Umayyad Caliphate. PB Seal – ‘Nasr allah ‘

Islamic, Umayyad Caliphate. PB Seal (13.5g, 21mm) – Bulla

Arabic Title: الدولة الأموية، ختم رصاصي، «نصر الله»

Obv: ‘Nasr allah ‘ in two lines in Kufic

Rev: ‘Nasr allah ‘ in two lines in Kufic

Ref: Journal of Near Eastern Studies 78.2 (October 2019), p. 279, cf. CNG Eauction 577, lot 754 Rarity/Choice: Rare and historically important, aVF ( Tan brown patina)

Note: Tareq A. Ramadan, “Religious Invocations on Umayyad Lead Seals: Evidence of an Emergent Islamic Lexicon,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 78.2 (October 2019), p. 279 and Fig. 64. Tan brown patina, minor roughness. This lead seal, bearing the same message – nasr allah (victory of Allah) – on both sides may allude to a Muslim victory over the Byzantine Empire at Sebastopolis in 692. The phrase itself can be traced to Surah 110 of the Qur’an (Surat an-Nasr), named for the first ayat (110.1), which speaks of the victory and help of Allah.