Arabia. Rasulid. an-Nasir Ahmad, AH 803-827 / AD 1400–1424. Dirham (Silver, 24 mm, 1.40 g), Pictorial type with lion walking to left, al-Mahjam, AH 807 = AD 1404/5. Central field, in multiple lines: bi-sm Allāh al-Raḥmān al-Raḥīm / lā ilāha illā Allāh / Muḥammad rasūl Allāh (‘In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate. There is no god but God. Muhammad is the Messenger of God’ in Arabic). Margin: Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, ʿAlī, al-aʾimma raḍiya Allāh ʿanhum (‘Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, and ʿAlī, the Imams [the Rightly Guided Caliphs]; may God be pleased with them’ in Arabic). Rev. Central field: Lion walking to left Marginal legend: al-sulṭān al-malik al-Nāṣir Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn Aḥmad ḍuriba bi-l-Mahjam sanat 807 (‘The Sultan, the King, al-Nāṣir Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn Aḥmad; struck at al-Mahjam in the year 807’ in Arabic). Album A-1111. A few flan cracks, some deposits and a ragged edge, otherwise, nearly very fine.


Rasulid dirhams of al-Mahjam are frequently crudely struck on broad, irregular flans. Despite edge losses, the present specimen retains a strong planchet.