Islamic Silver Viking trade currency - Dirham, Al-Walid I
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Current bid
€ 15
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 250 - € 330
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 | €15 | |
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Islamic Viking trade currency dirham, Al-Walid I, a silver dirham issued 705–715 AD in Wasit, with a 28.7 mm diameter and in very fine condition, struck on a full flan.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Silver dirham (silver currency from the Islamic Emirates of central Asia) struck under Al-Walid I between 705-715 AD at the city of Wasit. The coin is struck with Arabic inscriptions arranged in the typical early Islamic format, with central religious inscriptions surrounded by marginal legends.
Diameter: ± 28,7 mm
Condition: Very fine, struck on a full flan
-> Islamic dirhams are often found in Viking Age contexts, especially in hoards from Scandinavia, the Baltic region, and Eastern Europe. They reached these regions through trade routes connecting the Islamic world with the Volga, the Baltic, and the wider Viking trading network. To the Vikings, these coins were valued mainly for their silver weight rather than their written inscriptions or issuing authority.
-> Al-Walid I was the sixth caliph (reigned 705–715 AD) of the Arab Umayyad Dynasty, who is best known for the mosques constructed during his reign. He was one of the most powerful Umayyad caliphs. His reign saw major expansion of the Islamic empire, including campaigns in Central Asia, North Africa, and the Iberian Peninsula. The Umayyad silver dirham became an important international trade coin because of its reliable silver content and wide circulation.
-> Dirhams were the standard silver coinage used in the Islamic world from Spain to central Asia, but they are also found in hoards of the 9th and 10th centuries across northern Europe.
During the Viking Age, Scandinavia received enormous quantities of Islamic coins, dirhams, acquired by Rūs traders in exchange for furs and other commodities along long distance river trading routes stretching across the eastern and southern Baltic coasts and inland waterways.
These dirhams are also found in Viking hoards, such as the Storr Rock Viking hoard (Isle of Skye) and the York Viking hoard which was discovered in 2007.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Silver dirham (silver currency from the Islamic Emirates of central Asia) struck under Al-Walid I between 705-715 AD at the city of Wasit. The coin is struck with Arabic inscriptions arranged in the typical early Islamic format, with central religious inscriptions surrounded by marginal legends.
Diameter: ± 28,7 mm
Condition: Very fine, struck on a full flan
-> Islamic dirhams are often found in Viking Age contexts, especially in hoards from Scandinavia, the Baltic region, and Eastern Europe. They reached these regions through trade routes connecting the Islamic world with the Volga, the Baltic, and the wider Viking trading network. To the Vikings, these coins were valued mainly for their silver weight rather than their written inscriptions or issuing authority.
-> Al-Walid I was the sixth caliph (reigned 705–715 AD) of the Arab Umayyad Dynasty, who is best known for the mosques constructed during his reign. He was one of the most powerful Umayyad caliphs. His reign saw major expansion of the Islamic empire, including campaigns in Central Asia, North Africa, and the Iberian Peninsula. The Umayyad silver dirham became an important international trade coin because of its reliable silver content and wide circulation.
-> Dirhams were the standard silver coinage used in the Islamic world from Spain to central Asia, but they are also found in hoards of the 9th and 10th centuries across northern Europe.
During the Viking Age, Scandinavia received enormous quantities of Islamic coins, dirhams, acquired by Rūs traders in exchange for furs and other commodities along long distance river trading routes stretching across the eastern and southern Baltic coasts and inland waterways.
These dirhams are also found in Viking hoards, such as the Storr Rock Viking hoard (Isle of Skye) and the York Viking hoard which was discovered in 2007.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Islamic
Century/timeframe
705-715 AD, Umayyad Dynasty
Name of object
Viking trade currency - Dirham, Al-Walid I
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2023
Material
Silver
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2023
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
