al-Mustansir · Malta quarter dinar, AH 472

AH 472 (1079–1080 in Zammit’s reading) · Fatimid Caliphate — al-Mustansir bi-llah

Zammit reads Malta and AH 472 in the marginal Kufic inscription of this gold quarter dinar. The centre names al-Mustansir. The Central Bank acquired the specimen in 2010. Its mint attribution rests on the published inscription reading; no archaeological findspot is established here.

Technical specifications

Composition
Gold
Mint
Malta — according to Zammit’s reading of the mint inscription
Weight
Unknown / not verified
Diameter
Unknown / not verified
Fineness
Unknown / not verified
Total mintage
Unknown / not verified
Edge
Unknown / not verified
Colour
Unknown / not verified
Serial format
Unknown / not verified

Concentric inscriptions carry religious formulae and the ruler’s name. Parts of the obverse margin are poorly preserved. The legend calls the coin a dinar, although the numismatic denomination is a quarter dinar.

A documented specimen

The paper reports circumference slightly exceeding 38 mm, not diameter. No diameter has been calculated.

Collection
Central Bank of Malta; acquired 2010
Specimen date
AH 472 (1079–1080 in Zammit’s reading)
Specimen weight
1.30 g (Zammit 2016 p 209; specimen measurement)

Dating and classification

The inscription is read as AH 472. Zammit 2016 gives 1079–1080; the 2010 announcement gives 1080–1081. AH 472 is retained as the primary date; no individual Common Era year is assigned.

Sources

Checked:

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