House of Emirates® in London is pleased to offer its elite clientele this majestic Very Rare Abbasid gold dinar, struck in Misr (Egypt) in 247 AH (861 AD) during the reign of the powerful Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil ʿalā Allāh (847–861 AD).
A remarkable survivor from the golden age of the Abbasid Caliphate, this authentic Islamic gold coin combines exceptional historical importance, religious inscriptions, and the unmistakable artistry of early medieval Arabic coinage.
Why this particular dinar is rare
The coin corresponds closely to Stephen Album, Checklist of Islamic Coins, type 229.4. Album specifically classifies this variety as:
“Dinar struck on thick narrow flans, dated 247 only” — RR ( Very Rare )
That is significant because the normal Al-Mutawakkil dinars from Misr are not necessarily extremely rare. It is the 247 AH small/thick-flan variety that makes this dinar particularly interesting.
Measuring approximately 17 mm in diameter ( Small dinar ) and weighing 4.1 grams, this is a notably small-format Abbasid dinar, yet it carries an extraordinary amount of historical information within its compact flan. Its attractive Good Very Fine (GVF) condition preserves the principal Arabic inscriptions and decorative elements, allowing collectors to appreciate the calligraphy and monetary design characteristic of Abbasid gold coinage.
The obverse proudly records the place and date of issue:
بسم الله ضرب هذا الدينار بمصر سنة سبع وأربعين ومائتين
“In the name of Allah. This dinar was struck in Misr in the year 247.”
The inscription is followed by the powerful Qur’anic passage:
لله الأمر من قبل ومن بعد ويومئذ يفرح المؤمنون بنصر الله
“To Allah belongs the command before and after, and on that day the believers will rejoice in the victory granted by Allah.”
This quotation from the Qur’an 30:4–5 provides a fascinating connection between Abbasid monetary history, Islamic theology, and the political messaging of the medieval Muslim world.
The reverse identifies the religious and political authority of the period:
لله محمد رسول الله المتوكل على الله
“For Allah. Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Al-Mutawakkil, who places his trust in Allah.”
The surrounding inscription continues with another celebrated Qur’anic verse from Qur’an 9:33, proclaiming Muhammad as the Messenger of Allah and affirming the triumph of the religion of truth.
A Rare Window Into Abbasid History
Al-Mutawakkil was one of the most important Abbasid caliphs of the 9th century. His reign represents a fascinating period in the history of the Abbasid Empire, when Baghdad remained a major center of Islamic civilization, scholarship, commerce, and political power. Coins struck during his reign are highly sought after for their historical significance and their elegant Arabic epigraphy.
This 247 AH Abbasid dinar of Misr is particularly appealing because it combines the name of Al-Mutawakkil, the Egyptian mint designation Misr, a precise Hijri date, and extensive Qur’anic inscriptions. It is therefore not merely an ancient gold coin, but a tangible document of the Abbasid monetary system and the Islamic world of the 9th century.
With its 4.1 g weight, 17 mm diameter, Good Very Fine condition, authentic Arabic inscriptions, and historic Abbasid attribution, this gold dinar is an exceptional acquisition for collectors of Islamic coins, Abbasid coins, ancient gold coins, medieval Islamic coinage, Arabic gold dinars, early Islamic history, and rare numismatic antiquities.
A magnificent piece of Abbasid numismatic history, this 247 AH Misr dinar offers collectors the opportunity to own a genuine gold coin from the reign of Al-Mutawakkil ʿalā Allāh, preserved across more than eleven centuries as a remarkable testament to the wealth, faith, artistry, and political heritage of the medieval Islamic world.
Specifications:
- Dynasty: Abbasid Caliphate
- Ruler: Al-Mutawakkil ʿalā Allāh (847–861 AD)
- Date: 247 AH / 861 AD
- Mint: Misr (Egypt)
- Denomination: Gold Dinar
- Metal: Gold
- Weight: 4.1 grams
- Diameter: 17 mm
- Condition: Good Very Fine (GVF)
- Type: Abbasid Islamic Gold Dinar
- Era: 9th Century Islamic / Medieval Islamic Coinage
