© Stephen Album Rare Coins
© Stephen Album Rare Coins
Fals al-Basra
| Bronze | 3.5 g | - |
| Issuer | Abbasid Caliphate |
|---|---|
| Caliph | Al-Rashid (هارون الرشيد) (786-809) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 174-176 (790-792) |
| Calendar | Islamic (Hijri) |
| Value | 1 Fals (1⁄60) |
| Currency | Dinar (750-1517) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 3.5 g |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#422248 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Five line central inscription within two thin circles, circular legend surrounding..
Script: Arabic
Comment
Weight is variable, with specimens between about 2 g. and 5 g. known.
Some date/inscription combinations (reference Stephen Album auction descriptions and images):
AH 174 - citing the caliph's son Sulayman , and the governor Muhammad b. Ishaq
© Stephen Album Rare Coins
AH 175 - citing the heir apparent to the caliphate, al-Amin, the governor Isa b. Ja'far, and the subordinate official al-Muhallab:
© Stephen Album Rare Coins
AH 176 - citing the heir-apparent to the caliphate as al-Mahdi Muhammad, the governor 'Isa b. Ja'far and the subordinate official al-Muhallab (main photos),
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Standard circulation coin Fals (al-Basra) 174-176 (790-792) from Abbasid Caliphate made of Bronze weighing 3.5 g is that it features a unique blend of Islamic and pre-Islamic influences in its design. The coin's obverse side features the Arabic inscription "Al-Mu'tasim bi'llah" (meaning "Al-Mu'tasim in the name of God"), while the reverse side features a stylized depiction of a fire altar, which was a common motif in pre-Islamic Persian coinage. This blending of styles reflects the cultural diversity of the Abbasid Caliphate, which spanned across a vast territory that included present-day Iraq, Iran, and parts of Central Asia.
