© escoins (CC BY-NC-SA)
© escoins (CC BY-NC-SA)
Fals - Sha'ban II al-Ashraf Nasir al-Din Hamah ND
| Copper | 2.71 g | 19 mm |
| Issuer | Mamluk Sultanate |
|---|---|
| Sultan | Sha'ban II (1363-1376) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1363-1377 |
| Value | 1 Fals (1⁄60) |
| Currency | Dinar (1250-1517) |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 2.71 g |
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#137152 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 91% |
Reverse
Thick circle line with pellets on the outside. Inside, a fish bent clockwise, with 5 droplets of water below, and legend above and below.
Script: Arabic
Lettering:
بحماه
ضرب
Translation:
in Hamah
Struck
Comment
The weight of this coin varies widely according to Zeno.ru, from 1,05 gr to 2,71 gr, but majority of samples are around 2,40 gr.
Diameters vary from 14 to 21 mm, some coins being not circular.
There is no date on the coin.
This coin is also catalogued as SNAT Hamah 608-611 (Sylloge Numorum Arabicorum Tübingen IV c. Bilād aš-Šām III. Ḥamāh / by Lorenz Korn )
Balog believes the fish is a heraldic symbol, given it's central position and prominence on the reverse.
Here are some more examples of this type, credits to Zeno.ru
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it was issued during the reign of Sultan Sha'ban II, who was known for his military campaigns and administrative reforms, and this coin was likely used to finance his military campaigns.
