Public Numismatic Auction #8

AN UNPUBLISHED GOLD DINAR FOR THE OPENING OF THE MINT. al-Muktafi, AH 289-295 (902-908). Dinar AH 289 (902), Suq al-Ahwaz. Inscription centrale sur trois lignes, entourée d'une double légende circulaire / Inscription centrale sur cinq lignes entourée d'une légende circulaire. 3,97g. A 243.1 (sans précision d'atelier) ; Bernardi - (cf.226). Très bel exemplaire.
There is no mention of this mint during the reign of al-Muktafi in Bernardi. According to Zambaur, the mint of Suq al-Awaz started producing gold coins in AH 307 (AH 302 according to Diler) and silver coins in AH 291. As Abbassid mints often struck both gold and silver coins depending on local demand, the date AH 291 was thought to mark the definitive start of this mint's activities. However, this dinar dating from AH 289 predates this. It may have been a special issue for the accession of the caliph al-Muktafi.