Umayyad Caliphate. temp. al-Walid I ibn 'Abd al-Malik, AH 86-96 / AD 705-715. Dirham (Silver, 27 mm, 2.55 g, 6 h), Herat, AH 92 = 710/1. Central field, in three lines: lā ilāha illā / Allāh waḥdahū / lā sharīka lahū (‘There is no deity but God alone; He has no associate’ in Arabic). Margin: bi-sm Allāh ḍuriba hādhā al-dirham bi-Hirāt sanat ithnatayn wa-tisʿīn (‘In the name of God, this dirham was struck in Herāt in the year ninety-two’ in Arabic); within triple circular borders; around, five pellets and an additional circle. Rev. Central field, in four lines (Qurʾān 112:1-4): Allāh aḥad Allāh / al-ṣamad lam yalid wa / lam yūlad wa-lam yakun / lahu kufuwan aḥad (‘God is One, God the Eternal Refuge; He begets not, nor is He begotten; and there is none comparable to Him’ in Arabic). Margin (Qurʾān 9:33): Muḥammad rasūl Allāh arsalahu bi-l-hudā wa-dīn al-ḥaqq li-yuẓhirahu ʿalā al-dīn kullihi wa-law kariha al-mushrikūn (‘Muḥammad is the Messenger of God, whom He sent with guidance and the religion of truth that He may cause it to prevail over all religion, even though the polytheists may dislike it’ in Arabic); within circular borders; around, five pellets and an additional circle. ICV 295. Klat 655.b. A rare date for the mint. Some areas of weakness, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.


The eastern mint of Herat was an important provincial center of Umayyad silver production in Khurāsān. Although coins from this mint are known for several years of the early eighth century, issues dated AH 92 are comparatively rare, belonging to the early phase of Umayyad epigraphic dirham production in the region following the monetary reform of ʿAbd al-Malik.