CNG 99, Lot: 957. Estimate $300. Sold for $750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ISLAMIC, al-Maghreb (North Africa). Uncertain. Rashid ibn Hakim(?). Circa AH 130-180 / AD 750-800. Æ Fals (19mm, 4.23 g, 8h). Walila mint. mimma amara/bihi rashid/bin hakim in Arabic in three lines / bismillah zar/b hada al fals/bi-walila in Arabic in three lines. Zeno 152389 (this coin); otherwise unpublished. Good VF, green patina. Apparently unique.

The attribution of this coin to the otherwise unknown local ruler, Rashid ibn Hakim(?), is made through the generous assistance of Stephen Album, who says:“I have tentatively identified Rāshid as a Berber officer who met the founder of the Idrisids (Idris I b. ‘Abd Allah) in about AH 169, and accompanied Idris from Mecca to Walila, where Idris established his center, and declared his independence in AH 172. Idris I was assassinated in AH 175, replaced by his son Idris II, who was actually not born until about two months after his father’s assassination. In fact, it was Rāshid who supported Idris II and procured his enthronement at his birth. Rāshid remained the regent until he was assassinated, presumably by order of the Aghlabid ruler Ibrahim (presumably by Ibrahim’s officials), in 186. The father’s name of Rāshid is apparently not known, and it is alleged that we was from the Awrabi tribe of the Berbers.

 As for the coin, the style suggests that it was probably issued by Rāshid as governor or Walila before the establishment of the Idrisids, i.e., before AH 172. Apparently, Rāshid’s position in Walila before AH 172 has not been recorded, except perhaps for this coin.”