'Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Ma'mun, AH 199-218 / AD 813-833. Dinar (Gold, 18 mm, 3.50 g, 5 h), Citing Muḥammad (b. ʿAlī) governor of Yemen, [Sanʿa], AH 203 = AD 818/9. Central field, in four lines: lā ilāha illā / Allāh waḥdahu / lā sharīka lahu / Muḥammad (‘There is no god but God alone, He has no associate. Muhammad’ in Arabic). Margin: Muḥammad rasūl Allāh arsalahu bi-l-hudā wa-dīn al-ḥaqq [li-yuẓhirahu ʿalā al-dīn kullihi] (‘Muhammad is the Messenger of God, whom He sent with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all religion’ in Arabic). Rev. Central field, in three lines: Muḥammad / rasūl / Allāh (‘Muhammad is the Messenger of God’ in Arabic). Margin: bi-sm Allāh ḍuriba hādhā al-dīnār sanat thalāth wa-miʾatayn (‘In the name of God, this dinar was struck in the year two hundred and three’ in Arabic). Album A1050.1. Bernardi 112. Lowick 167. SICA 10, 219. Very rare. Clipped and with some marks, otherwise, very fine.


Early Abbasid dinars of Yemen commonly omit the mint name. The attribution to Yemen is supported by style, fabric, and the appearance of the governor’s name.