'Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muqtadir, third reign, AH 317-320 / AD 929-932. Dinar (Gold, 24 mm, 3.61 g, 2 h), Citing heir Abu’l-‘Abbas, Filasṭīn (Palestine), AH 317 = AD 929/30. Central field, in five lines: lā ilāha illā / Allāh waḥdahū / lā sharīka lahū / Abū l-ʿAbbās ibn / amīr al-muʾminīn (‘There is no deity but God alone; He has no associate; Abū l-ʿAbbās, son of the Commander of the Believers’ in Arabic). Inner margin: bi-sm Allāh ḍuriba hādhā al-dīnār bi-Filasṭīn sanat sabʿ ʿashar wa-thalātha miʾa (‘In the name of God, this dinar was struck in Filasṭīn in the year 317’ in Arabic). Outer margin: li-llāh al-amr min qabl wa-min baʿd wa-yawmaʾidhin yafraḥu al-muʾminūn bi-naṣr Allāh (Qurʾān 30:4-5). Rev. Central field, in five lines: li-llāh / Muḥammad / rasūl / Allāh / al-Muqtadir bi-llāh (‘For God; Muḥammad is the Messenger of God; al-Muqtadir bi-llāh’ in Arabic). Margin: 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 to make it prevail over all religion, even though the polytheists may dislike it’ in Arabic). Pellet in center. Album 245.2. Bernardi 242Gn. Jeselsohn 430. An attractive and well-preserved example from this rare mint. Small areas of weakness and some doubling, otherwise, about extremely fine.



Dinars of al-Muqtadir struck in Filasṭīn (Palestine) are rarer than those of the principal ʿAbbāsid mints and form an appealing provincial branch of the series. The present type is notable for naming the heir Abū l-ʿAbbās ibn amīr al-muʾminīn on the obverse, a feature characteristic of this issue and an important reflection of dynastic presentation on the coinage.