Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1/40 Riyal 1923-1948, Y# 3, Yemen, Kingdom, Yahya Muhammad Hamid ed-Din
  • 1/40 Riyal 1923-1948, Y# 3, Yemen, Kingdom, Yahya Muhammad Hamid ed-Din
Description

Yahya Muhammad Hamid ed-Din (1869–1948), also known as Imam Yahya, served as the inaugural king of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen from 1918 until his assassination in 1948. He ascended to the position of Imam of the Zaydis in 1904 following the passing of his father, Muhammad Al-Mansur, and later became the Imam of Yemen in 1918. Born on June 18, 1869, in Sanaa, he hailed from the Hamidaddin branch of the al-Qasimi dynasty, which had ruled over Yemen and parts of present-day Saudi Arabia for centuries. Despite challenges from the Ottoman Empire, Imam Yahya consolidated his rule over the mountainous regions of North Yemen, successfully resisting Ottoman claims after World War I. Known for his staunch isolationism, he never ventured beyond Yemen's borders and remained primarily in the Sanaa highlands throughout his reign, overlooking the Red Sea coastline of his kingdom.

Obverse

Depicts the crescent enclosed the Amir name divided Arabic legend "May God grant him victory" with (accession date AH 1322 below) above and "Commander of the Faithful who relies on God, the Lord of Alamin" below.

الله
نصره
١٣٢٢
يحيي بن محمد
أمير المؤمنين المتوكل على الله رب العالمين

Reverse

Depicts the inscriptions in Arabic “There is no god but God alone" and the accession year in Hejira (AH 1349) below in the circle surrounded by Arabic legend "Struck in San'a" above and denomination in Arabic letters below.

Y#3.1 Without "Rabb al-Alamin", "Sana" below date.
Y#3.2 With "Rabb al-Alamin", "Sana" above date and small "Sana'a" and three leaf ornaments plus star in border legend.
Y#3.3 Large "Sana'a" in legend. Arrangements of legends, ornaments, form of the crescent, and size of the circle on reverse exist; weight varies.

ضرب بصنعا
الله
لا اله الا
سنة
١٣٤٩
ربع عشر

Edge
Characteristics
Material Bronze
Weight 5 g
Diameter 29 mm
Thickness 1.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Alt # Y# 3.1, Y# 3.2, Y# 3.3

Related coins

Large Sana'a and with sana

Bronze, 6.8 g, ⌀ 26.7 mm
Small "Sanaa"

Bronze, 6 g, ⌀ 26 mm
Large Sana'a and with sana

Aluminium