Lot 51

Ghaznavids, Set of 2 Coins, 1). Mawdud (AH 432-440, 1041-1050 CE), Silver Dirham, 3.14 gms, 18.54 mm, Ghazna Mint, ND, with month name Rabi’ (third and fourth month of the Islamic calendar), citing the Abbasid Caliph Al-Qa'im bi-Amr Allah and listing the official title of Mawdud as Shahab Al-Dawlah (rising star of the state) with the Arabic word Fath (transl. victory) at the top of the reverse field, 2). Mahmud (reign 389-421 AH / 999-1030 CE), Silver Damma, 0.47 gms, 8.57 mm, No Mint, ND, Obverse: Shahadah followed by the word ‘Haqqan’ (transl. truly / verily), Reverse: Yamin al-dawlah wa Amin al-millah Mahmud bin Nasir Al-Din, These dammas were probably issued immediately after Mamud’s first military campaign against Fatimid rulers of Multan in 396 AH (1005-06 CE), The Arabic word “haqqan” translates roughly to truly / actually and can be interpreted as asserting that the (Sunni version of the) Shahadah written on the Ghaznavid issues is the actual Shahadah, as opposed to the Shiite version that had been inscribed on the Fatimid coins, The special word “haqqan” was included only on these early Ghaznavid issues from Multan; no other known contemporary Ghaznavid issue carries this phrase, 1). Album # 1626, 2). Album # 4593, Fishman & Todd # FG4, choice very fine, rare.