Coin Weight Of The Umayyad Governor Al-Ḥajjāj Ibn Yūsuf, c. 75 AH / 695 CE
Islamic Awareness
© Islamic Awareness, All Rights Reserved.
First Composed: 7th February 2007
Last Modified: 10th February 2007
| Tweet |
|
|
Assalamu ʿalaykum wa rahamatullahi wa barakatuhu:
(a)
(b)
(a) Picture of the coin weight issued by al-Hajjāj ibn Yūsuf. (b) The epigraphic content.
Date
c. 75 AH / 695 CE.
Contents
Obverse field: In the name of God. Amīr al-Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf ordained Honesty. This is the measure of six [mithqāls].
Reverse field: [six dots indicating the measure] In the name of God. Equity.
Comments
This is a unique coin weight in bronze was issued by the authority of the Umayyad governor al-Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf. Walker identified it as a weight of six mithqāls (= six dīnārs, in modern terms 25.5 gms). It weighs 25.14 gms, very close to Walker's suggested six mithqāls. He himself expressed surprise at the small discrepancy of only 0.36 gms, which he ascribed to the partial damage and to corrosion.
Location
British Museum, London.
References
[1] J. Walker, "Some Recent Oriental Coin Acquisitions Of The British Museum", The Numismatic Chronicle And Journal Of The Royal Numismatic Society, 1935, Volume 15 (Fifth Series), pp. 246-248, pl. XVIII:4.
The images above are reproduced from the stated sources under the provisions of the copyright law. This allows for the reproduction of portions of copyrighted material for non-commercial, educational purposes.
With the exception for those images which have passed into the public domain, the use of these images for commercial purposes is expressly prohibited without the consent of the copyright holder.