'Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Ma'mun, AH 193-218 / AD 809-833. Dirham (Silver, 23 mm, 2.94 g, 9 h), citing Ṭāhir ibn al-Ḥusayn as Dhū al-Yamīnayn and mawlā of al-Maʾmūn, Muhammadiya (Rayy), AH 196 = AD 811/2. 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). Inner margin: bi-sm Allāh ḍuriba hādhā al-dirham bi-l-Muḥammadiya sanat sitt wa-tisʿīn wa-miʾa (‘In the name of God, this dirham was struck at al-Muḥammadiya in the year one hundred and ninety-six’ in Arabic). Outer margin: Dhū al-Yamīnayn ◦ Ṭāhir ◦ ibn al-Ḥusayn ◦ mawlā al-Maʾmūn ◦ (‘Dhū al-Yamīnayn Ṭāhir ibn al-Ḥusayn, servant of al-Maʾmūn’ in Arabic). Rev. Central field, in five lines: li-llāh / Muḥammad rasūl Allāh / mimmā amara bihi ʿAbd Allāh ʿAbd Allāh / al-Maʾmūn amīr al-muʾminīn / al-Faḍl (‘For God / Muhammad is the Messenger of God / from that ordered by the servant of God ʿAbd Allāh / al-Maʾmūn, Commander of the Faithful / al-Faḍl’ 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 (‘Muhammad is the Messenger of God, whom He sent with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all religion, even though the polytheists may dislike it’ in Arabic). Album 223.3a. Miles, Rayy 97C. A rare and interesting historical issue. Slightly bent, light marks and a weakly struck reverse, otherwise, very fine.



This issue is notable for naming Ṭāhir ibn al-Ḥusayn in the outer obverse margin with the honorific Dhū al-Yamīnayn and as mawlā of al-Maʾmūn. The reverse names al-Maʾmūn as amīr al-muʾminīn and includes al-Faḍl, almost certainly al-Faḍl ibn Sahl, the influential vizier of al-Maʾmūn known as Dhū al-Riyāsatayn. The combination of these names reflects the eastern political and military network supporting al-Maʾmūn during the Abbasid civil war.