Transitional Fals Issue From The Time Of Umayyad Caliph ʿAbd al-Malik, 66 AH / 685 CE

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First Composed: 30th December 2009

Last Modified: 26th January 2010

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Assalamu ʿalaykum wa rahamatullahi wa barakatuhu:

Transitional Fals Issue From The Time Of ʿAbd al-Malik.

Date

66 AH / 685 CE.

Contents

Obverse field: Two standing figures, facing, wearing long robes and Arab head-dress adorned with six-pointed stars. Their right hand is on their swords. Between them, on three steps, a pointed staff with globe. No inscription is present.

Reverse field: Large ‘M’, six pointed star above, ‘A’ below. Obverse margin: bism Allāh ʿAbd Allāh ʿAbd al-Malik Amīr al-Muʾminīn ("In the name of God. The slave of God ʿAbd al-Malik, Commander of the Faithful").

Comments[1]

Although the coins bears no mintmark, the kufic inscription leaves no doubt that it was an official issue of the Umayyad caliph. Clive Floss is of the opinion that this type apparently represents the caliph ʿAbd al-Malik and his brother ʿAbd al-Azīz, who were jointly proclaimed as successors to their father Marwan in 684/85 CE. It is probably an accession issue of ʿAbd al-Malik, who assumed supreme power, with his brother recognized as successor, in April 685 CE.

Location

Not known.

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References

[1] C. Floss, Arab-Byzantine Coins: An Introduction, With A Catalogue Of The Dumberton Oaks Collection, 2008, Dumberton Oaks Byzantine Collection Publications - 12, Harvard University Press, pp. 60-61. The text is adpated from here.

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