Item number: A140

Year: AD 1359-1361

Material: Tin

Size: 10.1 x 9.6 mm / thick: 0.3~1.0 mm

Provenance: Spink 2023

This object is a tin 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 “Mu’iz Ad-Din,” which is Ahmad II’s lakab, meaning “Who gives glory to the faith.” Similarly, the reverse side of the coin features two lines of Arabic inscription reading “السلطان العادل,” meaning “the just Sultan.”

This coin is presumed to have been minted during the period of exile of Ahmad II to Menduga. Around AD 1360, Ahmad II fled due to the invasion of the Majapahit Empire and established a stronghold in a place called Menduga. In comparison to coins minted during other periods of Ahmad II (see related artefacts) and those of Ahmad III with the same name, the coins minted by Ahmad II during this time are relatively flat with a longer diameter, yet maintaining a weight of approximately 0.6 grams.

This coin not only exhibits unique dimensions but also bears inscriptions speculated to be the titles of Ahmad II, thereby categorising it as a relatively rare artefact. It represents distinctive coinage 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 AD 1326 to AD 1360. Around the year 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 a place called 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, in 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: A140

年代: 公元 1359-1361 年

材質: 錫

尺寸: 10.1 x 9.6 mm / thick: 0.3~1.0 mm

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)所發行的錫幣。

此枚硬幣的正面刻有「Mu’iz Ad-Din」的阿拉伯文字 ，為艾哈邁德二世的封號，此名稱的原意為「將榮耀歸於信仰者」。背面則刻有兩行阿拉伯銘文「السلطان العادل」 ，意為公正的蘇丹。 

這枚硬幣被推測為艾哈邁德二世流亡至門杜加的時期所鑄造。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。 與其他時期的艾哈邁德二世(見相關物件)和同名的艾哈邁德三世所鑄造發行的錢幣相比，艾哈邁德二世此時發行的錢幣相對扁平、錢幣的直徑較長，但重量仍維持在約0.6公克。

這種錢幣不但尺寸較特殊，錢幣上更刻有推測為艾哈邁德二世封號的字樣，因此屬於較罕見的物件，代表著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。