Pashiz of Nuh II (943-954) w/full Kalima and Abd al-Malik, 333 AH, Bukhara, Samanids in Central Asia

The first part of the Kalima, date (333 AH / 944 AD) and mint (Bukhara) // Second part of the Kaling (in two lines) followed by 'Abd al-Malik (bin Nuh) (as heir apparent, in the third line) in the central field, mimmā amara bihi al-amīr al-sayyid Nūh b. Nasr a'azzah Allah ("Which was commanded by the Prince Nuh bin Nasr, may God be pleased with him") in the margin. Mint of Bukhara. 19mm, 1.48 grams. Album 1457; cf. Zeno 127112.

Rare small denomination (pashiz or half adli/fals) which was struck for only one year, very nice example. Rarer variety, with the second part of the Kalima above the name of 'Abd al-Malik on the reverse (it is usually omitted).

Zambaur reports (referring to Mirkhond) that this coin was most likely struck by Nuh's son Abd al-Malik. This was not a rebellion - during the year 333 AH Nuh travelled to Khurasan for seven months (Safar to Ramadan) and he probably invested Abd al-Malik with the regency. Zambaur notes that his specimen had no mint name, but it seems these all name the mint of Bukhara. (Zambaur "Contributions à la Numismatique Orientale", NZ Wien 1905-6, no. 285).

The Samanids were a native dynasty in Central Asia and Greater Khorasan, named after its founder Saman Khuda who converted to Sunni Islam despite being from Zoroastrian theocratic nobility.