(Inscriptions for the Unpublished Six Abbasid Dinars from the Era of Caliph Harun Al-Rashid Preserved in the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo)

Abstract

This research investigates the study and publication of the inscriptions of six Abbasid dinars dating back to the era of Caliph Harun al-Rashid (170-193 AH / 786-809 AD) and preserved in the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo that had not previously been published or studied. These dinars are: (1) a dinar minted in the year (172 AH), bearing the name of Musa; (2) a dinar minted in the year (173 AH), bearing the name Omar; (3) a dinar minted in the year (185 AH), bearing the name of Muhammad al-Amin, Crown Prince; (4) a dinar minted in the year (186 AH), bearing the name Jaafar; (5) a dinar minted in the year (188 AH); (6) a dinar minted in the year (190 AH), bearing the phrase "for the Caliph".The researcher classified inscriptions and these six dinars into six styles that were examined in a chronological order. Each style, with its unique writing and decorations, is separately described. This is followed by an analysis and interpretation of these writings, whether they were names such as Musa, Omar, Jaafar, Muhammad Al-Amin, or titles such as: Emir, Ibn Amir al-Mu'minin, for the caliph, in light of different circumstances. There follows an overview of the features unique to each of the six models with its inscriptions and decorations, such features which do not exist in the other five models of these dinars. Thereafter, the researcher pointed to the dinar that is attributed to each type of the six dinars in question, and the number of his plate. Finally, reference was made to some published examples for each of them, whether preserved in the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, or the National Museum of Qatar. Inscriptions of the first model is distinguished by bearing the name of Musa, referring to Musa bin Isa al-Abbasi, who took over the Emirate of Egypt three times. The second model is also distinguished by including the name Omar, referring to Omar bin Ghaylan, or to Omar bin Oran. As for the third style, it is distinguished by carrying two margins of inscription on its back, including the name of the caliph's heir. The fourth type includes the name of Jaafar, referring to Jaafar bin Yahya bin Baramak, the minister of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid. The fifth type is also distinguished by its inclusion of the word caliph. Finally, the sixth model has no names.

Keywords

• inscriptions
• dinar
• abbasid
• harun al-rashid
• museum of islamic art