Dimishq 1468-96 Silver Islamic Coin Half Dirham Mamluk Sultan Qa'itbay Balog 823

Description

Rare Silver Coin
Mamluk Half Dirham
873-901 AH / 1468-1496 AD
Al-Ashraf Abu Al-Nasr Qa'itbay
For your Islamic Coin Collection-MAM102
Details
Description:
A small silver coin from the times of Qa'itbay (Al-Ashraf Abu Al-Nasr), who ruled Egypt and Syria during the period 873-901 AH (1468-1496 AD). Qa'itbay is from the Burji Mamluk dynasty. This is a small half dirham weighing about 1.4 grams and is not circular in shappe measuring 16 x 14 millimeters. It is in generally fine condition with readable calligraphy on the obverse and the reverse, but having considerable wear and areas of flatness. The obverse shows the name "Qa'itbay" with part of the word al-Malik above the name and al-Nasr and Ezat Nasruhsu surounding the name. The reverse shows parts of the legend "Bil Hudah; ..Elah Ela Allah;.. Rassul A..". The small flan of the coin does not show a date or a mint. However, the reverse suggest the coin is similar to Balog 823. Please carefully review the scans presented as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date:
Date off flan, struck in the period 873-901 AH (1468-1496 AD).
Mint:
Uncertain since the mint is off flan. Most likely the coin was minted in Dimishq.
Size and weight:
This is a fractional dirham, weighs ~1.4 grams of silver (said to be about 66.67% pure) and is 16x14 mm in dimension and is off-round in shape.
References:
It is Album #1029 with a rarity index (R) and appears to be listed in Balog as #823.
Condition:
I would grade this coin as a fine or better. The coin itself is much better than the photos show with relatively well defined and legible calligraphy on both the obverse and reverse. The coin is a bit off round with misshapen edge. The coin shows considerable wear and has strike weakness along the edges and definitely shows the name Qa'itibay. A normally more difficult coin to find, which would make a nice addition to your collection. Please see the photos for additional condition information.
Historic Perspective:
The word Mamluks in Arabic means "owned", hence their nickname "Slave Kings". They succeeded the Ayyubids and ruled Egypt and Syria for about 250 years. They had been recruited by the Ayyubids and then, like the Turkish mercenaries of the Abbasid caliphs, had usurped power from their enfeebled masters. Unlike their predecessors, however, they were able to maintain their power, and they retained control of Egypt until the Ottoman conquest in 1517. Militarily formidable, they were also the first power to defeat the Mongols in open combat in 1260, at Ayn Jalut near Nazareth in Palestine.
The Mamluk sultans are usually divided into two dynasties, the Bahris (1250 - 1382 AD), chiefly Turks and Mongols, and the Burjis (1382 - 1517 AD), chiefly Circassians. These names arise from the location of the barracks of the Mamluks within the city of Cairo (Al Kahira). Those originating from the barracks on an island in the Nile are Bahari (sea dwellers) and those who were in the towers of the Cairo Citadel are the Burjis (the tower dwellers). The Bahri sultans were usually selected from a few chief families, but during Burji times there was scant respect for hereditary principle in the selection of rulers. Neither dynasty was able to exercise more than a limited power over the turbulent Mamluk soldiers. The sultans reigned, on average, less than seven years and usually met violent ends. In spite of the dangers that threatened the sultans at home, they usually conducted a vigorous foreign policy. They defeated the last of the Crusaders and repulsed the Mongol invasion of Syria. At times they held all Palestine and Syria and the holy places of Arabia. Even after the Ottomans occupied Egypt they wheeled quite a bit of power until Mohammad Ali massacred the last of them at the Cairo Citadel in the early 1800's.
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