The Arab-Byzantine One And Two “Standing Imperial Figures” Dīnārs From The Time Of Umayyad Caliph ʿAbd al-Malik, 72-74 AH / 692-694 CE
Islamic Awareness
© Islamic Awareness, All Rights Reserved.
First Composed: 29th December 2009
Last Modified: 3rd January 2010
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Assalamu ʿalaykum wa rahamatullahi wa barakatuhu:
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Byzantine Prototype |
Arab-Byzantine Imitation |
(a) A Byzantine gold solidus of Phocas with an "imperial figure" (left) and its Arab-Byzantine imitation (right).
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Byzantine Prototype |
Arab-Byzantine Imitation |
(b) A Byzantine gold solidus with "two standing imperial figures", Heraclius-type coinage (left) and its Arab-Byzantine imitation (right).
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Byzantine Prototype |
Arab-Byzantine Imitation |
(c) A Byzantine gold solidus with "two standing imperial figures", Heraclius-type coinage (left) and its Arab-Byzantine imitation (right).
Date
72-74 AH / 692-694 CE. This dating was proposed by Michael Bates for "three standing imperial figures" Arab-Byzantine gold coins. He based it on the historical sources and numismatic material.[1] Earlier, Walker did not date the same gold coins precisely, but believed that in all probability a year or two before 74 AH / 693-694 CE.[2] Miles adopted a similar dating by suggesting that the above coins originate c. 690 CE.[3]
Contents
Figure (a): Byzantine prototype: Obverse field: Bust of Phocas (alt. Focas), with a short beard, facing, and wearing cross-surmounted crown. Note the holding in his right hand a small globe with cross. Legend on the margin says DN FOCAS PERP AV[..]. Reverse field: An angel standing facing, holding the chrismon with the transverse bar in the right hand and a small globe with cross in the right; legend around, arranged clockwise beginning in the bottom which says VICTORIA AVGGS. Below is written CONOB (i.e., Constantinopole), which is the name of the mint. Weight = 4.500 gms.
Arab-Byzantine imitation: Obverse field: Bust of Phocas, with a short beard, facing and wearing crown without the cross. The cross on Phocas' crown has been altered and appears like a short vertical staff. Holding in his right hand, a small globe without the transverse bar of the cross. Legend on the margin says [..] FOCAS PERPA[..]. Reverse field: An angel standing facing, holding the chrismon without the transverse bar in the right hand. Likewise in the left hand, with the elimination of the transverse bar of the cross, the small globe now has a staff ending in a ball or pellet; legend around, clumsily arranged clockwise beginning in the bottom which says VICTORIA AVGCZ. Below is written CONOB (i.e., Constantinopole). Weight = 4.330 gms.
Figure (b): Byzantine prototype: Obverse field: Busts of Heraclius, with a short beard, and his son Heraclius Constantine - both facing and wearing cross-surmounted crowns. Note the cross in the field right of the head of Heraclius. Legend on the margin says DD NN HERACLIUS ET HERA CONST PP AVG. Reverse field: Cross potent on three steps; legend around, arranged clockwise beginning in the bottom which says VICTORIA AVGYE. Below is written CONOB (i.e., Constantinopole), which is the name of the mint. On the margin is an outer circle. Weight = 4.415 gms.
Arab-Byzantine imitation: Obverse field: Busts of Heraclius, with a short beard, and his son Heraclius Constantine - both facing and wearing crowns without the cross. The cross on Heraclius' crown has been altered and appears rather to be a staff similar to the transformed cross on steps. Also the place of the cross on the crown of Heraclius Constantine has been replaced by a simple ball or pellet. Also note that the cross in the field right of the head of Heraclius is eliminated. Legend on the margin is bungled and only a few letters are recognizable. Reverse field: Mutiliated cross on three steps with the elimination of the transverse arm of the cross, although the horizontal bar at the top of the cross is preserved; legend around, clumsily arranged clockwise beginning in the bottom which says VICTORIA AVGY[..]. ‘A’ is written upside down. Below is written CONOB (i.e., Constantinopole). On the margin is an outer circle. Weight = 4.360 gms.
Figure (c): Byzantine prototype: Obverse field: Busts of Heraclius, wearing long beard and his son Heraclius Constantine, with a short beard - both facing and wearing cross-surmounted crowns. Note the cross in between of the crowns of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine. Legend on the margin says DD NN HERACLIUS ET HERA CONST PP AV. Reverse field: Cross potent on three steps; legend around, arranged clockwise beginning in the bottom which says VICTORIA AVGY[..]. Below is written CONOB (i.e., Constantinopole), which is the name of the mint. On the margin is an outer circle. Weight = 4.440 gms.
Arab-Byzantine imitation: Obverse field: Busts of Heraclius, wearing long beard and his son Heraclius Constantine, with a short beard - both facing and wearing crowns without the cross. Note the absence of cross in between of the crowns of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine. Legend on the margin is bungled and only a few letters are recognizable. The engravings on the bust of very crude. Reverse field: Mutiliated cross on three steps with the elimination of the transverse arm of the cross, although the horizontal bar at the top of the cross is preserved; legend around, clumsily arranged clockwise beginning in the bottom which says VICTORIA AVGYB. The ‘A’ is of VICTORIA is on its side. Below is written CONOB (i.e., Constantinopole). On the margin is an outer circle. Weight = 4.440 gms.
Comments
The above mentioned Arab-Byzantine gold solidi imitations including the one which has "three standing imperial figures" bear no Kufic legends to identify themselves as Arab issues. They are recognized as such only by the defacement or elimination of the crosses. Another noticeable feature of these imitation coins is the clumsy arrangement of the legend on the margins of both obverse and reverse sides, with little attention paid to positioning of the letters. Miles is of the opinion that these coins are roughly contemporary to each other.[4]
Location
Various museums and private collections.
References
[1] M. L. Bates, "History, Geography And Numismatics In The First Century Of Islamic Coinage", Revue Suisse De Numismatique, 1986, Volume 65, pp. 243-250.
[2] J. Walker, A Catalogue Of The Muhammadan Coins In The British Museum, 1956, Volume II - Arab-Byzantine and Post-Reform Umayyad Coins, British Museum: London, pp. 18.
[3] G. C. Miles, "The Earliest Arab Gold Coinage", The American Numismatic Society Museum Notes, 1967, Volume 13, pp. 207-209, Plate XLV. For dating see pp. 228-229.
[4] ibid., p. 229.
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