| Iran, Tabriz |
| Silver, Diam. 32 mm. |
Shah 'Abbas I, 1617 AD |
| Collection of the American Numismatic Society, 1922.216.750 W: 7.559 |
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In (1587) 'Abbas I seized control of a rapidly disintegrating Safavid Empire. Within a decade he had skillfully managed to impose a centralized system of government, suppress rebellious provinces, and begin offensive action against external foes. Near the end of the sixteenth century he also established a new capital at Isfahan in central Iran and began a massive building program to commemorate his rule and his dynasty's aspirations. 'Abbas's great grandfather, Isma'il I (1501-1524), had committed the Safavid dynasty to Shi'ism, and its adherence to this branch of Islam facilitated Iran's national distinction from the Sunni Ottomans to the west and the Sunni Uzbeks and Mughals to the east. Thus the obverse of this coin has inscribed in tall Thuluth the profession of faith followed by the statement of Shiite allegiance,
("Ali is the Friend of God")
Around it in a compact Naskh Script are listed the names of the twelve imams. On the reverse field, together with the date and place of issue, is written a particularly Safavid honorific, " 'Abbas, the servant of the King of Holiness'". |
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| Iran, Isfahan |
| Silver, Diam. 27 mm. |
Sultan Husayn, 1701-1707 AD |
| Collection of the American Numismatic Society, 1973.117.13 W: 4.458 |
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The last of the Safavid monarchs exercising real, even though ineffectual, power was Sultan Husayn (1694-1702 AD), a pious, flaccid ruler who allowed political decay to destroy the administrative and social structure established by 'Abbas I. Despite the shah's lack of vigor in government and in patronage, the coins struck during his reign are aesthetically impressive. On the obverse of this coin the field is occupied by the Shiite profession of faith:
"There is no god but God; Mohammed is the Messenger of God; 'Ali is the Friend of God,"
while the circular margin is filled with the names of the twelve imams. On the reverse in a bold, broad cursive script is inscribed: "Husayn, the servant of the king of holiness. Struck [in] Isfahan [in] 1134. In the following year the city and the Safavid dynasty fell before the Afghans. |
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| Iran, Bishapur |
| Silver, Diam. 3 I mm. |
Al-Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf, 697 - 698 AD |
| Collection of the American Numismatic Society, 1951.108.12 W: 4.135 |
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Of humble origins, great courage, and remarkable determination, al-Hajjaj was one of the notable figures in early Muslim history. After serving in a variety of commands, he was appointed in (697-698) by Caliph 'Abd al-Malik to the governorship of Khurasan and Sistan in eastern Iran, and this coin was struck in that year. Its obverse illustrates the continuing efficacy of imperial Sasanian imagery, many decades after the demise of the last Sasanian rulers, for the bearded man wears a crown of Sasanian type. Despite the fact that 'Abd al-Malik had reformed the currency in 79 Hegira. (698-699 AD) by directing that epigraphic legends should replace figural imagery on coinage, this coin still reflects the transitional period between the old and new orders, for next to the crowned head are the words "al-Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf" and around the enclosing circle is the Muslim declaration of faith. |
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| Iran, Jurjan |
| Silver, Diam. 32 mm. |
Uljaytu, 1314-1315 AD |
| Collection of the American Numismatic Society, 1937.1.8 W: 11.678 gr |
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This beautifully minted coin is inscribed with complex legends-in the field a tall, partially cursive script and in the margin a dense naskh more extensive than those on other coins issued by this IIKhanid ruler. Founded by the Mongols after their conquest of Iran in the middle of the thirteenth century, the Il-Khanid dynasty maintained loose links with Mongol regimes elsewhere in Asia, sought alliances with the Christian kings of Europe against the Mamluks, and presided over a generally prosperous economy and a vigorous program of architectural construction, most notably in Tabriz and the new IIKhanid capital at Sultaniyya. After experiments with Buddhism and Christianity the IL-Khans accepted Islam in the late thirteenth century, and this coin of the able ruler Uljaytu (reign 1304-1317) solidly proclaims his faith with a lengthy and very infrequently used passage from the Surah al-Fatah (Victory 48, 29), in the margin on the reverse side:
"Mohammed is the messenger of God. And those with him are hard against the disbelieves and merciful among themselves. Thou (O Mohammed) sees them bowing and falling prostrate (in worship), seeking bounty from God and (His) acceptance. The mark of them is on their foreheads from the traces of prostration. Such is their likeness in the Torah and their likeness in the Gospel."
In reaction against the contentiousness prevailing among the rival schools of Sunni thought, Uljaytu declared himself a Shi'ies 'a in 1309-1310 and the verse of this coin indicates his religious inclination, for in the field are the words " 'Ali is the Friend of God" and in the margin are the names of the twelve Imams. |
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