Mamluk. al-Nasir Nasir al-Din Muhammad I, Hama mint, AH 709-741 - Scarce

Islamic, Mamluk. al-Nasir Nasir al-Din Muhammad I, Fals (Bronze, 2.6g, 16mm), third reign, Hama mint, AH 709-741 = AD 1310-1341

Arabic title: المماليك، الناصر ناصر الدين محمد الأول، دار ضرب حماة، 709–741 هـ

Obv: Mihrab (prayer niche of a mosque) placed on two columns with a mosque lamp hanging from the mihrab

Rev: Mint name 'hama' in Arabic within central circle; around, 'al-Sultan al-Malik al-Nasir Nasir al-Dunya wa’l-Din' ('the Sultan, the Victorious King, Defender of the World and the Faith' in Arabic)

Ref: Balog, Mamluk, 241

Note: Struck in Hama under al-Nasir Muhammad, this rare fals reflects the stability of his long third reign, a peak period of Mamluk power and architectural patronage. The detailed mihrab and mosque lamp design is an exceptional numismatic expression of Islamic religious symbolism, rarely rendered so explicitly on circulating bronze coinage.