Lot 1319 SPAIN Al-Andalus Almoravids AR quirate Ishaq ibn Ali 540-541AH NGC AU55 top pop rare ex Tonegawa
SPAIN (Al-Andalus), Almoravids, AR quirate, Ishaq ibn 'Ali, 540-541 AH, rare, NGC AU 55, "top pop," ex-Tonegawa. Vives-1896; Hazard-1041; FBM-E2; Eustache-576. 0.92 gram. Bold strike with choice toning, tied with one other for finest in the NGC census.
Obverse IA:
لا اله الا
الله
محمد رسول الله
lā ilāha illā / Allāh / Muḥammad rasūl Allāh
There is no god but God. Muhammad is the Messenger of God.
Reverse IIA:
المسلمين
امي
ناصر الدين
اسحاق بن علي
al-muslimīn / amīr / Nāṣir al-Dīn / Isḥāq ibn ʿAlī
Commander of the Muslims / Defender of the Faith / Ishaq ibn ‘Ali
The Almoravid empire controlled from its origins the trans-Saharan gold routes, largely channeled through the commercial center of Sijilmasa, which enabled the abundant striking of gold dinars.
The situation with silver was very different. Silver issues appear in the form of qirates of roughly one gram and in even smaller fractions, sometimes reaching divisions as small as 1/16 with weights below 0.06 grams. This extremely small module was not arbitrary but rather the result of the scarcity of silver during the Almoravid period. Despite these material constraints, engravers succeeded in adapting the epigraphic design to an exceptionally reduced surface, producing compositions of remarkable precision and elegance.
The qirate presented here is an excellent example of these emissions and stands out particularly for the quality of its strike and the refinement of its calligraphy, revealing the hand of a highly skilled engraver capable of resolving the epigraphic composition with balance and clarity within such a minute field. NGC #8437663-005. Pedigreed to the Tonegawa Collection (stated on label), Auction III (Aureo & Calicó 453, June 2025, lot 449).
Please use this link to verify the certification number
Obverse IA:
لا اله الا
الله
محمد رسول الله
lā ilāha illā / Allāh / Muḥammad rasūl Allāh
There is no god but God. Muhammad is the Messenger of God.
Reverse IIA:
المسلمين
امي
ناصر الدين
اسحاق بن علي
al-muslimīn / amīr / Nāṣir al-Dīn / Isḥāq ibn ʿAlī
Commander of the Muslims / Defender of the Faith / Ishaq ibn ‘Ali
The Almoravid empire controlled from its origins the trans-Saharan gold routes, largely channeled through the commercial center of Sijilmasa, which enabled the abundant striking of gold dinars.
The situation with silver was very different. Silver issues appear in the form of qirates of roughly one gram and in even smaller fractions, sometimes reaching divisions as small as 1/16 with weights below 0.06 grams. This extremely small module was not arbitrary but rather the result of the scarcity of silver during the Almoravid period. Despite these material constraints, engravers succeeded in adapting the epigraphic design to an exceptionally reduced surface, producing compositions of remarkable precision and elegance.
The qirate presented here is an excellent example of these emissions and stands out particularly for the quality of its strike and the refinement of its calligraphy, revealing the hand of a highly skilled engraver capable of resolving the epigraphic composition with balance and clarity within such a minute field. NGC #8437663-005. Pedigreed to the Tonegawa Collection (stated on label), Auction III (Aureo & Calicó 453, June 2025, lot 449).
Please use this link to verify the certification number
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