As with all items in this collection, this artifact is certified authentic and will be accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity and Provenance, detailing typology, dating, region, and collection history.

RARE Abbasid Bronze Weight 8.49g Caliph AL-MANSUR 8th C. Islamic Kufic Inscribed

Item Specifics

• Culture: Early Islamic (Abbasid Caliphate)

• Material: Bronze / Copper Alloy

• Object Type: Coin / Commercial Weight

• Date Range: 754–775 AD (Reign of Al-Mansur)

• Weight: 8.49g

• Condition: Choice Very Fine (Vf)

Description

The Piece An exceptionally rare and historically vital bronze weight from the foundation of the Abbasid Caliphate. Weighing 8.49 grams, this double-dirham standard weight is clearly inscribed with the name "Mansur" in early Kufic script. This refers to the Caliph Al-Mansur, the visionary ruler who built Baghdad and standardized the weights and measures of the Islamic world.

Historical Significance Artifacts bearing the name of Al-Mansur are the "holy grail" for collectors of early Islamic administration. During his reign, the transition from Byzantine-style weights to a purely Islamic system was finalized. This bronze weight served as a master standard in the marketplace, guaranteed by the authority of the Caliph himself. Unlike common anonymous weights, this inscribed specimen provides a direct link to the golden age of the Abbasid revolution.

Museum Parallels

• The British Museum: Compare to the inscribed Abbasid bronze weights from the early Caliphal period.

• Museum of Islamic Art, Doha: Reference the collection of standardized weights from the 8th Century.

Condition Report Choice very fine condition. The bronze is dense and stable with a magnificent, deep olive-green and earthen "desert" patina. The Kufic inscription "Mansur" is crisp and deeply struck into the metal. A museum-quality specimen with exceptional legibility.

Provenance Ex-European private collection. Found in the Levant.

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