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Dirham - al-Ma'mun
| Issuer | Abbasid Caliphate |
|---|---|
| Year | 819-830 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Central field bears a three-line Kufic Arabic religious inscription (the Shahada), reading 'lā ilāha illā / Allāhu waḥdahu / lā sharīka lahu' ('There is no god but God alone, He has no partner'). The central inscription is enclosed within a single circular border ring. The marginal legend, commencing at approximately 1 o'clock and reading from right to left, carries the mint and date formula beginning 'bismillāh ḍuriba hādhā al-dirham bi-al-Muḥammadīya sana arbaʿ wa-miʾatayn,' identifying the mint and AH year. The outer margin is further defined by two concentric rings enclosing a decorative band of evenly spaced annulets. |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بالمحمدية سنة أربع و مائتين |
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| Additional information |
Al-Ma'mun's reign produced one of the most politically turbulent coinage sequences in Abbasid history. After defeating his brother al-Amin in civil war, he governed for years from Merv rather than Baghdad, and his dirhams from this period reflect shifting administrative loyalties — some name his Alid heir-apparent Ali al-Ridha, a designation quickly abandoned after al-Ridha's death in 818. The Album 223.7 type falls within the subsequent phase, after al-Ma'mun finally returned west and reasserted orthodox Sunni caliphal framing on his coinage.