Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Abbasid Empire
Harun Rashid Gold Dinar
阿拔斯帝國
哈倫·拉希德
金第納爾
Item number: A280
Year: AD 793-801 (AH 177-185)
Material: Gold
Size: 18.3 x 17.1 x 0.8 mm
Weight: 3.9 g
Provenance: Spink 2023
This is a gold dinar issued during the reign of Harun al-Rashid, the fifth caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate, who ruled from AH 177 to AH 185 (AD 793 to AD 801). Harun al-Rashid is also a legendary figure known from the famous collection of folk tales “One Thousand and One Nights” (also known as “Arabian Nights”).
The obverse of the coin features Kufic Arabic calligraphy, with the familiar Muslim declaration of faith, the Shahada, inscribed in the centre: “There is no god but Allah.” Below this, it reads “For the Caliph.” Surrounding this central inscription is a circular text taken from Quran 9:33: “Muhammad is the Messenger of God who has sent him with guidance and the religion of truth, to proclaim it over all religions, even though the polytheists may detest (it).”
On the reverse side, at the centre, is the continuation of the Shahada: “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” The surrounding inscription mentions the year of minting of the dinar but does not specify the location of minting.
During the reign of Harun al-Rashid, various types of dinars were minted, some of which mentioned the place of minting or even the names of local provincial governors. Despite minor differences among these dinars, they all featured the Shahada as the central content on both sides of the coin.
M. Zarazir, “A Counterfeit Abbasid Dinar from The Era of Caliph Harun Al-Rashid Minted in Egypt in 176 A.H. / 792 A.D. in The Name of Musa Ibn Isa,” Egyptian Journal of Archaeological and Restoration Studies, 2020, pp. 189-196
Michael Mitchiner, Oriental Coins and Their Values: The World of Islam (London: Hawkins Publications, 1977)