Item number: A1368

Year: AD 773 (AH 157)

Material: Silver

Size: 23.6 x 22.6 mm

Manufactured by: Madinat al-Salam (Baghdad)

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024

This is a silver dirham coin minted during the reign of the second Abbasid Caliph, Al-Mansur, in the year AH 157 (AD 773).

The coinage of the Abbasid Caliphate is characterised by strong Islamic influences. The central area of the obverse side features a three-line Arabic inscription: “لا اله الا الله وحده لا شريك له” (There is no deity but Allah alone, He has no partner), which corresponds to the first half of the Shahada, the most well-known Islamic declaration of faith. Surrounding this central inscription is a circular Arabic legend: “بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بمدينه السلام سنه سبع وخمسين ومئه”, indicating the coin’s minting location and date. Translated, it reads: “In the name of Allah, this dirham was struck in Madinat al-Salam (Baghdad) in the year AH 157.”

The reverse side of the coin features the second half of the Shahada in the centre: “محمد رسول الله” (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). Below this, the word “بخ” is inscribed, meaning “excellent” in Arabic, signifying that the coin’s quality is guaranteed. Encircling this central inscription is a circular legend taken from the Quran (Surah 9:33): “هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ”, which translates as: “It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it.”

Al-Mansur, the brother of the Abbasid Caliphate’s founder Al-Saffah, ascended to the throne in AD 754 following his brother’s death from illness. Under Al-Mansur’s rule, the Abbasid Caliphate was firmly established, with governance and legal systems solidified. He is also credited with constructing the magnificent “Round City” in the western suburbs of Baghdad, which became the imperial capital and one of the most advanced cities in the world at the time.

According to historical accounts, Al-Mansur was a tall and slender man with sparse facial hair, known for his austere lifestyle. While he disliked music, he was an avid lover of poetry. In AD 775, Al-Mansur passed away during a pilgrimage to Mecca and was buried near the holy city.

物件編號: A1368

年代: 公元 773 年 (回曆 157 年)

材質: 銀

尺寸: 23.6 x 22.6 mm

製造地: 巴格達

來源: 福君錢幣 2024

這是一枚阿拔斯帝國的第二任哈里發曼蘇爾任內，於回曆157年(公元773年)鑄造的迪拉姆銀幣。

阿拔斯帝國的錢幣形制帶有濃厚的伊斯蘭教色彩，錢幣正面的中央有三行阿拉伯銘文「لا اله الا الله وحده لا شريك له」出自穆斯林最為熟悉的清真言前半段「萬物非主，唯有真主」。周圍的環形銘文「بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بمدينه السلام سنه سبع وخمسين ومئه」標示錢幣的鑄造地點和時間，即「奉阿拉之名，這枚迪拉姆於回曆157年鑄造於巴格達」。

錢幣背面的中央是清真言後半段「محمد رسول الله」即「穆罕默德是真主的使者」，而在下方打印一對對齊的「بخ」在阿拉伯語是「傑出」的意思，代表錢幣的品質是受到保證的。外圍的環形銘文「هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ」出自《古蘭經9:33》，即「他就是使他的使者帶著正道和真教來的，要使此教勝過一切宗教，雖然以物配主的人不喜歡」。

曼蘇爾是帝國創立者薩法赫的胞弟，於公元754年兄長因病去世後繼承王位。阿拔斯帝國在曼蘇爾的統治下走上正軌，他不僅奠定帝國的統治和法律制度，更在巴格達西郊打造華麗的「圓城」作為帝都，成為當時世界發展最為先進的大城市之一。根據相關文獻的描述，曼蘇爾是鬍鬚稀疏的高瘦男子且生活風格十分純樸，雖然討厭音樂卻又酷愛詩詞。公元775年，曼蘇爾在前往麥加朝覲的半路上歸真，死後葬於聖地麥加附近。