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House of Emirates® in London is thrilled to offer its elite clientele this majestic Umayyad silver dirham, struck at the prestigious Wasit mint in 124 AH / approximately 742 AD, during the reign of Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, one of the most significant rulers of the Umayyad Caliphate. Measuring 25 mm in diameter and weighing 2.8 grams of silver, this extraordinary ancient Islamic coin represents a tangible connection to the political authority, religious identity and sophisticated monetary traditions of the eighth-century Islamic world.
Its striking Arabic inscriptions, circular arrangement and distinctive early Islamic calligraphy embody the artistic restraint and historical grandeur of Umayyad coinage. Nearly thirteen centuries after its creation, this remarkable silver dirham continues to preserve the legacy of a powerful dynasty whose influence extended across vast territories from the Iberian Peninsula to Central Asia.
For investors in ancient coins, historical silver and exceptional Islamic treasures, this is an opportunity to acquire an authentic piece of monetary heritage from one of the defining periods of Islamic civilisation.
Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik ruled the Umayyad Caliphate from 105–125 AH / 724–743 AD. As the tenth Umayyad caliph, he presided over a period characterised by extensive administrative responsibilities, military campaigns and the continued operation of an enormous imperial economy. His reign witnessed campaigns along the Byzantine frontier, conflicts in the Caucasus and continuing military activity in Central Asia. Despite growing internal tensions and tribal rivalries, the Umayyad administration maintained established systems of taxation, provincial government and silver currency. Coins issued during Hisham’s reign are especially important because they document the mature development of Islamic monetary traditions established by the reforms of Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. Instead of depicting rulers through portraits, these coins communicated authority through carefully arranged Arabic inscriptions proclaiming Islamic monotheism and identifying the issuing monetary system. A Wasit silver dirham dated 124 AH therefore represents more than an ancient denomination: it is a surviving artefact from the final years of Hisham’s reign, shortly before his death in 743 AD and the succession struggles that would increasingly destabilise Umayyad power. Its historical significance lies in its direct association with a major caliph, a recognised mint and a pivotal chapter in early Islamic history.
Wasit, established in Iraq during the reign of Abd al-Malik, became one of the most important administrative and monetary centres of the Umayyad state. Its strategic position supported government operations and the circulation of silver dirhams throughout the wider Islamic economic network. The Wasit mint produced coins following the established epigraphic standards of reformed Islamic currency, combining religious declarations, the mint name and the Islamic date within a carefully organised design.
On a traditional Umayyad Silver dirham, the central inscription on one face proclaims that there is no deity except Allah alone, without partner, while the other incorporates the declaration of divine unity from the Qur’an’s Surah al-Ikhlas. The surrounding legends include further religious wording and the mint-and-date formula. These inscriptions transformed the silver dirham into both a practical instrument of commerce and a powerful expression of Islamic identity. With its 25 mm diameter, 2.8 g silver weight and distinctive calligraphic composition, this Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik dirham offers a compelling combination of historical authenticity, precious-metal character and cultural significance. For investors seeking ancient Umayyad coins, early Islamic silver dirhams, Wasit mint issues and historically important tangible assets, House of Emirates® presents this majestic artefact as an exceptional addition to a portfolio devoted to enduring treasures.
