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1 Dirham - Asad ibn Bik Andaraba
| Issuer | Khuttal, Emirate of |
|---|---|
| Year | 883 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Reverse description | Central field displays a multi-line Kufic Arabic inscription in three registers, with the uppermost line reading 'lillah' (to God), the middle lines bearing the name of the Prophet Muhammad as Messenger of God, and the third line naming the local ruler Asad ibn Bik. A circular marginal legend in Arabic Kufic script carries the Quranic verse (9:33): 'Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, who sent him with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all religions, even if the polytheists dislike it.' The flan is irregular and the strike shows characteristic uneven pressure of hand-hammered provincial production. |
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| Edge | Plain. |
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| Additional information |
Khuttal was a small principality in the upper Oxus valley, in what is now southern Tajikistan, that maintained a precarious semi-independence under Abbasid suzerainty through the ninth century. Local rulers like Asad ibn Bik struck their own dirhams but were careful to include Abbasid formulae — a political calculation as much as a religious one. Album 1490 is among the rarer listings in his Central Asian series, reflecting how briefly and tenuously these minor amirs held enough stability to operate a mint at Andaraba.