Islamic, ABBASID: al-Mansur (754-775 CE), Silver Dirham, Madinat al-Salam, AH 146 Weight: 2.92 grams Diameter: 26 mm Reference: A-213.1 Rarity: RR ( Very Rare) Condition: Fine This silver dirham was issued during the reign of the second Abbasid caliph, Abu Ja'far al-Mansur (r. 754-775 CE), in the year AH 146 (763/764 CE). It represents the first year of coin production at the newly established mint in Madinat al-Salam ("City of Peace"), which later became known as Baghdad. The coin retains the distinctive Damascene calligraphic style, a holdover from the earlier Umayyad coinage traditions, reflecting the transitional period between the two dynasties. Historical Context: The Abbasid Caliphate succeeded the Umayyad dynasty following the Abbasid Revolution, which culminated in the overthrow of the Umayyads in 750 CE. Al-Mansur, the second Abbasid caliph, played a pivotal role in consolidating Abbasid power and establishing a new administrative and cultural center. In AH 145 (762 CE), al-Mansur founded the city of Madinat al-Salam along the Tigris River. This new city, meticulously planned with a circular design, became the Abbasid capital, replacing Damascus, which had been the seat of the preceding Umayyad dynasty. The establishment of the mint at Madinat al-Salam in AH 146 (763/764 CE) marked a significant shift in the production of Islamic coinage. This mint would go on to become one of the most important in the Islamic world, producing coins that reflected the political and religious authority of the Abbasid Caliphate. The design of this early Abbasid dirham continues the stylistic legacy of the Umayyad period, including the use of Islamic inscriptions rather than figural imagery, in accordance with Islamic aniconic tradition. These inscriptions typically feature Qur'anic verses emphasizing monotheism and the authority of the caliphate, underscoring the religious legitimacy of Abbasid rule. This particular dirham is a rare and historically significant piece, representing the inaugural year of minting in the new Abbasid capital and the broader transformation of the Islamic monetary system during the early Abbasid period.