ISLAMIC, al-Maghreb (North Africa). Idrisids. Idris II, AH 175-213 / AD 791-828. Dirham (Silver, 24 mm, 2.22 g). ‘lā ilāha [illā] / Allāh waḥdahū / lā sharīka lahū / …’ (‘There is no deity but Allah, the One, there is no partner to Him. …’ in Arabic); incomplete mint and date formula in the margin.. Rev. ‘ʿAlī / Muḥammad / rasūl / Allāh / Idrīs’ (‘ʿAli. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Idris’ in Arabic); in the margin, traces of ‘Muḥammad rasūl Allāh arsalahū bi al-hudā wa dīn al-ḥaqq liyuẓhirahū ʿalā al-dīn kullih wa law kariha al-mushrikūn’ (‘Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. He sent him with guidance and the religion of truth, so that He may make it overcome all religions, even though the unbelievers may dislike it’ in Arabic). Album 421. Rare. Poorly struck on a small flan, otherwise, fine.


The Idrisids were descended from the family of ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib, the son-in-law of Muhammad and the first Imam of Shīʿa Muslims. Hence the name of ʿAlī is written on this coin.