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1 Dirham - Nasir al-Dawla al-Mawsil
| Issuer | Hamdanid Dynasty |
|---|---|
| Year | 942 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round (irregular) |
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| Obverse description | Central field contains multiple lines of Arabic Kufic inscription arranged in horizontal registers, with the Islamic declaration of faith (shahada) as the primary legend. The central text area is surrounded by a circular marginal legend in Arabic script, reading continuously around the coin. An inner linear border separates the central field from the outer marginal inscription. The strike is typical of hammered Abbasid-style dirhams, with slightly irregular flan edges and moderate relief. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Central field contains multiple horizontal registers of Kufic Arabic inscriptions, including the name of the Prophet Muhammad and the name of the Hamdanid ruler Nasir al-Dawla. The reverse marginal legend runs continuously around the periphery within a circular border, carrying additional religious or dynastic formulae in Kufic script. A secondary inner border ring separates the central inscription block from the outer legend. The flan is slightly uneven, consistent with hand-hammered silver coinage of the 4th century AH. |
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| Additional information |
The Hamdanids ruled northern Mesopotamia and parts of Syria as nominal vassals of the Abbasid caliphate, though in practice they operated with near-total autonomy. Nasir al-Dawla Hasan ibn Abdallah held Mosul from 929 until his sons deposed him in 969, and this dirham falls early in that long tenure — a period when the dynasty was consolidating its grip on the Jazira region while the Abbasid center in Baghdad was effectively controlled by the Buyid amirs.
The Hamdanid silver coinage is notoriously irregular in weight and fineness, a consequence of mint operations that were local and episodic rather than centrally administered.