Ahmad II, the third Sultan of the Samudera Pasai Sultanate in Sumatra, Indonesia, from AD 1326 to AD 1360.

The obverse side of the coin bears two lines of Arabic inscription reading “احمد ملك الطاهر ,” which translates to “Ahmad Malik the pious,” The periphery of the coin is adorned with decorative beads. Similarly, the reverse side of the coin features two lines of Arabic inscription reading “السلطان العادل,” meaning “the just Sultan,” with the outer rim embellished with small beads.

In general, it was challenging to differentiate the coins minted by Ahmad II and Ahmad III due to their identical weight, size, and inscriptions. However, this particular coin stands out due to its slightly flattened shape and longer diameter (thinner and bigger), while still maintaining a weight of approximately 0.6 grams. Around the year AD 1360, Ahmad II went into exile due to the invasion by the Majapahit Empire and established a base in a place called Menduga.

These coins, exhibiting dimensions that slightly differ and align with the aforementioned description, are believed to have been minted and circulated by Ahmad II in Menduga, hence considered relatively rare. They represent unique coins from the reign of Ahmad II.

Sultan Ahmad II, the third Sultan of the Sultanate of Samudera Pasai, was the son of Sultan Muhammad I. He reigned approximately from the year AD 1326 to AD 1360. Around AD 1360, due to the invasion by the Majapahit Empire, Ahmad II was compelled to leave the capital of Samudera Pasai and establish a base in Menduga.

Ahmad II embarked on a relatively lengthy reign during his time in power. However, as he endured exile and evaded external threats, he had already reached an advanced age. Consequently, it is believed that he passed away shortly after his exile.

The Sultanate of Samudera Pasai existed from the 13th to the 16th centuries and was an Islamic sultanate located on the northern coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. As one of the Sultanates situated at river mouths, the Sultanate of Samudera Pasai emerged as a crucial nexus for trade between the East and the West, facilitating trade networks with Arabia, India, and China.

The state actively issued gold coins for trade, with pepper serving as the primary commodity, thereby stimulating the overall economic prosperity of the nation. This flourishing trade activity attracted merchants from both within and outside the archipelago.

In the mid-14th century, the Sultanate of Samudera Pasai faced invasion and plunder by the Majapahit Empire. However, it managed to recover and maintain its dominant position in regional trade. Notably, during the mid-15th century, the renowned Chinese explorer Zheng He visited this country.

However, by the year AD 1524, the Sultanate of Samudera Pasai was brought to an end by the expansionist rule of the Sultanate of Aceh. Nevertheless, despite its brief history, the Sultanate of Samudera Pasai left a profound impact on the region.

物件編號: A143

年代: 公元 1359-1360 年

材質: 黃金

尺寸: 10.0 x 10.0 mm / thick: 0.3~1.0 mm

重量: 0.63 g

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2023

此枚為位於印尼蘇門答臘島北部的蘇木都剌國的第三任蘇丹艾哈邁德二世在位期間(公元1326-公元1360年)所發行的金幣。

金幣的正面刻有兩行阿拉伯文銘文「احمد ملك الطاهر」，意為虔誠者艾哈邁德·馬利克，硬幣的周遭則有圓珠子環繞作為裝飾。硬幣背面也同樣刻有兩行阿拉伯銘文「السلطان العادل」，為公正的蘇丹的意思，硬幣的外圈同樣有小圓珠裝飾。

一般而言，由於錢幣的重量、大小以及銘文都相同，目前仍難以分辨艾哈邁德二世與三世所鑄造的錢幣。然而，此枚錢幣的形狀稍有特殊，稍微扁平，直徑較長，但重量仍維持在約0.6公克。約公元1360年，艾哈邁德二世因滿者伯夷帝國的入侵而流亡，並在名為門杜加的地方建立據點。

這些尺寸略有不同、符合上述描述的錢幣，被認為是由艾哈邁德二世在門杜加鑄造發行的，因此較為罕見稀少。它們代表了艾哈邁德二世統治時期的獨特錢幣。 

蘇丹艾哈邁德二世，是蘇木都剌國的第三任蘇丹，他是蘇丹穆罕默德一世的兒子，在位時間大約是從公元1326年到公元1360年。公元1360年左右，由於滿者伯夷帝國的入侵，艾哈邁德二世被迫離開蘇木都剌國的首都，並在名為門杜加的地方建立了據點。 

艾哈邁德二世展開了一段相當漫長的統治生涯。在流亡和逃避外敵的過程中，他年事已高，因此被認為在流亡不久後便去世了。 

蘇木都剌國，存在於公元13到公元16世紀，是位於印尼蘇門答臘島北部海岸的一個伊斯蘭蘇丹國。作為位於河口的蘇丹國之一，蘇木都剌國成為當時東西方貿易的重要樞紐，連接著阿拉伯、印度和中國的貿易網絡。 

該國積極發行金幣進行交易，以胡椒作為主要貿易商品，促進了國家整體經濟的繁榮。這種蓬勃的貿易活動吸引了來自群島內外的商人。 

在公元14世紀中期，蘇木都剌國面臨來自滿者伯夷帝國的入侵和掠奪，但它成功地恢復了並保持了對區域貿易的主導地位。值得注意的是，在公元15世紀中葉，著名的中國探險家鄭和曾訪問過這個國家。 

然而，到了公元1524年，蘇木都剌國被亞齊蘇丹國的擴張統治所終結。儘管如此，蘇木都剌國在其短暫的歷史中仍然留下了深遠的影響。