Umayyad Caliphate. Temp. Hisham ibn 'Abd al-Malik, AH 105-125 / AD 724-743. Dirham (Silver, 27 mm, 2.83 g, 2 h), mint-name repeated around, Balkh, AH 115 = AD 733/4. 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-Balkh sanat khams ʿashara wa-miʾa (‘In the name of God, this dirham was struck at Balkh in the year one hundred and fifteen’ in Arabic); all within three circular borders; around, three groups of three pellets and the mint-name Balkh repeated three times. Rev. Central field, in four lines (Qurʾān 112:1-4): Allāh aḥad Allāh / al-ṣamad lam yalid wa / lam yūlad wa-lam yakun / lahū 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). Pellet in center. Margin (Qurʾān 9:33): Muḥammad rasūl Allāh arsalahū bi-l-hudā wa-dīn al-ḥaqq li-yuẓhirahū ʿalā al-dīn kullihī wa-law kariha al-mushrikūn (‘Muhammad 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; around, five pellets and an additional circle. Album 137. ICV 245. Klat 180. An attractive specimen, with sharp details and light toning. Tiny deposits, otherwise, extremely fine.


Balkh was one of the most important cities of Khurasan and a major eastern mint of the Umayyad Caliphate. The repeated Balkh mint-name in the outer border is a notable decorative and diagnostic feature of this issue. It gives the coin a more elaborate appearance than many standard Umayyad post-reform dirhams.