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1/2 Dirham - al-Zahir Tatar al-Qahira mint
| Issuer | Mamluk Sultanate |
|---|---|
| Year | 1421 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Central field bears bold Arabic inscription in three lines executed in the Mamluk cursive style, giving the name and titles of Sultan al-Zahir Tatar. The legend is framed by a flowing cartouche or partial border, typical of Mamluk hammered coinage. The flan is irregular and slightly clipped at the edges, consistent with hand-struck half-dirham production of the period. The relief of the lettering is high and well-defined despite the small module. |
|---|---|
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| Edge | Plain. |
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| Additional information |
Al-Zahir Tatar ruled for less than three months in 1421 before dying — likely of plague — making his coinage among the briefest-reigned of any Mamluk sultan. The al-Qahira (Cairo) mint was the empire's primary silver-striking facility, but a reign this short left almost no window for meaningful production volume.
A#996 types are encountered far less frequently than half-dirhams of longer-reigning contemporaries like Barquq or Barsbay.