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1 Riyal - Yahya Gold Presentation
| Issuer | Imamate of Yemen |
|---|---|
| Year | 1926 |
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| Currency | Rial (1918-1974) |
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| Obverse description | The obverse features an elaborate multi-line Arabic inscription in ornate calligraphic script occupying the central field within a circular border of fine milling. The legend names Imam Yahya Muhammad Hamid ed-Din as Commander of the Faithful and invokes divine assistance, with the Hijri year 1322 incorporated into the text. The inscription is arranged in a curvilinear, interlocking fashion characteristic of Yemeni coinage of the period, filling the field entirely. A decorative foliate wreath of olive or laurel branches frames the lower portion of the central inscription, converging at a rosette at the base. The overall design reflects the traditional Islamic calligraphic style employed at the Sana'a Mint during the reign of Imam Yahya. |
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays a central circular cartouche bearing the Shahada in two lines — the declaration of faith — surmounted by the word 'Allah' and enclosed within a bold circular frame. The epithet 'Imadi' appears prominently at the top of the field above the cartouche, flanked by foliate branches. Surrounding the central cartouche, further Arabic legends in flowing calligraphic script record the mint name, place of striking (Sana'a, abode of the Caliphate), and the Hijri date 1344. The composition is symmetrical and monumental in character, consistent with the formal presentation coinage issued under Imam Yahya. The milled border frames the entire design with a regular dentilated edge. |
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| Additional information |
Imam Yahya ibn Muhammad ruled the Mutawakkilite Kingdom with near-total isolation from foreign influence — a deliberate policy that extended to his monetary system. This piece was not struck for circulation. Gold presentation riyals of this type were produced in tiny quantities as diplomatic gifts and marks of royal favor, functioning more as portable instruments of political negotiation than as coinage in any transactional sense.
Fr#2 in Friedberg confirms its rarity within the gold presentation series. The 35.5g weight corresponds to no standard international trade coin, suggesting it was sized to Yemeni convention rather than aligned to any foreign monetary system Yahya was otherwise keen to avoid.