I had asked about this coin here on CT a few days ago, and after spending many hours trying to decipher the Arabic script, ChatGPT 5 did it! Just sharing it: The Habbārid or Habbari dynasty was an Arab dynasty that ruled a semi-independent emirate in Sindh, present-day Pakistan, from 854 to 1024 AD. The Habbari rulers, known as Amirs of Sindh, enjoyed significant independence. They ruled as semi-independent Amīrs: they acknowledged the Abbasid Caliphs in name (appearing on coinage and in Friday prayers), but in practice they were autonomous rulers. Essentially, they were a regional power within the larger Islamic state structure. The dynasty's rule ended with the invasion of Mahmud Ghaznavi, an Afghan ruler, in the early 11th century. Its capital was at Mansūra (near modern-day Shāhdādpur in Sindh, Pakistan) and that is where their main mint was located. This was the only major Islamic mint in Sindh under the Habbārids during the 9th – 11th centuries. Arabic dirhams were struck there in the name of the Abbasid caliphs, but with local Habbārid authority controlling the mint. On Habbārid coins the mint is sometimes identified as al-Qandahārī. This does not mean the city of Kandahār in Afghanistan; rather, it refers to Qandahār in Sindh, a locality in their territory. Because the Afghan Kandahār was far more famous, many assume “Qandahārī” on coins must mean that city. But in the 9th–10th century, the Habbārids did not control Afghanistan — they controlled Sindh. There was a tradition of tiny silver coins in western India. The first Arabs made their own versions of local coins. They are known for their silver coins called "damma," also known as 1/6 dirhem, which were minted during their rule. The coins typically feature Islamic inscriptions, including the Shahada and the name of the Amir in Arabic/Kufic script. Amirs of Sind (and their counterparts in Multan) struck large numbers of small silver coins weighing about 0.5 g which are called Qandhari Dirhams. This Habbārid AR damma (Qandahāri dirham) has very abbreviated Kufic Arabic script. Because of the tiny flan, inscriptions are usually partial and stylized. On most examples of this type, the inscriptions are religious phrases, usually abbreviations of the shahāda or bismillah. Shahāda is the Islamic declaration of faith, expressing the belief in the oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad. This is the AR Damma: Habbārid Emirate, Sindh, Mansura (?), ca. 950- 1015 7.37 x 6.78 mm, 0.503 g Ob.: The shahāda in Kufik script: la ilah illa Allah ("There is no god but Allah”) لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له Rev.: Muhammad Rasul Allah al-amir ‘Abd Allah “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the prince/commander Abd Allah” in Arabic/Kufik script. Here is ChatGPT 5 descriptions of both sides: "Sketched overlay of the inscription on your coin, showing where each Arabic word/letter is positioned, to visualize the shahāda (Islamic declaration of faith, expressing the belief in the oneness of God (Allah) and the prophethood of Muhammad)." ChatGPT-5. "At the center on the obverse the looped form (۞ / circular swirl) is usually the Arabic word الله (Allah) written in a highly stylized Kufic. Around it, the triangular strokes are fragments of lā ilāha illā Allāh (لا إله إلا الله, ) “There is no god but Allah”. At the bottom some specimens also carry Muḥammad rasūl Allāh Muḥammad rasūl Allāh (محمد رسول الله, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), but on the small dammas, like this one, often only “Allah” or the first half of the shahāda fits." Overlay sketch of this reverse side, showing where “Muḥammad rasūl Allāh” letters sit in the Kufic strokes, like I did for the obverse. ChatGPT-5. On the reverse the letters are elongated vertical Kufic strokes, less compressed than the obverse. The middle character looks like a ر (r) followed by a س (s) form. Together this is the standard reverse inscription: Muḥammad rasūl Allāh “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” On the top you can see the first part of مـ (Muḥ). The curved stroke near the top-center is part of ḥ (ح). The following vertical strokes with small hooks are ـمد (ammad). The lower part carries رسول in very abbreviated Kufic. Therefore, the reverse complements the obverse exactly as intended: • Obverse: “lā ilāha illā Allāh” (There is no god but Allah) • Reverse: “Muḥammad rasūl Allāh” (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)
