'Abbasid Caliphate. temp. Al-Ma'mun, AH 193-218 / AD 809-833. Dirham (Silver, 26 mm, 2.76 g, 9 h), citing Dhū al-Riyāsatayn [al-Faḍl ibn Sahl], vizier of the caliph al-Maʾmūn, Samarqand, AH 200 = AD 815/6. Central field, in four lines: lā ilāha illā / Allāh waḥdahū / lā sharīka lahū / al-Mashriq (‘There is no deity but God alone / God alone / He has no associate / the East’ in Arabic). Margin: ḍuriba hādhā al-dirham bi-madīnat Samarqand sanat miʾatayn (‘This dirham was struck in the city of Samarqand in the year two hundred’ in Arabic); around, five circular ornaments. Rev. Central field, in five lines: li-llāh / Muḥammad / rasūl / Allāh / Dhū al-Riyāsatayn (‘For God / Muḥammad / Messenger / of God / Dhū al-Riyāsatayn (holder of the two ministries)’ 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). SICA III, 901. A beautifully struck example with attractiv toning. Very minor marks, otherwise, good extremely fine.


These historically important issues name Dhū al-Riyāsatayn (“Holder of the Two Offices”), the title of al-Faḍl ibn Sahl, the powerful vizier of the ʿAbbasid caliph al-Maʾmūn. The title refers to his authority over both the civil administration and the military command of the eastern provinces, an exceptional concentration of power in the early ninth century.