Islamic, ʿAbbasid Caliphate Harun al-Rashid, caliph (AH 170–193 / AD 786–809) Silver dirham, al-Rāfiqa mint Dated: AH 188 (AD 803/804) Reference: SICA III, 763 Weight: 2.95 g Diameter: 25 mm Condition: Minor areas of weakness, Cleaned and shiny, otherwise About Very Fine ________________________________________ Historical Background: al-Rāfiqa Mint Al-Rāfiqa, located adjacent to al-Raqqa in modern northern Syria, was founded in AH 155 (AD 772) by the ʿAbbasid caliph al-Manṣūr as a garrison and administrative city. During the reign of Harun al-Rashid, al-Rāfiqa rose to exceptional prominence and effectively served as the caliph’s principal residence and military headquarters during campaigns against the Byzantine Empire. As a major political and military center, al-Rāfiqa became an important mint city, producing high-quality silver dirhams that circulated widely throughout the ʿAbbasid domains. Coins struck there reflect the administrative sophistication and economic strength of the caliphate at its height. Issues from al-Rāfiqa are especially significant for their association with Harun al-Rashid’s reign, often regarded as the golden age of the ʿAbbasid Caliphate.