A Rare Samanid fils Struck in Bukhara in 358AH Bearing the Name of Prince Al Mansour Bin Noah

Abstract

This research deals with studying and publishing a rare Samanid fals minted in Bukhara issued in 358 A.H (=969 AD) by the prince Mansour bin Noah (350-366AH / 961-977 AD). This fils is preserved in the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo and it has never been published or studied before and it is being published and studied in this research for the first time. The study includes detailed description and epigraphs analysis.The front numismatic text of this fils enclouds central epigraphs consists of four lines; the first line has the name of “Faeq فائق ” Abu Al-Hassan Ibn Abdullah Faeq “The special one”, because he was among the breeders of Prince Mansour bin Noah, as he was the one who made a great effort in supporting him to assuming power rather than his nephew “Nasr bin Abdul Malik”. The other three lines of the central epigraphs includes a complete Tawhid declaration.The central epigraphs surrounded by two Marginalepigraphs; the internal one enclouds incomplete Basmala besides the date and location of the minting, while the external epigraphs have surah Ar-Rūm (verses 4 & 5).The back numismatic text has five lines includes the word god “الله” followed by the Muhammadiyah message, shortened in two lines, then the name of Mansour bin Noah in two lines. The central epigraphs surrounded by a Marginalthat has the following text: was ordered by the Prince Sayyid al-Malikar al-Mudhafar, may God support him.Samanid fulus that bearing the name of Prince Mansour bin Noah, which was minted in Bukhara in 358 A.H and has the name of “Faeq” on the front center was categorized into five styles and were descried based on shapes and epigraphs but this Samanid fals is considered a new style that has not been published before and it is considered a new addition to the coins of Prince Mansour bin Noah that minted in Bukhara in the year 358 AH and bears Faeq’s name.

Keywords

• fils; samanid; mansour; bukhara; fae’k