Saffarids. Khalaf b. Ahmad. Third reign, AH 370-393 / AD 981-1003. AV Dinar (22.1mm, 2.83 g, 12h). Sijistan mint. Dated AH 370 (AD 980/1). VF, toned.

Islamic Auction 15 – Session One
Lot: 112.
Closing Date: Oct 28 2026 11:00 GMT

Pre-Mongol Asia, Gold

Estimate: $ 4 000

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Saffarids. Khalaf b. Ahmad. Third reign, AH 370-393 / AD 981-1003. AV Dinar (22.1mm, 2.83 g, 12h). Sijistan mint. Dated AH 370 (AD 980/1). Obverse field: la ilaha illa Allah / Muhammad rasul Allah / al-Ta‘i lillah / Khalaf b. Ahmad / ‘adl / Reverse field: Surat al-Ikhlas in four lines, with prefatory qull huwa above. Cf. Lloyd, Fourth Century Gold Coinage of Sistan 107 = David Collection (Copenhagen), coin C452 (dated AH 372). VF, toned. Of the highest rarity, apparently unpublished and believed unique.

This handsome and excessively rare dinar was struck while Khalaf b. Ahmad was besieged in Zaranj by his rival, al-Husayn b. Tahir. The following account of these events is taken from the Tarikh-i Sistan (trans. Milton Gold, Rome, 1976, p. 275):

‘The governor of Khurasan placed troops at the disposal of Husayn b. Tahir. Informed of these circumstances, Khalaf went to Juvayn to intercept them. There, on Friday, 4th Muharram AH 369, a furious battle was fought until nightfall, with many killed on both sides. Amir Khalaf took refuge in Sistan and ascended to the citadel (of Zaranj). On Tuesday, 7th Safar, he...set up war engines and prepared men of war.’

In spite of besieging Zaranj for some three years, Husayn b. Tahir was unable to capture the city. The Tarikh-i Sistan relates that the bravery of Khalaf b. Ahmad was such that ‘they were unable to cope with Amir Khalaf, whereas Husayn b. Tahir himself would laugh and rejoice at the valour of Khalaf’s army.’

While Husayn and Khalaf both issued coins with the mint-name ‘Sijistan’ during this period, Husayn’s coinage was limited to fractional dinars only. Being based in Zaranj meant that Khalaf had control of the main provincial mint, and he evidently had access to the workers and equipment necessary to produce handsome dinars like the present coin. Full dinars were not issued regularly by the Saffarids during the 4th/10th century, and Khalaf may have taken the decision to strike these unusually handsome and impressive coins to demonstrate his continuing authority in spite of being under siege.

The final winners of all lots in Session One of CNG Islamic Auction 15 will be determined during the live sale held on 28 October 2026.

Session Two of CNG Islamic Auction 15, a timed online sale, will be held on Thursday, 29 October 2026, beginning at 2:00 PM GMT.



Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and in person at the public auction, 25% for all others.

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