Yet again I've gone and picked up an Arab-Byzantine coin without the knowledge to properly identify it! Two questions: Any help identifying the piece attached here would be much appreciated. I'd be glad for any guidance on getting up to speed on these. I was thinking to purchase Clive Foss's Arab-Byzantine Coins and was wondering if that was a good place to start.
The closest match that I found in my very brief search is this: Umayyad Caliphate, Arab-Byzantine: Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (685-705 CE) Æ Fals, Halab (Aleppo) Mint (Album-3529; SICA I, 615-625) Here's a link to a discussion about this coin and other coins of this type. http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?topic=31625.0 Here are a couple of other examples: ARAB-BYZANTINE, Circa 693-700 AD Amman. temp. Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan AH 65-86. Standing caliph Type Fals AE Caliph standing facing, holding sword / Capital M; monogram above, A below instead of circle-on-steps, without mint and star, stylistically identical to the normal Standing Caliph fulus, of 'Amman mint Shahada in Arabic around (La Ilah Ila Allah Mohamed Rasul Allah). Abt. VF with a nice reverse. Dark brown patina. cf: A-3542. A-M3545, W-104. SNAT-716. (RRR). Cf. A similar example see Album Auction #22, lot #120 From the Tareq Hani collection. 3.62 grams ARAB-BYZANTINE, Circa 692-700 AD 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan I Standing Caliph AE fals Amman Mint Obverse: Caliph standing facing, holding hilt of sword; لعبد الله عبد الملك اميرالمومنين (for the servant of God, 'Abd al-Malik, commander of the believers) in Arabic around. Reverse: Transformed Φ-type cross potent set on steps; on its right in Arabic downward, Amman, on the left a star, لا اله الا الله و حده محمد رسول الله = (There is no God but Allah alone, Muhammad is the apostle of Allah) in Arabic around. Very nice for this type. A-3542, SNAT-717 ff 2.7 grams
Yes, Halab. Note بحلب (bi-Halab) reading upward on reverse next to the 'modified cross-on-steps'. There really is no perfect single reference for Arab-Byzantine coins but Foss is inexpensive and a reasonable introduction.