ISLAMIC, Mongols. Ilkhanids. Abu Saʿid, AH 716-736 / AD 1316-1335. 2 Dirhams (Silver, 21 mm, 3.15 g, 3 h), type G, Arzanjan (Erzincan), AH 731 = AD 1330/1. Within an octofoil, ‘lā ilāha illā Allāh / Muḥammad / rasūl Allāh’ (‘There is no deity but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah’ in Arabic); the names of the four Rashidun Caliphs around. Rev. Within a looped octagon, ‘ḍarb / al-sulṭān ibn al-sulṭān / Abū Saʿīd Bahādur Khān / khallada Allāh mulkahū / Arzanjān’ (‘Sultan, son of Sultan, Abu Saʿid Bahadur Khan. May Allah perpetuate his kingdom. Struck in Arzanjan’ in Arabic); in the margin, ‘ḍuriba – fī – sana – iḥdā – wa thalāthīn – wa sabʿa – mi–ʾa’ (‘Struck in the year 731’ in Arabic). Album 2214. Cf. Diler Ab-525 (for type). Well struck. Struck slightly off center, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the collection of a Swiss scholar, formed over the past thirty years.