22-04-2012 – 01-01-1970
Important Coins of the Islamic World
Strong request for Islamic Coins at Morton & Eden
On Monday 23 April 2012 at the Morton & Eden auction sale of ‘Important Coins of the Islamic World’ buyers showed a strong interest in the rare and exceptional objects. The 141 sold lots totalled an impressive £2,070,960 (US$3,334,246). Prices shown include the Buyer’s Premium of 20%.
Lot 34: UMAYYAD, temp. al-Walid I (86-96h) Dinar, Ma’din Amir al-Mu’minin 89h.
Lot 34
UMAYYAD, temp. Al-Walid I (86-96h). Dinar, Ma`din Amir al-Mu`minin 89h. Obverse: In field: la ilaha illa | Allah wahdahu | la sharik lahu | Ma`din Amir | al-Mu`minin. Reverse: Standard Umayyad type with date legend in margin. 4.24 g. References: Bernardi 47, this piece, cited in Leu Auction 64 (The Turath Collection), 27 March 1996, p. 34, ‘unique’; cf Morton and Eden auction 48, 4 April 2011, lot 11 (same obverse die, dated 92h). Condition: Extremely fine and of the highest rarity. Estimate: £80,000-1,000,000, sold for £936,000 ($1,506,960). Purchased by private collector.
Lot 23: ARAB-SASANIAN, Anonymous, temp. ‘Abd al-Malik bin Marwan, Drachm, without mint name (probably Dimashq) 75h.
Lot 23
ARAB-SASANIAN, anonymous, temp. `Abd al-Malik B. Marwan. Drachm, without mint name (probably Dimashq) 75h. Obverse: Bust of Khusraw II right; behind, duriba fi sanat; before, khams | wa saba`in. In margin: bismillah – la ilaha illa Allah – [wahdahu] Muhammad ra – sul Allah. Reverse: Standing figure of caliph facing, wearing elaborate robe and with right hand on sheathed sword. To left: amir al-mu`minin; to right: khalifat Allah. 3.47 g. References: Album L40 RRR; Walker p. 25, Zub. 1. Condition: Minor deposit on reverse, edge chipped to outermost circle on each side, otherwise about extremely fine and of the highest rarity and importance. Estimate: £50,000-80,000, sold for £204,000 ($328,440). Purchased by private collector.
Lot 38
UMAYYAD, temp. `Abd al-Malik B. Marwan. Dirham, Shaqq al-Taymara 78h. 2.82 g. References: Klat 200 (different dies). Condition: Good metal, good very fine and of the highest rarity. Estimate: £30,000-50,000, sold for £132,000 ($212,520). Purchased by private collector.
Lot 118: FATIMID, Al-‘Aziz (365-386h), Dinar, Makka 380h.
Lot 118
FATIMID, al-`Aziz (365-386h). Dinar, Makka 380h. 2.73 g. Reference: Nicol 746, this piece. Condition: Very fine, of the highest rarity and historically important. Estimate: £50,000-70,000, sold for £55,200 ($88,872). Purchased by private collector.
Lot 62
UMAYYAD, temp. `Abd al-Malik B. Marwan. Dirham, Marw al-Rudh 79h. Obverse: In field: Pahlawi MRWRWT, ‘Marw al-Rudh’. In margin: bismillah duriba hadha al-dirham bi-Marw fi sanat tis`a wa saba`in. 2.24 g. References: Klat -; cf Islamic Coin Auction 4, 8 May 2002, lot 78 [dated 81h]. Condition: From a mount, obverse pitted and corroded, fine only but of the highest rarity. Estimate: £15,000-20,000, sold for £50,400 ($81,648). Purchased by European dealer.
Lot 39
UMAYYAD, temp. `Abd al-Malik B. Marwan. Dirham, Jayy 78h. 2.81 g. References: Klat -; SCC -; cf. Baldwins, 20 October 2009, lot 37. Condition: Some horn silver, corroded at edge and with area of corrosion on reverse, otherwise extremely fine and of the highest rarity, apparently one of only two examples known. Estimate: £25,000-35,000, sold for £43,200 ($69,552). Purchased by European dealer.
Lot 63
UMAYYAD, temp. `Abd al-Malik B. Marwan. Dirham, Mihrjanqudhaq 81h. 1.90 g. References: Klat -; SCC –. Condition: Edge chipped and with much horn silver, particularly on the reverse, fine and of the highest rarity, apparently an unrecorded date. Estimate: £10,000-15,000, sold for £36,000 ($57,960). Purchased by European dealer.
Lot 22
ARAB-SASANIAN, Khusraw II type. Drachm, Dimashq 74h. Obverse: Bust of Khusraw II to right with name in Pahlawi before. In margin: bismillah – la ilaha illa Allah wa – hdahu Muhammad – rasul Allah. Reverse: Fire-altar with attendants. To left: arb`at wa saba`in. 3.73 g. References: cf Walker p.23, DD.1; cf ANS 1971.316.35. Condition: Grey toning, some deposit on reverse, almost extremely fine and extremely rare. Estimate: £15,000-20,000, sold for £26,400 ($42,504). Purchased by private collector.
Lot 92
ABBASID, al-Qahir (320-322h). Donative dinar, Madinat al-Salam 321h. Obverse: la ilaha illa | Allah wahdahu | la sharik lahu | Abu’l-Qasim bin | Amir al-mu`minin. 4.15 g. Reference: cf Bernardi 277Jh (standard type without broad margins). Condition: Extremely fine and extremely rare. Estimate: £4,000-6,000, sold for £24,000 ($38,640). Purchased by private collector.
Lot 20
ARAB-SASANIAN, Khusraw II type. Drachm, Dimashq 72h. Obverse: Bust of Khusraw II to right with Muhammad | rasul Allah before. In second quadrant of margin, bismillah. Reverse: Fire-altar with attendants. To left: ithnayn wa saba`in; to right, Dimashq. 3.79 g. References: Album D6 RRR. Condition: Grey toning, about extremely fine and extremely rare, apparently the only recorded example of this type. Estimate: £15,000-20,000, sold for £24,000 ($38,640). Purchased by private collector.
Specialist in charge of the sale, Stephen Lloyd said he was entirely satisfied with the results achieved in what is a niche market of highly specialised coins. There had been interest expressed in lots throughout the catalogue and buyers had responded accordingly, generally paying above presale estimates – often substantially so. Bidding for the top lot, the Umayyad dinar of 89h from the ‘Mine of the Commander of the Faithful’, was lengthy and drawn-out and it finally achieved a price of £936,000 just shy of its estimate. The take-up rate of 96% and the full auction room demonstrated the continual interest in Islamic coins of all types.
For more information on the sale and the auction house, visit the website of London auctioneer Morton & Eden.