Abu Jafar Harun Ibn Muhammad better known by his regnal name Al Wathiq Billah was an Abbasid Caliph reigned from 842 until 847 AD. He was born on 18th April 812 at Mecca to Al Mutasim, the 8th Abbasid Caliph. His reign is largely considered a continuation of his father’s. The chief event of his reign was the suppression of a Bedouin rebellion in the Hejaz in 845.

During the reign, he issued gold Dinar and silver Dirham. These coins were struck from various mints such as Samarqand, Al-Muhammadiya, Isbahan, Marw, Misr, Samarra, etc.

Above shown silver Dirham was issued during his reign from Samarqand mint. The obverse of a coin depicted the Kalima ‘La Ilaha Illallahu Wahdahu Laa Sharika lah’ in three lines across the field ‘Bismillah Zarb Haza Dirham Samarqand’ within the inner margin and ‘Llah Al Amr Min Qabl was Min Bad-o-Yaaumaiz Al-Momin Ba Nasrallah’ within the outer margin. The reverse of a coin bore the legend ‘Allah Muhammadur Rasulullah Allah Al Wathiq Billah’ in center.

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