Obverse. Photo © Sixbid.com
  • 1 Dirham 933-938 AD, Album# 255.1, Egypt, Al-Radi
  • 1 Dirham 933-938 AD, Album# 255.1, Egypt, Al-Radi
Description

The Abbasid Caliphate (Arabic: الْخِلَافَةُ الْعَبَّاسِيَّة) was the third caliphate to succeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from the prophet's uncle, Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib (566–653 CE), from whom the dynasty takes its name. They ruled as caliphs for most of the caliphate from their capital in Baghdad in modern-day Iraq, after having overthrown the Umayyad Caliphate in the Abbasid Revolution of 750 CE (132 AH). The Abbasid Caliphate first centered its government in Kufa, modern-day Iraq, but in 762 the caliph Al-Mansur founded the city of Baghdad, near the ancient Babylonian capital city of Babylon. Baghdad became the center of science, culture and invention in what became known as the Golden Age of Islam. This, in addition to housing several key academic institutions, including the House of Wisdom, as well as a multiethnic and multi-religious environment, garnered it a worldwide reputation as the "Center of Learning".

Abu'l-Abbas Ahmad (Muhammad) ibn Ja'far al-Muqtadir (909–940), usually simply known by his regnal name al-Radi bi'llah (lit. 'Content with God'), was the twentieth Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate, reigning from 934 to his death. He died on 23 December 940 at the age of 31. His reign marked the end of the caliph's political power and the rise of military strongmen, who competed for the title of amir al-umara.

Obverse

Depicts the inscriptions in Arabic "Muhammad is the Messenger of God” and “He sent him with guidance and the true religion to make it victorious over every religion although those who associate others with God dislike it”, "For God", "Muhammad is the Messenger of God” and "al-Radi billah".

محمد رسول الله ارسله بالهدى ودين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله ولو كره المشركون
لله
محمد
رسول
الله
الراضي بالله

Reverse

Depicts the inscriptions in Arabic "To God belongs the command before and after, and at that time the believers will rejoice in the victory of God", "In the name of God. This dirham was struck in Misr (Egypt) in the year 323" and “There is no god but God alone / He has no associate".

لله الأمر من قبل و من بعد و يومئذ يفرح المؤمنون
بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بمصر سنة ثلث و عشرين وثلثمائة
لا اله الا
الله وحده
لا شريك له

Edge
Characteristics
Material Silver
Weight 3.16 g
Diameter 23 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Misr Mint

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