66

ABBASID: Abu Al-Hasan Isma'il Ibn 'Ali (750-760), AE Fals (3.02g), Al-Mawsil (also possible Fars, Al

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 400.00 USD
ABBASID: Abu Al-Hasan Isma'il Ibn 'Ali (750-760), AE Fals (3.02g), Al-Mawsil (also possible Fars, Al
ABBASID: Abu Al-Hasan Isma'il Ibn 'Ali (750-760), AE Fals (3.02g), Al-Mawsil (also possible Fars, Al-Ahwaz, and Al-Basra), AH 133-142. Reverse margin "bism Allah amr al-amir Isma'il Ibn 'Ali a'azza Allah nasrah" (In the name of Allah, from the order of the commander Isma'il Ibn 'Ali, may Allah glorify his victory). Very fine to extremely fine. Third known specimen, of the highest rarity.

Isma'il Ibn 'Ali Abu Al-Hasan was a very early Abbasid general and also the uncle of the first Abbasid caliph Al-Saffah and his brother Al-Mansur. He was appointed by Al-Saffah as governor of Fars in AH 132. In AH 133 he was appointed as governor of both Al-Ahwaz and Al-Mawsil, and in AH 142 he was made governor of Al-Basra. Later on he governed several other cities and his coinage of Sabur, Istakhr, Ardashir Khurra, and Jur are known. References: History of Nations and Kings by Ibn Jarir Al-Tabari and Tarikh Al-Mawsil by Al-Azdi.

This coin, stylistically similar to Al-Mawsil falus of the late Umayyad and early Abbasid period is likely minted in Al-Mawsil, though it is still possible to have been minted at Ibn 'Ali's other early realms of Fars, Al-Ahwaz, and Al-Basra.

This coin is only the third known specimen, the first two in poor condition and with inaccurate attribution.