al-Andalus (Spain). Umayyads. temp. Hisham I ibn 'Abd al-Rahman, AH 172-180 / AD 788-796. Dirham (Silver, 26 mm, 2.67 g, 3 h), Andalus, AH 172 = AD 788/9. 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). Margin: bi-sm Allāh ḍuriba hādhā al-dirham bi-l-Andalus sanat ithnatayn wa sabʿīn wa miʾa (‘In the name of God, this dirham was struck in al-Andalus in the year one hundred and seventy-two’ in Arabic); Within double circular borders; around, five circles and pellets and an additional circle. Rev. Central field, in four lines (Qurʾān 112:1-4): Allāh aḥad Allāh / al-ṣamad lam yalid wa / lam yūlad wa-lam yakun / lahu kufuwan aḥad (‘God is One, God the Eternal Refuge; He begets not, nor is He begotten; and there is none comparable to Him’ in Arabic). Letter nūn at the bottom. 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); within circular borders and an additional circle around. Vives 70. Rare, well centered and beautifully toned. Small areas of weakness, doubling and minor flan faults on the edge, otherwise, extremely fine.