ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, AH 65-86 / AD 685-705. Fals (Bronze, 22 mm, 3.11 g, 1 h), 'Standing Caliph' type, Harran (Carrhae), AH 74-80 / AD 693/4-699/700. Caliph standing facing, bearded, placing his right hand on the pommel of his sword; downwards to left, 'Muhammad' in Kufic; downwards to right, 'Harran' in Kufic.
Rev. Transformed cross standing on three steps; in field to left, monogram of AH or HA; downwards to right, 'Muhammad' in Kufic; in exergue, I S. Album 19 (2014), 279. DOCAB -. Goodwin, Standing Caliph Coinage, Harran, 415. Obolos 5 (2016), 1049. SICA I, 687. Extremely rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. A very attractive example struck on an exceptionally broad flan. Very fine.
From a collection of Arab-Byzantine and Crusader coins, formed in the 1990s.
The extremely rare 'Standing Caliphs' from Harran are perhaps the most interesting 'Standing Caliphs' struck by Abd-al Malik. What makes them especially puzzling is the fact that the legends only name the mint and - twice! - Muhammad, but without any of the prophet's usual epithets, as well as the enigmatic appearance of the Greek letters and IS or Iς and an uncertain symbol or monogram on the reverse, the meaning of which remains a mystery.
