© IFS (CC BY-SA)
© IFS (CC BY-SA)
Dirham - Nur al-Din Arslan Shah I
594 (1193-1211) years| Copper | 12.88 g | 29 mm |
| Issuer | Emirate of Mosul (Zengid dynasty) |
|---|---|
| Emir | Nur al-Din Arslan Shah I (1193-1211) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 594 (1193-1211) |
| Calendar | Islamic (Hijri) |
| Value | 1 Dirham (0.7) |
| Currency | Dinar (1127-1250) |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 12.88 g |
| Diameter | 29 mm |
| Thickness | 2.5 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#325779 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
In five lines: SHAH IBN MAS'UD, AL-NASIR LEDIN ELLAH AMIR AL-MU'MENIN AL MALIK AL-ADIL, NUR AL DUNYA WAL DIL.
To the right, vertically: ATABEG ARSLAN
To the left: IBN MAWDUD
Script: Arabic
Edge
Plain, irregular
Comment
Also catalogued in Spengler & Sayles as SS #64Michael Mitchiner gives a 10-15 gram weight range for this type, and most examples are heavier than 12 grams.
Several examples in better grade:
On the last two images, the vertical writing on the right side of the reverse, is clearly different, meaning possibly the existence of two different types or variants, which needs further investigation.
Check Zeno for several examples: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nur_al-Din_Arslan_Shah_I
For historical reference to Arslan Shah, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nur_al-Din_Arslan_Shah_I
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it was issued during the reign of Nur al-Din Arslan Shah I, who was a prominent leader of the Zengid dynasty, which was a powerful Turkish dynasty that ruled much of the Middle East and Central Asia during the 12th and 13th centuries. The coin's design and inscriptions reflect the cultural and religious influences of the time, and its copper composition was a common material used for coinage in the region during that period.
