2020-03-04 Wed

The Fatimid Caliphate was an Islamic Caliphate, claimed descent from Fatimah, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad. The Fatimid spanned a large area of North Africa, from the Red Sea in the east to the Atlantic Ocean in the west.

Abdallah al-Mahdi Billah was the founder of the Ismaili Fatimid Caliphate and the eleventh imam of the Ismaili faith. Al-Mahdi founded the capital of his empire, Al-Mahdiyyah, which he named after himself. At the time of his death, he had extended his reign over the Maghreb, but campaigns into Egypt faltered against the resistance of the Abbasids, with heavy casualties. After his death, Al-Mahdi was succeeded by his son, Abu Al-Qasim Muhammad Al-Qaim, who continued his expansionist policy.

This gold Dinar of Al-Mahdi was issued from the al-Qayrawan mint in 303 AH. The obverse of a coin depicts the legend ‘Abd Allah la ilah illa Allah wahdahu la Sharik Lahu amir al-mu’ minin’. The reverse of a coin inscribed with ‘Al-imam Muhammad Rasul Allah al-Mahdi’.

Image Source: https://collectgram.com/