Coins of al-Andalus Tonegawa collection
Taifas

FAS        د ولة بنو خزر المغراوة بفاس

After the start in 399H of the fitna, or civil war, the mint of Fas continues to strike coins in the name of the various rulers attempting to rule what was left of the caliphate of Cordoba. The recognition of the ruler of turn is obviously nominal as the caliphate as an institution was never to be re-established in al-Andalus, let alone in North Africa. The easy benefit of historical hindsight we now have was not available to those in al-Andalus contemporary to these dramatic events. Many in al-Andalus, at least in the first decades, thought quite possible the reestablishment of the caliphate and hedged their political bets accordingly. Some of the rulers of the Maghrib must have thought the same and in particular the ruler of in Fas al-MuŽizz ibn Ziri (396- 417 H.). Just about all the early rulers of Cordoba were at one point nominally recognized by him, as can be seen in Prieto (nș 128-133) and in the Taifa Supplement ( nș 72-76). So close was the watch over the events in Cordoba that even the very brief rebellion in 399H of Hisham ibn Sulayman, al-Rashid bi-Allah, has a singular coin struck in Fas (Taifa Supplement nș72). This particular Hisham would be rapidly assassinated by Muhammad al- Mahdi and just never got the chance or time to strike his own coins.

This perception of a possible restoration of the Cordoba Caliphate must have drastically changed by the time of the accession in 417H to the rule of Fas of MuŽizzŽs cousin Hamama ibn al- MuŽizz ibn ŽAtiya (417-424 & 429- 431 H.) HamamaŽs few known coins make no mention of any nominal overlord, Umayyad or otherwise.



 

Struck by MuŽizz ibn Ziri ,                                          المعزّ بن زيري
396- 417 H. / 886-888

In the name of Muhammad al-Mahdi, 399-400 H.

Dirham
Madinat Fas
400H
2.84gr 23mm
Prieto 129

In the name of Hisham II 2nd rein , 400- 402 H.

Dirham
Madinat Fas
400H
2.88gr 21mm

In the name of Sulaiman al- MustaŽin , 400-407 H.

Dirham
Andalus for Fas
date not readable
3.24gr 23mm
Prieto supplement 73, this coin.
Dirham
mint/ date not readable
4.30gr 21mm
 Mint/ date not readable
Dirham
Madinat Fas
403?H
3.52gr 22mm
 Dirhan (Madinat Fas) 406?
Dirham
(Madinat Fas)
406?H
3.32gr 24mm
 Dirhan Madinat Fas 407
Dirham
Madinat Fas
407H
3.52gr 22mm
Prieto supplement 74, this coin

In the name of al Qasim al Ma`mun 408- 414 H.
Mint/ date not readable
Dirham
mint/ date not readable
3.38gr 22mm
Prieto 132		 Mint/ date not readable
Dirham
mint/ date not readable
3.04gr 22mm
Prieto supplement 75, this coin		 Mint/ date not readable
Dirham
mint/date not readable
4.26gr 21mm
Prieto supplement 75		 Mint/ date not readable
Dirham
mint/ date not readable
3.88gr 22mm
Prieto supplement 75		 Dirhan fragment
Dirham fragment
mint/date not readable
3.04gr 22mm
Prieto supplement 75bis, this coin		 410?
Dirham
(Madina) Fas
410H?
4.78gr 23mm
no reference

With name Mansur (?)
Dirham Madinat Fas(?) 410
Dirham
Madinat Fas (?)
410H
4.96gr 25mm
Prieto supplement 76, this coin

If the mint is really Fas, the Mansur could be an assumed title of al-MuŽizz.

Of special note on this coin is the early use of the generic ŽAbd Allah as Imam, a probable symbolic reference to the Abbasid caliphate.


Hamama Ibn al- MuŽizz ibn ŽAtiya                                          حمامة بن المعزّ بن عطيّة
422-440H / 1031-1048.

- Nominally the name of Hammudid Yahya ibn ŽAli.

Dirham
M(adina Fas)
Mint/date not readable
4.50gr 22mm
No reference
Very early use of the generic- "Al-Imam ŽAbd Allah"
Dirham
Madi(na Fas)
Mint/date not readable
3.36gr 22mm
No reference


Dunas ibn Hamama                                           د وناس بن حمامة
440-452/1048-1060.

Possible coins.

Within the chronologies known this coin may be of Dunas ibn Hamama. The name Dunas does not come at all clear on the second line of either reverse, but until we get a better coin this attribution seems to be a good probability.
Dirhans Madinat Fas 41(?) or 42(?)
Dirhams
Madinat Fas
41(?) or 42(?)H
2.18gr 2.06gr 25mm
No reference


MuŽansar ibn al-MuŽizz                                           معنصر بن المعزّ
457-460/1060-1065

Frozen type nominally in name of long defunct Hammudid Yahya ibn ŽAli. 412-427/1021-1025


Segment of dirham
(Madina Fas)
(45)7H
1.26gr 22mm
No reference
Dirham
(Madina F)as
(45)7H
3.00gr 23mm
No reference
Dirham
(Madina Fas)
(45)7H
3.26gr 22mm
No reference
Dirham
(Madina) Fas
date not readable
4.02gr 22mm
No reference
Dirham
(Madina Fas)
(45)7H
4.01gr 22mm
No reference


Unidentified coin of the period.


First line of reverse perhaps: bi-Allah Yathiq?
Second line: Al-MuŽizz??
Third line: ?????.

Dirham
No mint/ date readable
2.76gr 21mm
No reference

 

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