ISLAMIC, Umayyad Caliphate. temp. 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, AH 65-86 / AD 685-705. Fals (Bronze, 22 mm, 1.88 g, 12 h), 'Standing Caliph' type, Yubna (biblical Jabneel), AH 74-80 / AD 693/4-699/700. Broad Caliph standing facing, bearded and with radiated halo, placing his right hand on the pommel of his sword and whip band hanging from his right elbow; around, 'muhammad rasul allah' ('Muhammad is the Prophet of God' in Kufic). Rev. Large m in center; in field to right and left, 'fulu - s'yubna' ('Money of Yubna' in Kufic) upwards. Goodwin, Standing Caliph Coinage, pl. 5, 40 var. (same legends, but retrograde). Rare and with attractive earthen highlights. Struck somewhat off center, otherwise, about very fine.


Yubna was an important Jewish cultural and andministration center, especially after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem during the reign of Vespasian. It later became the seat of Christian bishops, until Amr ibn al-'As, one of the 'Sabaha' (Companions of the Prophet Muhammad), captured it during the caliphate of Abu Bak.