109 / 166
Tyrants of the Tigris & euphrates
245
‘Abbasid Caliphate
Gold Dinar, AH 174
temp. Harun al-Rashid, ‘Abbasid Caliph, AH 170-193/AD 786-809
Bernardi 51; BMC I, 145; A 218.2. Mint State.
Mintless early type (probably Madinat al-Salam), without caliph’s name or symbol. Kalima at center,
Qur’an 9:33 in margin; Reverse, continuation of Kalima, date formula in margin.
Harun al-Rashid (AH 170-193/ AD 786-809) is perhaps the most famous of all ‘Abbasid Caliphs. He is
the king portrayed in the legendary collection of stories known as the “Arabian Nights” or “One Thou-
sand and One Nights”, narrated by the storyteller Scheherazade. These stories have become the subject
of many classical music pieces by composers such as Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. Harun al-
Rashid’s reign marks the zenith of the Abbasid Caliphate. Harun was contemporary with Charlemagne
and established diplomatic relations with him.
246
‘Abbasid Caliphate
Gold Dinar, AH 195
temp. al-Amin Muhammad, ‘Abbasid Caliph, AH 193-198/AD 809-813
Bernardi 79; Lavoix 854; A 220.5. Superb Extremely Fine.
Mintless early type (Madinat al-Salam), Kalima at center, Qur’an 9:33 in margin; Reverse, continuation
of Kalima, citing al-’Abbas (vizier) below and with “rabbi Allah” above, date formula in margin.