I recently found out that the top coin is from Yemen, the middle from Tunisia, and I think the third coin is from Saudi Arabia but I am not sure as it's not in my Krause book under SA. It is dated 1299...if any of you can identify I would be very appreciative. Thanks Russell http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/bc/7127beb3/bc/Arabic+Coins1.jpg?bfLyY.BBET5ngRgk http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/bc/7127beb3/bc/Arabic+Coins2.jpg?bfLyY.BB1qOZomR1
Russell,the coin with the scales is a 1 Pysa from Zanzibar,which is now part of Tanzania.It is a very common coin.AH1299 actually converts to 1882. The ruler who issued this coin was Sultan Barghash bin Said (reigned 1870-88).This coin is popular with collectors of British Commonwealth coins such as myself,as Zanzibar became a British Protectorate in 1890 in exchange for the island of Heligoland, which was ceded to Germany.There is a 1 Pysa dated AH1304 (1887),but this coin has always eluded me.The obverse of the Zanzibari 1 Pysa is very similar to the 1 Pice coins from Mombasa dated 1888,which also has a pair of scales.
Omgosh I had never even heard of that country until now and I found it right away in my very large book!! My book actually has 1300 as 1882 but I guess they are not all the same. It is amazing at what the internet can do for you. Just today I got the middle coin identified after owning it for 5 years from someone who can read Arabic. Thanks again
Welcome aboard NOS. Actually, either 1299 or 1300 can appropriately be "translated" as 1882, but 1299 is more commonly referred to that way as that was the western year most overlapping it. The AH (After Hejira) dating system used by most Muslim countries starts with Mohammed's flight from Mecca to Medina to avoid persecution. It is lunar based, and 11 days shorter than the standard Gregorian calendar's solar year. Specifically, AH1299 was equivalent to November 23, 1881-November 11, 1882; and AH1300 was November 12, 1882-November 1, 1883.
I checked my book with all of that and what you say makes perfect sense. This dating system is quite interesting.
Russell,it is possible for 3 coins to have 3 different AH dates within the same AD year.For example; I have got a Maldive Islands 50 Laari dated 1960,but it has the AH date as AH1389,which is the correct date for 1959 if it corresponded directly.I have got a 1982 Maldive Islands 50 Laari,which is dated AH1402.This corresponds directly.I have not as yet seen a coin with the next year's AH date. It must be remembered that Iran & Afghanistan use a slightly different calendar.Such dates are SH as opposed to AH. AH - Anno Hegirae. A lunar calendar. SH - Like the AH calendar,but this is a solar calendar,not a lunar calendar.