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Auction: 17007 - Ancient, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 601

(x) Islamic, Arab-Byzantine, Spain, Anonymous (c.711-14), base gold Solidus, 4.11g, year XCII (AH92), Indiction IX (9), abbreviated Latin legend around a seven-pointed star, rev. legend: HicSoLiDusFeRiTusINSPaniaANNoXCII, in field: INDCIX (Bernardi -; Walker -; A. 122 for type), about extremely fine and well struck for type, of the highest rarity, the first known of this early date

The Byzantines first marked dates by indiction. Each indiction lasted for 15 years, the period covered by Arab-Byzantine issues of Spain being 703-717. This coin clearly displays the indiction year IX, being the earliest known for this series. The date further appears as the Hijra year XCII across the obverse in Latin numerals. This would equate to AD711 and make this the earliest known Spanish Umayyad coin, struck in the first year of Muslim influence, soon after Musa Ibn Nusayr arrived in al-Andalus. Unlike many later examples, it is a carefully made coin that may have been struck by the travelling mint accompanying Musa Ibn Nusayr himself.
So far unpublished and unrecorded; as the first Islamic coin in Andalusian history this is an important addition to both Spanish and Islamic numismatics.

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Sold for
£21,000