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Lot Essay
This remarkably early coin is an important survival from the earliest numismatics struck in the holy city of Medina.
Al-Hasan bin Zayd bin al-Hasan bin ‘Ali bin Abi Talib was the grandson of Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter. He was an pious Alid who reconciled with the political aspirations of the Abbasids, and went on to become a prominent governor of Medina under Caliph al-Mansur. His affiliation with the Abbasid rule was so strong that his daughter married the first Abbasid Caliph, al-Saffah, and he was allowed to reside in the court where he communicated his views on his Alid predecessors. He was appointed governor in AH 150 and remained in power until his dismissal in AH 155. For reasons unknown, he provoked the wrath of the Caliph who dismissed him and seized his property, although this was returned to him under al-Mansur’s successor al-Mahdi. Al-Hasan bin Zayd died in AH 167 during his pilgrimage to Mecca, where he was buried (Buhl, 1986, p.244-245).
This unique coin that is issued by a distinguished member of the Prophet’s family is of clear historical significance as a tangible demonstration of the relations that existed within the different branches of the Prophet’s descendants issued in one of the holiest cities of Islam.
Al-Hasan bin Zayd bin al-Hasan bin ‘Ali bin Abi Talib was the grandson of Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter. He was an pious Alid who reconciled with the political aspirations of the Abbasids, and went on to become a prominent governor of Medina under Caliph al-Mansur. His affiliation with the Abbasid rule was so strong that his daughter married the first Abbasid Caliph, al-Saffah, and he was allowed to reside in the court where he communicated his views on his Alid predecessors. He was appointed governor in AH 150 and remained in power until his dismissal in AH 155. For reasons unknown, he provoked the wrath of the Caliph who dismissed him and seized his property, although this was returned to him under al-Mansur’s successor al-Mahdi. Al-Hasan bin Zayd died in AH 167 during his pilgrimage to Mecca, where he was buried (Buhl, 1986, p.244-245).
This unique coin that is issued by a distinguished member of the Prophet’s family is of clear historical significance as a tangible demonstration of the relations that existed within the different branches of the Prophet’s descendants issued in one of the holiest cities of Islam.