Description
| Repeat Title: Islamic, Umayyad Caliphate, Post-Reform, AE Fals (0.6g, 9mm),Ā Menorah type, Iliya (Jerusalem) mint, after AH 77 / AD 697 | |
| Arabic Title: Ų„Ų³ŁŲ§Ł ŁŲ Ų§ŁŲ®ŁŲ§ŁŲ© Ų§ŁŲ£Ł ŁŁŲ©Ų Ł Ų±ŲŁŲ© Ł Ų§ ŲØŲ¹ŲÆ Ų§ŁŲ„ŲµŁŲ§ŲŲ ŁŁŲ³ ŲØŲ±ŁŁŲ²ŁŲ ŁŁŲ¹ Ų§ŁŁ ŁŁŲ±Ų©Ų Ų¶Ų±ŲØ ŁŁ Ų„ŁŁŲ§Ų” (Ų§ŁŁŲÆŲ³) | |
| Obv:Ā Seven-branched (?) candelabra extending above the top platform | |
| Rev: It reads āAllah Wahdahuā (Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŲŲÆŁ) | |
| Ref: Unlisted in standard catalogues | Rarity/Choice: Highest Rarity, VF (beautiful earthen patina) |
| Note: The obverse displays tentatively a seven-branched menorah, a design reminiscent of the rare early Judaic tradition. Unlike some later variations of the Islamic Jewish fals, which reduce the menorah to five branches, possibly representing the Five Pillars of Islam, this coin preserves the full seven branches, with the branches extending above the top platform, an unusual feature that parallels some of the earliest rare Judaic menorah designs and it shares a similar base to the early seven-branched Islamic Jewish menorah. The reverse bears the inscription āAllah Wahdahuā (Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŲŲÆŁ), a testament to the coinās early Islamic context. This coin also stands out for its exceptionally small denomination, weighing only 0.6 g, making it one of the lightest examples known.This coin likely dates to the post-reform period under Caliph ŹæAbd al-Malik ibn MarwÄn (685ā705 CE), specifically after 77 AH / 697 CE. During this period, relations between the Islamic administration and Jewish communities were estimated to be favorable. Notably, ŹæAbd al-Malik is recorded to have employed a Jewish minister named Someir (The Jewish Encyclopedia, 1906). The coinās unique design and denomination may shed light on early Islamic minting practices and the interaction between Jewish iconography and Islamic authority during this formative period.While early Islamic Jewish fals are referenced in works such as INJ 10; Walker, Arab-Byzantine 605; Album 163, this coinās combination of seven-branched menorah, small denomination, and distinct inscriptions sets it apart. Its rarity and unrecorded status make it particularly sought after by collectors, especially those who have studied the early Islamic menorah coin series but have yet to encounter this variant. This coin may provide an opportunity for further research, offering insights into early Islamic-Jewish interactions and coinage practices.This unpublished menorah fals is not only a numismatic rarity but also a historical enigma, opening doors for future study and adding a compelling piece to any collection of early Islamic or Judaic coins. |
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