ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, AH 65-86 / AD 685-705. Fals (Bronze, 26 mm, 2.95 g, 11 h), 'Standing Caliph' type, uncertain mint in Jund Qinnasrin, AH 74-80 = AD 693/4-699/700. Caliph standing facing, bearded, placing his right hand on the pommel of his sword; around, blundered legend. Rev. Transformed cross standing on three steps; in field to right, meaningless mint name; around, blundered and retrograde part of the first Kalima. DOCAB -. Goodwin, Standing Caliph Coinage -. SICA I -. Apparently unpublished save for its previous auction appearance, a very interesting issue of charming style. Good very fine.


T. Goodwin noted, in correspondence with this cataloguer, that the coin is a contemporary imitation made somewhere in Jund Qinnasrin. The somewhat strange Caliph image looks like the work of the same die engraver as Goodwin, Standing Caliph Coinage, Cat. 427.