ISLAMIC/Anatolia & al-Jazira (Post-Seljuk) Artuqids of Mardin, Nasir ad-Din Artuq Arslan CE 1201-1239/AH 597-637

Æ Dirham, 7.54 g, 27mm, 11h. AH 620 = CE 1223-1224 no mint.

Album, Checklist 1830.7

S&S Type 43

O: Julio-Claudian-style bare head right. Arabic inscription around al-Malik al-Mansur Nasir-adunya waddin Artuq Arslan 

R: around duriba sannah/’ishrin/wa sittami’yah

 Inner in five lines:  an-Nasir li-din Allah

                            Amir al-Mu’minin

                           Al-Malik al-Kamil

                           Nasiraddin Muhammad

                          Bin Ayyub

(Names and titles of Abbasid caliph and Ayyubid overlord in five lines)

ISLAMIC/India; Sultans of Delhi; Balban (غیاث الدین بلبن) CE 1266-1287

Bi Jital (Dughani) 3.36 g., NM, ND

Tye 409

O: Balban in Arabic in center, in Hindi around Sri Sulata Gayasundi
R: as-Sultan al-'a/zam Ghiyath ad-dun/ya wad-din in Arabic

for more info cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghiyas_ud_din_Balban

Into the world of Exonumia....

ENGLAND. Middlesex. London. Wm. Webster (1821-1885)  Brass Farthing (20mm - 3.13 g). WM. WEBSTER / SUCCESSOR TO WM. TILL / 7 Gt. RUSSELL ST. COVt. GARDEN LONDON / DEALER IN ANCIENT AND MODERN COINS, MEDALS, ANTIQUES &c.. BWS 2990; Bell 29; Batty 569. 

His address was actually 17 Gt. Russell St, Covent Garden but this token is an example of a rare error address as reported in a sale of a similar example by DNW 13 Mar 2002. Webster was active as a successful coin and medal dealer from 1851-1885 and this token likely dates from this period.

It is noted by Forrer that he issued a token in brass that was produced by William Joseph Taylor (1802-1885) cf. http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib4_1239728552

William Webster 1821-1885

The Numismatic Chronicle 1885

ISLAMIC/'Abbasid Governors of Tabaristan; Hani b. Hani CE 788-790

AR Hemidrachm, 23mm, 1.92 g, 6h, Tabaristan mint PYE 137/AH 172-3/CE 788-789

Album 69

O: stylized bust of Khushro II, with Arabic inscription in front هانى, ("Hani"), Pahlavi inscription to left "may his glory increase" and in margins "excellent" and "good".

R: Fire altar with two attendants Pahlavi date to left and mint name TPRWSTAN to right.

Hani was appointed by Caliph Harun ar-Rashid CE 786-809

ISLAMIC/Ayyubid; Jazirah Principality al-Muzzafar Ghazi with Kamil & Ashraf AH 618/CE 1221

AE Fals, 6.13 g, 23.5 mm, Khilat mint AH 618/CE 1221

Album 860

Balog 874

Zeno 48299 (this coin)

excerpt related to this coin from Balog.

ISLAMIC/Malik of Kurzuwan, Complete Set of Mongol Siege Issues of June/July CE 1221

 AE Jital 22 mm, 3.24 g, 6h, Kurzuwan mint Rabi’ath-Thani 618 AH/c. June CE 1221

Album 1971 (S)

Tye 324.1

O: in Arabic  Tarikh rabial-Ukhra sana thaman ‘ashr sittami’ah

تاريخ ربيع الآخرسنة ثمان عشروستمائة

In circle Al-Malik الملك

R: Kurzuwan followed by shahada and then Allah at bottom with annulets on either side. 

 كرزوان 
لا إله إلا الله  
 محمد رسول

   الله      

AE Jital 20 mm, 3.3 g,  4h, Kurzuwan mint Jumada al-Awal 618 AH/c. July CE 1221

Album 1971 (S)

Tye 324.2 

O: in Arabic  Tarikh Jumada al-awal sana thaman ‘ashr sittami’ah

In circle Al-Malik

R: Kurzuwan followed by shahada and then Allah at bottom with annulets on either side.

These issues were minted while the city was under siege by Ghengis Khan. Rabi'a is the more common of the two issues, the subsequent issue of Jumada is rarer as the city fell during that time or shortly thereafter. The Mongols destroyed the city and it’s population. The location was likely situated in Northern Afghanistan. 

Great Britain/Elizabeth II CE 1952-2022 Bullion Coinage/ and news re New Coin Portrait starting later in 2015

AR ₤2 (nominal denomination) 31.16 g (.999 fine oz.) 38mm. "Britannia", BU mirror finish

cf. Royal Mint unveils 5th Coin Portrait 2 March 2015

A Comment on the importance of Provenance with a good Provenance

"Far too little attention has hitherto been bestowed upon the provenance of ancient coins. The intervention of the coin dealer between the finder and the purchaser is often quite sufficient to obscure or obliterate entirely all evidence of provenance. Coin collectors have also been too often oblivious of the scientific importance of placing on record the sources of their acquisitions."

Numismatic Chronicle 1906, page 3

This quote was written nearly 110 years ago and the comment is as timely now as it was then. I maintain the provenance of each and every item I acquire whether a pedestrian example of a common coin or a more important example, and on some pieces have even reconstructed the provenance when possible (cf. Bar Kochba Zuz for example or CSE 514 both of which were sold without provenance). 

When it comes to selling these coins one day each will be provided at a minimum with the source of my acquisition, and more information if possible as some dealers are kind and conscientious enough to provide the info when asked. 

Obviously, I cannot control what a future caretaker does with this information but it will be provided and perhaps those who have a concern for posterity will continue the chain of transmissions that began with some of these coins as far back as the early 19th century (cf. Aurangzeb or the Tragilos piece from the Weber Collection as such examples).

GREECE/Seleucid; Seleucus II Callinicus BCE 246-226

AE 17 mm, 3.44 g, 12h, Sardes mint, before c. 242 BCE

SC 660.5a

WSM 1661

HSC 345

O:  hd of Athena r. in crested Attic helmet dotted border

R: BAΣIΛEΩΣ on r., ΣEΛEYKOY on l., Apollo stg l., testing arrow and resting l. hand on grounded bow. Primary controls outer l and secondary outer r.

Ex: D. Alighieri Collection

GREECE/Seleucid; Seleucus I Nikator BCE 312-281

AE 13 mm, 2.41 g, 12h, Susa mint?, late 280’s BCE

SC 192 type

HSC 107

O: winged hd of Medusa r.

R: BAΣIΛEΩΣ above, ΣEΛEYKOY below, bull butting r.

Ex: D. Alighieri Collection

USA/Barber Quarter CE 1892-1916, a buried single find

AR Quarter Dollar (24mm, 5.8g) 3,480,450 mintage Philadelphia mint 1915

KM #114

In 1984, I was helping a friend remove a stump from his backyard and while washing off some of the roots that had been about 2-4"(5-10cm) below grade so we could remove them, I noticed a glint in the sunshine. We stopped our work momentarily and washed off what turned out to be a 1915 quarter that based upon wear likely circulated for some time before being lost at the base of his old oak. The property where the coin was found had a house on it that dated from 1848 so it was possibly lost by someone who lived there in the late 1920's or 30's perhaps. My friend told me to keep the piece and I've had it these thirty years as a memento from that day and the oldest coin I've found on purpose or by accident in the USA. The patina is much nicer in hand and is as found.

Saudi Arabia/King Khaled خالد بن عبد العزيز CE 1975-1982

CuNi (30mm. 10g) 100 Halala/1 Rial AH 1396/CE 1976 mintage 250,000

KM  #52   

O: crossed swords and palm tree at center, above Khaled bin 'Abdul'aziz as-Sa'ud. below: Malik al-Mamlakah al-'Arabiyyah as-Sa'udiyyah

R: legend avove inscription in circle dividing value. above: ma'ah halalah center circle riyal wahid

INDO-SCYTHIAN/Azes II c. BCE 58-12

Bi. Drachm; 15mm, 2.1 g, 3h, Taxila mint

O: BAΣIΛEΩΣ BAΣIΛEΩN MEΓAΛOY/AZOY; King mounted on horse r holding whip, Kharoshthi letter “bu” at right field.

R: Zeus stg l, holding Nike aloft in outstretched r hand, holding scepter in l., Nike holding a diadem, monogram at l, Kharoshthi ltr “stra” r. topped with Greek B, Kharoshthi legend around  maharajasa rajarajasa mahatasa/Ayasa

INDIA/Kushans; Vima Kadphises c. first quarter of 2nd Century CE (likely before CE 127)

AE 28 mm (Tetradrachm or unit), 16.4 g, 11h

Göbl 762 type

O: King stg facing sacrificing at fire altar at left, club and tamgha in right field and axehd shafted trident in left field. [BACIΛEYC BACIΛEWN CW]THP MEΓAC OOHMO KA[ΔΦICHC]

R: Shiva stg facing holding trident and deerskin, bull Nandi stg behind to right. Kharoshti legend; Maharajasa rajadirajasa sarvaloga isvarasa mahisvarasa Vima Kathphishasa tratara

INDIA/Kushans; Huvishka c. CE 155-190

AE 25mm (Tetradrachm or unit), 15.14 g, 12h

Göbl 881 type

O: King riding elephant to right, holding elephant goad. Bactrian legend around:

“King of Kings Huvishka Kushan”

R: Athsho, God of metals and fire stg l. Bactrian legend to right, tamgha in field to left.

INDIA/Kushans; Vasudeva c. CE 195-225

AE 23mm (Copper Unit/Tetradrachm) 8.86 g, c. CE 200-225

Göbl 1004 type

O: Crowned diad king stg facing nimbate, holding trident and sacrificings at altar to left.

Second trident above altar, Bactrian legend around: “King of Kings Bazodeo Kushan” nandipada in r. field.

R: two armed Shiva stg facing holding trident and diadem, bull Nandi stg l behind, Bactrian legend left but not legible on this example. Tamgha at right.

2,000 Fatimid Dinars and fractions found in sea off of Qesarya, Israel, click NYT link to read

NYT Article link

For more info, please click this link for an archaeological perspective

ISLAMIC/Seljuq of Rum; Kaykhushru II (غياث الدين كيخسرو بن كيقباد) CE 1236-1245

AR Dirham; 22 mm, 2.93 g, 12h, Sivas mint, AH 639/CE 1241-1242

Album 1218

O: الامام المستنصربالله اميرالمؤمنين
al-Imam al-Mustansir billah Amir al-Mu’minin, sun face, lion and stars

“the Imam al-Mustansir billah, Commander of the Faithful” Mustansir ruled from CE 1226-1242.

R: السلطان \ الاعظم \ كيخشرو \ بن كيقبد
 in field as-Sultan/al-a’zam/Kaykhushraw/bin Kayqubad

“The Greatest Sultan Kaykhushraw b. Kayqubad”
ضرب هذا الدرهم \ سوس في \ سنة تسع \ وثلثين و ستمائة

Around outside of square duriba hadha’d-dirham/ Siwas fi/sana tis’a/wa-thalathin wa-sittamia’a

“This dirham was struck at Sivas in the year 639”

For information on the Sun & Lion depiction please refer to the following web page:

http://mehmeteti.150m.com/thamara/index.htm

accessed from http://kids.britannica.com/eb/art-677/Rum-Seljuq-sultanate 18 Feb 2015