CALIPHATE OF CORDOBA, Abd al-Rahman III. Dirham. (Ar. 2.68g/26mm). 318H. Sikkat al-Andalus / سكة الاندلس. (Vives 356; Frochoso 318.15-17 var: IA: C3, IM: M2, IIA: C4, IIM: M3+M4). Central legend divided into three lines in both areas. Anv: Religious legend M2. Rev: Double border, external legend M3 (religious) and M4: 'Basmala' with mint and date in the form: ...بسكة الاندلس سنة ثما(ن)…(in Sikkat al-Ándalus year 8...). Perfectly visible unit. Very Fine-/Very Fine. Crack and gap. Very rare.
After Abd al-Rahman III was appointed Caliph in 316 AH, according to the chronicle of Ibn 'Iḏārī, al-Nāsir (the caliph's honorary title) ordered the renovation of the old 'dār al-sikka' in Córdoba for the production of dinars and dirhams. After three decades without minting silver, the mint was entrusted to Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hudayr. During these early years, numerous design innovations were made compared to previous coinage, the most significant being the incorporation of the caliph's name preceded by his titles and laqab, or honorific nickname. These first and very few coins lacked a defined structure, and could have up to 17 different layouts of central legends on both obverse and reverse sides. These coins can therefore be considered tests of the definitive model established in 321 AH, which was used until the end of the caliphate. Although the piece we are dealing with is one of those rare and clear examples of how they initially followed the model of the beautiful double-bordered Abbasid dirhams.
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