LOT / Treasure, World, U.S. Coin & Paper Money Auc... / SPAIN (Al-Andalus), Córdoba, AR dirham Abd ...

1309

SPAIN (Al-Andalus), Córdoba, AR dirham Abd al-Rahman III al-Nasir 337 AH Hebrew inscription unique

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / World Coins By Country Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD

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SPAIN (Al-Andalus), Umayyads, Caliphate of Córdoba, AR dirham, Abd al-Rahman III al-Nasir, 337 AH (949 AD), Madinat al-Zahra mint, obverse with Hebrew inscription, unique, NGC AU 53, Ariza Plate Vives-417. 2.93 grams. 24 mm. Bold full inscriptions, lightly toned all over.

Obverse (IA)
Central inscription:
لا اله الا
الله وحده
لا شرك له
محمد
There is no God but
God alone
He has no partner
Muhammad
Marginal inscription:
بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بمدينة الزهرا سنة سبعة وثلاثون وثلاثمائه
In the name of God. This dirham was struck in Madinat al Zahra in the year three hundred and thirty seven.

Reverse (IIA)
Central inscription:
الإمام الناصر لدين
الله عبد الرحمن
امير المؤمنين
al Imam al Nasir li din
Allah Abd al Rahman
Commander of the Faithful
Marginal inscription:
محمد رسول الله ارسله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله ولو كره المشركون
Muhammad rasul Allāh arsula bil-hudá wa dīn al-haqq liyužhirahu `alá ad-dīn kullih wa law kariha al-mushrikūn
Muhammad is the Messenger of God. He sent him with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all religion, even though the polytheists may oppose it.

This specimen, studied by Dr. Almudena Ariza, is a coin of exceptional historical and numismatic interest. On the obverse appears a small vertical inscription in the left field whose reading can only be interpreted as Hebrew. The similarity of the characters and of the formula itself to those found on certain transitional, Idrisid, and Kharijite issues, where a Hebrew legend also appears associated with the Islamic profession of faith, suggests that it may represent a shortened pious or validating expression intended to accompany the Islamic declaration of monotheism. Considering the recognizable characters, including an initial alef and a final yod, the inscription may correspond to the expression אמן וכן י, interpreted as “Amen, and so it is,” followed by the initial י of יהוה (YHWH) or Yah, one of the names of the divinity. In this sense the phrase would function as an affirmation such as “So it is,” “Indeed it is,” or “Truly it is,” reinforcing the proclamation of belief in a single God.

The presence of such an inscription on a caliphal coin carries extraordinary historical significance. On the one hand, it supports earlier hypotheses advanced by scholars such as Miles, Bates, and Vives regarding other issues bearing Hebrew characters. On the other, it reflects the prominent role that certain members of the Jewish community achieved within the intellectual and administrative environment of Madinat al Zahra during the reign of Abd al Rahman III. Among the most notable figures was Hasday ibn Shaprut, whose influence at the Andalusí court was considerable. A physician, diplomat, and supervisor of customs revenues, he served as a trusted adviser within the Umayyad administration. His prominence illustrates the broader participation of Jewish elites in the political and economic structures of the medieval Mediterranean. Within such a context, the appearance of a Hebrew inscription on an official caliphal issue is not only plausible but understandable. Its precise function remains open to interpretation, whether ideological, administrative, political, or possibly decorative. Regardless, this dirham struck at the official mint of Madinat al Zahra represents an entirely exceptional piece within the numismatics of the medieval Islamic West.

Featured on back cover of printed catalog. NGC #8437667-001. Plate Coin in article by Dr. Almudena Ariza Armada in Al Qanṭara magazine (Vol XL/1, 2019), pp. 13-42.

Note about NGC census information: Because NGC codes for these types are not broken down by date and/or mint, that information may be included on the labels when space is available, but is not reflected in the codes themselves, and therefore does not appear in census data. Because of this, some coins are the finest certified for their dates and/or mints but are not reflected as “top pop” in the census.

Please use this link to verify the certification number

Please use this link to read the original article: Nueva tipología monetal de la ceca Madīnat al-Zahrā’ a nombre del califa ‘Abd al-Raḥmān III con leyenda en hebreo New Monetary Typology of ‘Abd al-Raḥmān III from Madīnat al-Zahrā’ Mint with Hebrew Inscription If Tax Number is requested and supplied, buyer will be exempt from paying tax on his invoice. (FLORIDA) NOTE: Read the terms and conditions or contact us regarding possible tax collection outside of Florida.

Taxes:

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FSTA	6.75%	Florida Sales Tax - Alachua
FSTB	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Baker
FSTB	6%	Florida Sales Tax - Bay
FSTB	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Bradford
FSTB	6%	Florida Sales Tax - Brevard
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FSTC	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Clay
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FSTC	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Columbia
FSTD	7%	Florida Sales Tax - De Soto
FSTD	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Dixie
FSTD	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Duval
FSTE	7.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Escambia
FSTF	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Flagler
FSTF	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Franklin
FSTG	7.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Gadsden
FSTG	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Gilchrist
FSTG	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Glades
FSTG	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Gulf
FSTH	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Hamilton
FSTH	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Hardee
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FSTH	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Highlands
FSTH	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Hillsborough
FSTH	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Holmes
FSTI	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Indian River
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FSTL	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Lake
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FSTL	7.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Leon
FSTL	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Levy
FSTL	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Liberty
FSTM	7.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Madison
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FSTM	6.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Marion
FSTM	6.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Martin
FSTM	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Miami-Dade
FSTM	7.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Monroe
FSTN	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Nassau
FSTO	6%	Florida Sales Tax - Okaloosa
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FSTO	6.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Orange
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FSTS	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Santa Rosa
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FSTT	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Taylor
FSTU	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Union
FSTV	6.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Volusia
FSTW	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Wakulla
FSTW	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Walton
FSTW	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Washington

Buyer's Premiums:

From (Incl.)	To (Excl.)	Premium
0.00	Infinite	20%

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This lot is part of the auction: Treasure, World, U.S. Coin & Paper Money Auction 39 Back To Catalog Listing

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From (Incl.)	To (Excl.)	Increment
0.00	50.00	2.00
50.00	100.00	5.00
100.00	200.00	10.00
200.00	300.00	20.00
300.00	500.00	25.00
500.00	1,000.00	50.00
1,000.00	2,000.00	100.00
2,000.00	3,000.00	200.00
3,000.00	5,000.00	250.00
5,000.00	10,000.00	500.00
10,000.00	20,000.00	1,000.00
20,000.00	30,000.00	2,000.00
30,000.00	50,000.00	2,500.00
50,000.00	100,000.00	5,000.00
100,000.00	200,000.00	10,000.00
200,000.00	300,000.00	20,000.00
300,000.00	500,000.00	25,000.00
500,000.00	Infinite	50,000.00

LOT / Treasure, World, U.S. Coin & Paper Money Auc... / SPAIN (Al-Andalus), Córdoba, AR dirham Abd ...

SPAIN (Al-Andalus), Córdoba, AR dirham Abd al-Rahman III al-Nasir 337 AH Hebrew inscription unique

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