Umayyad Caliphate. Uncertain period (post-reform), circa AH 80s / CE 700s. Fals (Bronze, 26 mm, 3.40 g, 3 h), Iliyā (Jerusalem), no date. Within three circular borders, central field in three lines: lā ilāha / illā Allāh / waḥdahū (‘There is no deity / except God / alone’ in Arabic). Rev. Central field, in three lines: Muḥammad / rasūl / Allāh (‘Muhammad is the Messenger of God’ in Arabic), pellet above field and after third line; in margin: bi-sm Allāh ḍuriba hādhā al-fals bi-Iliyāʾ (‘In the name of God, this fals was struck at Iliyāʾ’ in Arabic); all within circular borders. Album 179. Jeselsohn IV 153. SNA Tübingen IVa, 10-13. Walker p. 124. Attractive earthen highlights. Flan faults on the edge, otherwise, good very fine.



Iliyāʾ is the early Islamic Arabic form of Aelia, the Roman name of Jerusalem, Aelia Capitolina. Its appearance on this Umayyad fals is historically important, preserving the transitional naming tradition of Jerusalem before the later Islamic name al-Quds became dominant.