Dirham - al-Hadi

Features

Issuer	Abbasid Caliphate
Caliph	Al-Hadi (أبو محمد موسى الهادي) (785-786)
Type	Standard circulation coins
Years	169-170 (785-786)
Calendar	Islamic (Hijri)
Value	1 Dirham (0.7)
Currency	Dinar (750-1517)
Composition	Silver
Weight	2.68 g
Shape	Round (irregular)
Technique	Hammered
Orientation	Variable alignment ↺
Demonetized	Yes
Number	N# 77207
References	Album Islamic# 217.2 Stephen Album; 2011. A Checklist of Islamic Coins (3^rd Edition). Self-published, Santa Rosa, California, United States.

Obverse

Arabic text in three rows in the center. First row "لا اله الا".
This text is surrounded by one row of Arabic text. Starting with "بسم الله" at 1 o'clock reading from right to left.
Two rings in the margin with annulets evenly distributed.

Script: Arabic

Lettering:
لا اله الا
الله وحده
لا شرك له

بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بالمحمدية سنة سبعين و مئة

Translation:
There is no deity except (the one) God alone. He has no equal.

In the name of God. This dirham was struck in Muhammadiya in the year seventy and one hundred.

Reverse

Arabic text in four rows in the center. First row starts with "محمد".

The center text is surrounded by two rings.
One row of Arabic text in the margin between these rings. Starting with "محمد" at 1 o'clock reading from right to left.

Script: Arabic

Lettering:
محمد رسول
الله صلى الله
عليه و سلم
الخليفة الهادى

محمد رسول الله ارسله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله ولو كره المشركون

Translation:
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. Caliph al-Hadi.

He sent him with guidance and the true religion to reveal it to all religions even if the polytheists abhor it.

Mints

	al-Muhammadiyah, modern-day Hasanabad, Iran
	Madinat al-Salam, modern-day Baghdad, Iraq (767-912)
	Qasr al-Salam, modern-day Baghdad, Iraq (783-785)
	هارون اباد, al-Haruniyah, Iran

Comments

While the main design of this type is the same there are also small differences within this type.

The most common differences are the annulets found at the margin of the coins, sometimes on both sides and sometimes only on one. These annulets may differ in sizes, patterns etc. There is not yet a consensus about the annulets. One theory is that the patterns are dependent on the manager of the mint, i.e. if he moves to another mint, he “brings” the pattern to that mint.

Sometimes the coins from al-Haruniyah are citing a local official on the reverse. In very rare cases it could also appear on coins from other mints.

Sometimes the coins have random letters above or below the center text on the reverse.

Example of local officials appearing on the coins:

bin Mazyad بن مزىد

Yusuf ىوسف

Ibrahim ابرهم (often splitted between top and bottom )

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Date					VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
Undetermined
169 (785)												al-Muhammadiyah
169 (785)												Madinat al-Salam
169 (785)												Qasr al-Salam
170 (786)												al-Haruniyah
170 (786)												al-Muhammadiyah
170 (786)												Madinat al-Salam

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