Umayyad, 'Abbāsid and Tūlūnid Glass Weights and Vessel Stamps / by Paul Balog

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UMAYYAD,
'ABBASID AND TULUNID
GLASS WEIGHTS AND VESSEL STAMPS
BY
PAUL BALOG
NUMISMATIC STUDIES
No. 13
THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY
NEW YORK
1976
Generated for anonymous on 2015-02-15 19:34 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015005328581

NUMISMATIC STUDIES
No. 13
TO THE MEMORY OF MY BELOVED WIFE
whose devotion and encouragement
made all my work possible
I wish to dedicate this work also
to the memory of
GEORGE CARPENTER MILES
the founder of modern systematic Arabic metrology

and an esteemed friend
CONTENTS
Preface 1
Introduction 4
Issuing Authorities and Protocols 4
Additions to the Historical Record of Officials and other Minor Officials .. 7
A Note on Transliteration 9
Analysis of the Weights 10
The Ratl Weights 13
The Ratl Systems 19
Accurary of the Heavy Weights 22
Coin Weights 25
Names of Substances on Heavy Weights 27
Erroneous Denominations 27
Analysis of the Measures 29
Measure Stamps 29
Intact Measures of Capacity 31
Chronology of the Officials Identified in the Catalogue 32
A Note Concerning the Illustrations 36
The Catalogue 37
Bibliography and Key to Abbreviations 39
1. Umayyads 43
2. 'Abbasids 109
3. Tulunids 264
4. Unidentified 'Abbasid Officials 270
5. Anonymous Weights 286
6. Anonymous Vessel Stamps 297
Arabic Index of Drugs 312

English Index of Drugs 314
Arabic Index of Pious Legends 315
Honorary Titles in the Form of Invocations 316
Arabic Index of Officials 317
English Index of Officials 320
PREFACE
Arabic glass coin weights have been published since the end of the eighteenth century.
Heavy weights and vessel stamps, however, have been noticed only since the end of
the nineteenth. Publications on heavy weights, coin weights and vessel stamps in-
creased in the last two decades of the nineteenth century, marking the beginning of
modern Arabic metrology.
The field's pioneers were E. T. Rogers, Stanley Lane Poole, Flinders Petrie and
Paul Casanova, all of whom described important collections. In 1925 Adolf Grohmann
published several collections in Vienna and in 1929 Marcel Jungfleisch gave detailed
descriptions of two intact ratl disk weights, one in his own collection, the other in the
Museum of Arab Art (now the Museum of Islamic Art) in Cairo. Jungfleisch also made
other contributions to Arabic metrology, but, unfortunately, his printed works on
weights and vessel stamps are too few.
Later the Amlr Jafar 'Abd al-Kader described three intact Syrian Umayyad heavy
weights and some other material from the Damascus National Museum. Francois Vir6
and Wolfgang Dudzus have also studied Arabic weights and stamps; the former pu-
blished the Hasan Husni 'Abd al-Wahhab Pasha collection in Tunis, the latter produced
two papers on the material in the Berlin Museum. In 1955, D. S. Rice summarily
described an intact wuqiyya disk weight of the 'Abbasid governor Wadih.
Adolf Grohmann's comprehensive chapter on metrology in his Chrestomathie, al-
though based mainly on literary sources, deserves special mention because of the
author's vast knowledge of early Arabic Egypt.
Aimee Launois contributed four works on the very substantial collections of the
Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, the Cabinet des Medailles in Paris and the Maspero
collection which is also in the Cabinet des M6dailles.
The outstanding material of the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo has, unfortunately,
been only partially catalogued by 'Abd al-Rahman Fahmy Muhammad, curator of the

numismatic section of that Museum. He dealt only with the coin weights in a work of
some importance but made no reference to the numerous specimens already published
by Launois. Unfortunately it is difficult to identify those coin weights which have
been thereby duplicated. This fact was mentioned in George Miles's note on Fahmy's
catalogue (NL 46 [Jan. 1959], pp. 367-8).
George Miles occupies a special place in the literature of Arabic metrology. The
pioneers in this field have already given us a great deal of information, but this has
not been gathered into a coordinated system. The knowledge which they transmitted
to us remained fragmentary and was not even always exact. Miles was the first author
not only to publish an impressive amount of new material, but also to place it in its
proper historical context, to arrange it in chronological order, to identify many of the
historical persons who figure on the glass, and in general, to bring order to the subject.
2 Glass Weights and Vessel Stamps
Miles's publications are always accompanied by abundant historical notes and critical
comments and provide the reader with a firm basis for further study.
Miles's enquiries into the problems of Arabic metrology cover a wide field. His study
of the coin weights raises all the problems, sometimes quite difficult to answer, of the
nature and value of the manifold emissions of the dinar, dirham and, especially, the
fals. His survey of a large body of material, produced answers to many of the hitherto
unsolved questions concerning the fals weight.
It is also due to Miles's acumen that there is now no doubt about the nature of the
vessel stamps and the purpose for which they were issued. Formerly they were con-
sidered simply labels affixed to containers made for selling spices, seeds, herbs, fruit
and other market products. Miles recognized them for what they really are, phar-
maceutical labels affixed to officially-issued drug containers. The names of drugs
which they bear are representative of the pharmaceutical substances most frequently
used during the eighth and ninth centuries in Egypt.
I deeply appreciate the kind permission to include the following three specimens in
the catalogue: Cat. 389property of Veli al-Din Sameh bey, Ronco, Switzerland;
Cat. 625in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna; Cat. 625Ain the Cabinet des
Medailles, Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. The remainder of the specimens described
in the catalogue comprise the author's collection, now in the American Numismatic
Society.
The nucleus of the present collection was generously presented to me by the late
Marcel Jungfleisch in 1953. At that time, the collection was already one of the most
important systematically acquired collections of Arabic metrological material, contain-
ing nearly five hundred Umayyad and 'Abbasid heavy weights, coin weights and
measure stamps. During the subsequent years, I was fortunately able to increase it
by a number of pieces to a total of over nine hundred specimens, among which are

many well-preserved heavy weights, ring weights and disk weights.
In the part added subsequent to 1953, there are also numerous pieces with names of
officials until now unrecorded on glass, or sometimes totally unknown, and also many
unpublished varieties of glass with known names. The names of several caliphs hither-
to unknown on glass also occur.
One of the highlights of this collection is the relatively high number of intact and
well-preserved heavy weights. Intact or even reasonably well-preserved heavy weights
have been very rare in hitherto published collections and their weights in grams seemed
to differ from each other so much that instead of a uniform result, one received the im-
pression of confusion.
Based on the well-preserved weights in this collection and taking into consideration
all the intact weights in the literature, I hope to demonstrate tentatively that under
the Umayyads and the 'Abbasids there were three different and distinct main weight
systems used in Egypt.
Although only sixty names of drugs are contained in this collection, when Miles has
already listed a little over one hundred (see Miles, "Pharm."), there are, nevertheless,
several drugs unpublished on glass and even a few unknown in mediaeval medical works.
Preface 3
The collection contains more than 270 weights and stamps of the Umayyad period,
nearly 500 'Abbasid pieces with the names of caliphs, viceroys, governors and other
officials known or unknown, 11 Tulunid weights and measure stamps and, finally,
about 130 anonymous weights and stamps, mostly of the 'Abbasid period. The im-
portance of the present collection will be appreciated even more since only some 650
Umayyad glass pieces have been hitherto published and the total number of 'Abbasid
and anonymous weights and stamps is less than 1400. Thus, the present catalogue
contributes another 40 percent to the corpus of known Umayyad glass and nearly
50 percent to that of the 'Abbasid and anonymous weights and measure stamps.

The eight issues of the Tulunids in our catalogue are all unpublished.
INTRODUCTION
Issuing Authorities and Protocols
The right of emission of glass was only exceptionally exercised by the caliph him-
self. The following are included in the catalogue: the Umayyad Yazld II, (for 'Abd
al-Malik and Yazld III, see the literature), and the 'Abbasids al-Mansur, al-Mahdl,
al-Amln, al-Ma'mun as heir apparent, al-Mu'tasim, al-Wathiq and al-Mutawakkil.
The caliph generally delegated the issuing of the glass to the governor, or when there
was a viceroy, to him, or to the finance director, or to both jointly.
The prefects, sub-prefects, or lesser executives countersigned the pieces with their
names, at the end of the protocol of the official in charge. But in many instances they
had the right of issue also (as did Salih b. Muslim). Prefects and lesser officials often
signed with the formula 'ald yaday, ^jo ^t, "at the hands of," on executive measure
stamps. On these occasions they were responsible for the emission and their name alone
is written on the glass, without that of their superiors.
A governmental order of emission on a higher level was made manifest by the for-
mula j*\, amara, or aj jj, amara bihi, which preceded the protocol of the high officials
endowed with the rank of amlr. There is, however, an exception to this rule: when-
ever the glass was issued in the name of the caliph and countersigned by the viceroy
or the governor or both, then their protocol was preceded by 'ald yaday, ^jo Ys. only
(see Cat. 648, 679).
In many instances, officials of various ranks display in their protocol the title mawla
amir al-mu'minln, ^s^ll jsJ ^y. Sometimes the chronicles affirm the fact that
these persons were manumitted by the caliph. In other instances, however, we find no
mention of such a relationship between the caliph and the official. The official displays
the title mawla as if it were a one of honor or distinction.
In several of his publications, Max van Berchem raised the question whether the
formula mawla amlr al-mu minln, used in an official protocol, was a title of office or an

honorific title, or whether it signified a personal relationship with the caliph. Van
Berchem was inclined to consider it the former, or rather, as a "sharing of power"1.
Grabar, however, took the latter view*.
I feel that at an early stage the title mawla really meant that the official was a
freedman of the caliph. This applies to all those individuals whose title of mawla is
mentioned by the chroniclers. It seems significant that none of the Umayyad officials
encountered on the glass are mawlas. Even among the early 'Abbasids I found only
three names who were true mawlas: Yahya, mawla of al-Mahdl (who may be Abu Salih
1 See Oleg Grabar, The Coinage of the TulUnids. ANSNNM 139 (New York, 1957), pp. 39-40.
* Grabar, T&ltlnids, p. 39 note and p. 40.
Introduction 5
Yahya ?), Matar and Wadih. They all belong to a short period under al-Mahdl's reign
ca. 157 to 162 or 163 H. No other officials lay claim to this title until the year 199 H.
Then, suddenly, out of seventeen viceroys, governors and finance-directors (the
Tulunid rulers included), thirteen persons display the title of mawla. The prefects and
other lower ranking officials do not possess this title, except the prefect Harith b.
Zur'a, but he may have been a genuine mawla.
There is also a fourteenth official with the title of mawla, Sulayman b. Harthama,
presumably a son of the governor Harthama b. Nadr Jaball. Although he is not men-
tioned by the chronicles, the fact that he was an amlr with the title of mawla empowered
to order the emission of weights indicates that he held a high position.
The incidence of such a high proportion of mawlas among the top-ranking officials
strongly favors Max van Berchem's opinion that, at least from 199-200 H. onward,
the title mawla amlr al-mum'imn became an honorific title or a title of office. This
should be evident in the case of Ahmad b. Tulun's son Khumarawayh, who quite cer-
tainly was born as a free person, yet is proclaimed as mawla amir al-mii'minin on the
glass stamp Cat. 740.
But there seems to be ample evidence that other honorary titles were also in constant
use at a much earlier time. In fact after the year 101 H. it became usual to affix on the
glass after the name of the caliph, the viceroy, the governor and the finance-director,
a pious invocation of a conventional formula. This invocation, which we encounter
only in the protocol of the highest ranking officials or of the caliph, and which never
occurs after the names of lesser, executive officials like prefects, is certainly more than
a mere wish of good health or longevity. Such a naive ejaculation would be out of
place on an official document.
I have counted eight different formulas of these pious invocations occuring in strict
regularity and in an established chronological sequence. Some of these invocations

or honorific formulas were employed over more or less extended periods. Others
appear on the glass of only a single official. They must have been bestowed on persons
of the highest rank as a special honor by the caliph, who at first used the formula to
exalt his own position. The formulas very soon became part of the protocol of all the
leading government officials. Very simply, the formulas must have had about the same
significance as the title of "excellency" accorded to a modern secretary of state or
ambassador.
Once such an honorific formula was bestowed on an official, it stayed with him dur-
ing his whole career and did not vary. It happened, however, exceptionally, that an
official of particular merit or high standing at Court received two distinct honorifics
successively, as accumulated honors. There are five such officials:
Salih b. 'All (133-7 H.): a)| jl*J^| and jojl a**I;
Nawfal b. Furat (141-4 H.): ujl **UI and .UJl û/l;
Al-Khaslb b. 'Abd al-Hamld (190-1 H.) and Abu Ja'far Ashinas (219-30 H.):
.Oil lil and uj| ju/I;
'All b. Yahya (226-9, 234-5 H.): jlUI lil and UJl ,y.\.
Glass Weights and Vessel Stamps
As noted, the first formula, jlUI a^L^], was adopted by the Umayyad caliph Yazld
II in 101 H., and bestowed shortly afterwards on the last Umayyad finance director
and governor, 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan. It then appears in the protocol of all the sub-
sequent 'Abbasid governors and finance directors until 176 H., never to be used again
after this date. To this title, Salih b. 'All had a second honor added, jlUI which
is attached to his name exclusively.
The next title, 40)I jujSl, became the most popular of all pious formulas and lasted
from its institution in 141 H. throughout the whole 'Abbasid rule in Egypt and even
was applied to the protocol of Ahmad b. Tulun, who died in 270 H.
*J jlUI ûI seems to have been reserved for the caliph al-Mahdl alone and so occurs
on the glass between 158 and 169 H. only.
jlUI is also a fashionable title introduced in 177 H. and present on the glass
until 236 H.
oli jO)I JU.I was reserved for three successive caliphs, al-Mu'tasim, al-Wathiq and
al-Mutawakkil, and bestowed also on Muzahim b. Khaqan, one of the last 'Abbasid
governors before the Tulunids. This formula is present on the glass between 218 and
254 H.
Lastly, two other honorific formulas, each restricted to one official, should be men-
tioned: jOJI ey\ for 'AH b. Yahya (226-35 H.) and l^li 4j)I JU.I (sic) for Yazld b.
'Abd Allah (242-53 H.).
The following tables show clearly that there was, at all times, considerable overlap-
ping between the older, time-honored formulas, and the newly invented honorifics.
Pious Invocations Used in the Sense of Honorary Titles
May Allah keep him straightl jlUI *pJÎ 101-76 H.
Caliph Yazld II, 101-5 H.

'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan, 131-3 H.
Salih b. 'AH, 133 H., 136-7 H.
Nawfal b. Furat, 141-3 H.
Humayd b. Qahtaba, 143-4 H.
Yazld b. Hatim, 144-52 H.
'Isa b. Luqman, 161-2 H.
Ibrahlm b. Salih, 165-7, 174, 176 H.
'Umar (b. Ghaylan, 173-4 H.), or (b. Mihran, 176 H.)
May Allah grant him victory] 133-7 H.
Salih b. 'AH, 133, 136-7 H.
May Allah be generous to him I *Ji\ 141-270 H.
Muhammad b. al-Ash'ath, 141-3 H.
Nawfal b. Furat, 141-3 H.
Matar, 157-9 H.
Yahya, mawla of al-Mahdl, ca. 158-69 H.
Muhammad b. Sulayman, 159-61 H.
Isma'll b. Ibrahlm, 164 H.
Introduction
Ibrahlm b. Salih, 165-7, 174, 176 H.
al-Fadl b. Salih, 168-9 H.
'All b. Sulayman, 169-71 H.
Musa b. 'Isa, 171-2 H., 175-6 H., 179-80 H.
Huwayy b. Huwayy, 176-9 H.
al-Khaslb b.'Abd al-Hamld, 190,-1 H.
Ashinas, 219-30 H.
Itakh al-Turkl, 230-5 H.
Hatim b. Harthama, 234 H.
Ishaq b. Yahya, 235-6 H.
Ahmad b. Tulun, 254-70 H.
May Allah give him long enjoyment I *J -u)I 158-69 H.
Caliph al-Mahdl, 158-69 H.
May Allah preserve him\ jlUI 177-236 H.
Ishaq b. Sulayman, 177-8 H.
al-Layth b. al-Fadl, 182, 187 H.
Mahfuz b. Sulayman, 187-9 H.
al-Khaslb b. 'Abd al-Hamld, 190-1 H.
Malik b. Dalham, 192-3 H.
al-Hasan b. al-Bahbah, 193-4 H.
al-Muttalib b. 'Abd Allah, 198, 199-200 H.
Ashinas, 219-30 H.
'All b. Yahya, 226-9, 234-5 H.
Harthama b. Nadr Jabali, 230-4 H.
Ishaq b. Yahya, 235-6 H.

May Allah prolong his lifel oli 40JI J0,I 218-54 H.
Caliph al-Mu'tasim,' 218-27 H.
Caliph al-Wathiq, 227-32 H.
Caliph al-Mutawakkil, 232-47 H.
Muzahim b. Khaqan, 253-4 H.
May Allah exalt him I -mI Î 226-35 H.
'All b. Yahya, 226-9, 234-5 H.
May Allah prolong their livesl (sic) -ujI J 11,I 242-53 H.
Yazld b. 'Abd Allah, 242-53 H.
Additions to the Historical Records of Officials and other
Minor Officials
The present catalogue contains the names of 120 known persons, the names of 30
unknown 'Abbasid officials and also the initials of three Greek employees who are
not known, but whose dates are fixed by the officials on whose glass they appear.
There are 17 Umayyads: one caliph, nine governors and finance directors and seven
prefects and executives. The 101 known 'Abbasids are as follows: seven caliphs,
two viceroys, 47 governors and finance directors (some hold both offices) and 44 pre-
fects and executives. The catalogue contains only three Tulunid rulers.
Most of these persons are known from the glass, or at least from the chronicles.
The 19 following officials were, however, completely unknown in the literature as well
as on the glass:
Junada b. Maysara, prefect under 'Ubayd Allah b. al-Habhab in 111 H. (Cat. 115-123).
Mukhallad b. Yahya, prefect or executive under 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan between
131 and 132 H.' (Cat. 257, 258, 261).
al-Luqa, executive under Salih b. 'All in 133 H. (Cat. 301).
Maymun b. Ka'b, ca. 141 H. (Cat. 383).
Salih b. Qustantln, prefect under Nawfal b. Furat, between 141 and 143 H. (Cat. 397-
399, 407).'
APAVOX under Nawfal b. Furat (Cat. 402).
Mu'awiya b. Mawla al-Muhsin, under 'AH b. Sulayman 169-71 H. (cat. 582).
Hilal b. al-Hasan, prefect, 173-4 H. (Cat. 609-610)
'Abd al-'Azlz b. Humayd, prefect under al-Layth b. al-Fadl, in 182 or 187 H. (Cat. 625).
Mukarram b. Khalid, prefect to al-Khaslb b. 'Abd al-Hamld, 190-1 H. (Cat. 634).
'All b. al-Safradi, prefect for Husayn b. Jamll, 190-2 H. (Cat. 635).
'Abd Allah b. Abl-Bakr, prefect or executive for Husayn b. Jamll (Cat. 635).
Abu Bakr b. Junada, prefect for al-Muttalib b. 'Abd Allah, (Cat. 650).
al-Hasan b. Mu'adh (?), ca. 3rd century H.
Sulayman b. Aflah, prefect or executive for al-Muttalib b. 'Abd Allah (Cat. 650).
al-Husayn b. al-Zafar al-Mutaqannit, prefect for 'Anbasa b. Ishaq, ca. 238-42 H.
(Cat. 202-203).
al-Hasan b. Abi'l-Mahasin, prefect for Yazld b. 'Abd Allah, between 242 and 253 H.

(Cat. 704-705).
'All b. Muhammad, prefect under the caliph al-Mutawakkil.
The dates and rank of office of the prefects and executives listed above are now
established through their association on the glass with high officials well known to us.
The officers can now take their place in the Umayyad and 'Abbasid hierarchy.
In addition to the personalities who were completely unknown until their appearance
on the glass, there are also those mentioned in the chronicles, whose names, however
have not yet been observed on weights and measure stamps. Among the latter figure
the caliphs al-Amln and al-Ma'mun as heir apparent (Cat. 640, 648), and the 12 fol-
lowing officials of the highest rank:
al-Layth b. al-Fadl, governor, 182, 187 H. (Cat. 620-625).
al-Husayn b. Jamil, governor, 190-2 H. (Cat. 635).
al-Khaslb b. 'Abd al-Hamld, finance director, 190-1 H. Only in VViet, Precis. (Cat.
633-634).
Jabir b. al-Ash'ath, governor, 195-6 H. (Cat. 646).
Abu'l-Nasr Muhammad b. al-Sarl, governor, 205-6 H. (Cat. 651).
Harith b. Zur'a, prefect for al-Muttalib b 'Abd Allah, 201 H. (Cat. 650).
Introduction 9
'Abdawayh b. Jabala, governor, 215-6 H. (Cat. 652).
Malik b. Kaydur, governor, 218-27 H. (Cat. 662-663)
Itakh al-Turkl, viceroy, 230-5 H. (Cat. 679-685).
Harthama b. Nadr Jabali, governor 233-4 H. (Cat. 681-685) (Unpublished, because
Grohmann No. 4 was misread: it is Yahya mawla amir al-mu'minln and not Harthama)
Hatim b. Harthama, governor, 234 H. (Cat. 690).
'Anbasa b. Ishaq, governor, 238-42 H. (Cat. 701-703)
Muzahim b. Khaqan, governor, 253-4 H. (Cat. 724-729)
The names of three minor officials of the dar al-'iyar are also known from coin weights
although nothing else about them has been preserved. They are: Kayl, a Copt whose
name was correctly read and interpreted by Miles as Chael. Kamil, sometimes written
without the alif and, finally, Sawlris, also a Copt; the latter's name was also read
correctly by Miles.
If we do not know more about the persons of these officials than we did before, at
least we know reasonably well the dates and extent of their activity. Indeed, Kayl's
name occurs on coin weights of Salih b. 'All (133 H.) and is still present on those of
Muhammad b. al-Ash'ath (143 H.). Kamil's name is found on the coin weights of
Nawfal b. Furat (141 H.) and is last seen on those issued jointly by Yazld b. Hatim
and Muhammad b. Shurahbll (152 H.) Finally, Sawlris appears on the issues of Yazld
b. Hatim and Salama (ca. 144 H.) and disappears after the joint emission by Muham-
mad b. Sa'ld with Sa'ld b. al-Musayyib (157 H.).
A Note on Transliteration
It is not unusual, in Arabic epigraphy, to find a word split at the end of a line. In
this way, one, two or more letters of the word come at the end of the first line, and
the rest of the letters, sometimes only the last one, follow at the beginning of the sub-
sequent line. In the English translation we tried to follow the arrangement of the

wording in the Arabic text as far as it was reasonable, though often alterations in the
sequence of words or their transposition in the English text became necessary to avoid
clumsiness or confusion.
In archaic Arabic writing, the names Ishaq, Ismail, Salih, Sulayman, 'Abd al-
Rahman and Marwan (and a few others) are written without the alif: j^H J_.,rl
xLfi )(j*Ju. , i3*"v" .^ , and ojj*.
It is customary, nevertheless, in a transcription to Latin characters, to represent
the alif (which is nonexistent in the archaic inscription) with the usual horizontal stroke
over the a. We have in the transliterated inscriptions disregarded this tradition for
two reasons: we wanted to render the exact spelling of the names written in their archaic
form and we found that in a few exceptional cases certain names really were spelled
with an alif. The horizontal stroke at the top of the a was therefore reserved in the
transliterations for these instances e.g. Cat. 515). Textual matter and the English
index use the modern alif transliteration.
ANALYSIS OF THE WEIGHTS
The heavy weights were manufactured in two distinct forms: disk weights and ring
weights, abundantly described by various authors. The ratl, its double and its fractions
appear, from the beginning, both as disk weights and as ring weights (the latter ap-
pellation is by Miles). For example, the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo has, among the
still unpublished material, disk weights of Qurra b. Sharlq, Usama b. Zayd and Hayyan
b. Shurayh. So have we in this collection. At the same time there are, in the present
collection, heavy ring weights of Qurra and Hayyan.
The wuqiyya, as Miles has observed, is mostly in the form of disk weights. But
there are exceptions, such as the half-wuqiyya ring weights of Itakh al-Turki with
Harthama b. Nadr Jaball (Cat. 681-684) and some anonymous wuqiyya ring weights of
later 'Abbasid issues: Cat. 799-800 are double wuqiyyas, Cat. 801 is a simple wuqiyya.
Although the heavy disk weights tend to disappear some time during the reign of
the caliph al-Mansur, we still meet them exceptionally from the second half of the
second century H. A fine example is our intact quarter-ratl kablr of Musa b. 'Isa
(Cat. 589).
The denominations on the weights are mostly correct. There are, however,
frequent discrepancies between the weight unit marked in the legend and the true
weight of the piece. The reader is referred to the different numbers in the catalogue.
Hundreds of fragments of the heavy glass weights have been found in excavations in
Egypt. Intact specimens of the ratl, its double and its fractions are, however, very rare
indeed.
Though there seems to be no mention of the fact in Arabic literary sources, we may
reasonably assume that the great scarcity of well-preserved heavy weights, compared
with the vast number of existing fragments, is somehow connected with a deliberate
fiscal policy of the Umayyad and 'Abbasid government.
Governors and finance directors, as a rule, rarely remained in office for more than a

year or two, or were recalled alter an even shorter period, to make room for their succes-
sors. The emission of weights and pharmaceutical containers marked with an official
stamp was a constant source of revenue to the government.
With a few exceptions of anonymous issues, the glass was stamped with the name or
protocol of the officials actually in power. Whenever a new governor, finance director
or prefect entered office, new weights and measure stamps were issued in his name.
We may safely assume that not only was a charge exacted for them, but that the old
weights had to be turned in to the authorities at the same time, for immediate destruc-
tion. Indeed, it is quite clear from the examination of the fragments that they must
have been deliberately smashed. They could not have been fractured so brutally had
they been dropped by chance.
10
This is the reason why for such a long time there were not many well-preserved heavy
weights in modern collections and why, in consequence, it was not possible to estab-
lish how many grams the ratl, or the different kinds of ratl, used in Egypt, weighed.
Henri Sauvaire was the first Arabic scholar to study systematically and extensively the
problems of Arabic metrology. Although his work is based entirely on mediaeval Arabic
sources and not on existing archaeological material, Sauvaire's compilation of an as-
tounding amount of metrological data remains one of our main sources of information.
Sauvaire listed 165 differently named ratl weights and calculated their equivalent
values in grams. According to his tables there are, however, several larger and smaller
groups of ratls, differently named but showing exactly the same weight in grams. It
must be assumed, therefore, that sometimes one and the same ratl weight was labelled
with different names in different localities or countries. If these ratls of identical
weight but different names are considered as being identical with each other, then
Sauvaire's list of various ratls is reduced from 165 to 76.
Sauvaire's lists deal with all the different weights which were, according to the Arab
chronicles, used over the entire Arabic world. As we are only interested in the metro-
logical data concerning Egypt, and to a lesser degree, Syria, the number of 76 can be
reduced further.
The right procedure to establish the true weight in grams of the heavy weights
would be to weigh the glass weights themselves, comparing the resultant figures with
the data compiled by Sauvaire. For this purpose, the greater number of well-preserved
heavy glass weights which could be found for examination, the more accurate our find-
ings would be. In the following paragraphs we shall present the well-preserved speci-
mens published in the literature and also those which are in the present collection.
The first more or less complete ring weight was published by Mauss in 1897.s Mauss
did not read the inscription at the top of the weight but gave a good description of the

piece, with an accurate drawing, and recorded the weight: 437 gm. One can see from
the drawing that a few chips are missing. It was preserved in the Louvre, but now ap-
pears to be lost. Hinz attributed this weight to the Fatimids, which is evidently an
error. We know from al-Maqdisl that the Fatimids made their heavy weights of lead,
a fact which is confirmed by the preserved weights themselves.4 But they also manu-
factured weights of the wuqiyya series as well as multiples of the mithqal of bronze.5
In 1926 Petrie published two anonymous half-ratls, of 191.00 and 187.44 gm.6 Then
in 1929 two intact ratl disk weights were described by Jungfleish,7 one in the name
of al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd Allah (431.87 gm) and the other in that of 'Abd al-Rahman b.
Yazld (433.67 gm).
3 Jungfleisch, "Les ratls discoides en verre," BIE 10 (1927-8, publ. 1929), pp. 62-3.
4 See Paul Balog, "Poids fatimites en plomb," RBN 1959, pp. 171-88.
8 Bruno Kisch, "Weights and Scales in Mediaeval Scandinavia," Journal of the History of
Medicine and Allied Sciences (New Haven, Apr. 1959), pp. 165-6, briefly published one of al-
Mustansir and there are several, as yet unpublished, in my own collection.
* Flinders Petrie, Glass Stamps and Weights Illustrated from the Egyptian Collectionof University
College, London (London, 1926), p. 18. nos. 175-6.
7 Jungfleisch. "Ratls," pp. 61-71.
All these weights are Egyptian issues. The next two publications deal, on the other
hand, with weights which were not only found in mediaeval Syria, but also made there.
The first paper is by the amlr Jafar 'Abd al-Kader of Damascus in 1935, describing two
intact Umayyad weights.8 One is a half-ratl of the caliph 'Abd al-Malik (175.50 gm.),
the other a quarter-ratl, which, although anonymous, belongs, without doubt, to the
same period (87.00 gm). Both weights are truncated cones, somewhat reminiscent of a
rubber bathtub stopper. I should like to call them "block-weights", a form which
seems to be typical of the Syrian Umayyad heavy weights. Both were found together in
Beit al-Ras in Jordan, a district which in mediaeval times was part of Syria. Four years
later, in 1939, a paper was published by Ettinghausen on a round, blockshaped, slightly
conical, heavyweight issued in Syria by the Umayyad caliph Yazld III (337.55 gm.).
It must be emphasized here, that the Syrian Umayyad ratl not only belongs to a
special system, but is also recognizable by its shape: all the hitherto published weights
of the Syrian Umayyad ratl system are round, truncated cone, block weights.
As has been pointed out, the Egyptian heavy weights are of two distinct types: disk
weights and ring weights. There exist, however, one or two exceptions: The ratl Cat. 2
of Qurra b. Sharlk looks like a squat milk or yoghurt bottle. As the bottom part is,
however, missing, it may have had a transverse suspension hole. The other is a compact
cylindrical weight in the form of a wine bottle cork, issued by Salih b. Muslim (Cat. 592).
Other more or less well-preserved heavy weights have been published more recently
among which are: a later 'Abbasid double ratl (CAM /., 252), a ratl of Humayd b.
Qahtaba (Launois, C.d.M. 19), and another of Ashinas (EAG I, 110). Several wuqiyya
and half-wuqiyya pieces have also been described by Miles, Rice and Dudzus (earlier
Lane Poole and Petrie had already published intact wuqiyya pieces). The first intact
ratl of the puzzling ratl kablr system was published by Miles (CAM II. Ruthven 33).
The hitherto known heavy weights in good condition number not much more than

about 12, a figure too low to allow for conclusions to be drawn as to the ponderal
system or different ponderal systems used in Egypt (and in Syria), and as to the equi-
valent in grams of the systems in question.
It is therefore of great importance that our collection contains considerably more in-
tact or at least well-preserved heavy weights than are known from the literature to
date. In fact, the present collection contains 57 pieces which can be used for the estim-
ation of the weight; 27 belong to the ratl series (double ratl, half and quarter ratl,
ratl kablr, etc.), and 30 to the wuqiyya (double, simple and half). I believe, that
taking into consideration the figures from the literature, together with our own figures,
we can now classify, at least tentatively, the different ratl systems which were current in
Egypt (and in Syria) and can also identify the corresponding figures in Sauvaire's lists.
Besides the perfectly-preserved, complete specimens there are also pieces which have
lost a small percentage of their original weight either through accidental chipping or
through scaling, devitrification (oxidation) in the soil. These were included not to
establish the original exact weight of the piece, but rather to demonstrate that they be-
8 Ibrahim Artuk, "Emevilerden Halife Abdiilmalik bin Mervan Adina Kesilmi Esiz Bir
Kursun Muhur," Bellelen 1952, pp. 21-5 illus.
Analysis of the Weights
13
long to the same category as the similar intact weights. For identification of the original
exact weight, as far as possible, we have chosen only the most complete specimens.
Thus the figures in the tables are the result of the best-preserved weights and not of the
average or of the frequency peaks, as is usual in the case of coins. Not in all cases, but
in most, the lesser weight of glass specimen belonging to a series means a loss of weight
and not a lightweight piece, as is usually the case with gold or silver coins.
The Ratl Weights
TABLE 1: Approximate Mean Gram Values of the Various Ratls and Their
Fractions a
The numbers in parentheses are the numbers of specimens.
Umayyad
'Abbasid
Ratl kablr
system
Syrian
Umayyad
Double ratl
(4) 780.00"
Ratl
(5) ca. 440.00
(6) 395.00
(2) 493.00
(1) 337.55
1/2 ratl

(9) 190.00
(2) ca. 240.00
(1) 175.50
1/4 ratl
(9) 94.00
(1) 123.00
(1) 87.00
Double wuqiyya
(5) 61.00
11/2 wuqiyya
(2) 48.00
Wuqiyya
(8) 37.00
(13) 33.00d
1/2 wuqiyya
(18) 15.90
1/6 wuqiyya
(3) 6.24
* In calculating the mean weight of ratls where only a few specimens were available or where a
significant disparity exists between the weights of well-preserved ratls, the fractions of the ratl
have been included in the calculation.
b Based on the weight of the ratl; three of the four specimens are badly chipped.
c See the discussion on page 24.
d The four lighter specimens are all chipped.
Specimens Analyzed
Umayyad
Ratl
11
536. Yahya, mawla of al-Mahdl 435.07 al-Qasim b.'Ubayd Allah 431.87
(Jungfleisch, "Ratls," p. 68).
Unknown. Umayyad or early 437.20
'Abbasid.
Once in the Louvre, now lost.
Wuqiyya
Catalogue:
36. Hayyan b. Shurayh 36.63
407. Salih b. Qustantln 36.82
442. 'Abd al-Rahman b. Yazld 37.50
443. Same 37.36
444. Same 37.98
In the literature:
'Abd al-Rahman b. Yazld
(CAM II. Benaki 36)
(CAM I 135)
(BMC 18)
Catalogue:
648. al-Ma'mun, Caliph 790.94
724. Muzahim b. Khaqan 735.53
Chipped
792. Anonymous 756.69
In the literature:

'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan 35.95
(Dudzus, "Gewichte" 5)
Chip missing.
Muhammad b. Sa'ld 36.50
(CAM II. Benaki 45)
Wadih (Rice, p. 172) 36.54
In the literature:
Illegible, later 'Abbasid 725.00
(CAM I, 252)
Chipped and flaked
Sixth Wuqiyya
6.25
6.24
6.22
'Abbasid Ratl
Double Ratl
Ratl
Catalogue: In the literature:
640. al-Amln, Caliph 385.23 Abu Ja'far Ashinas 398.53
651. Muhammad b. al-Sari 382.67 (EAG I, 110)
This weight is marked "1/2
15
ratl kablr," but is evidently
a normal 'Abbasid ratl.
765. Qarnuris 383.46
777. Muzahim b. Muhammad 394.51
Half Ratl
Catalogue:
In the literature:
385. Muhammad b. al-Ash'ath
188.60
Yazld b. 'Abd Allah
179.85
400. Nawfal b. Furat
180.00
(Vire 29)
Chipped
Illegible
194.62
691. Ishaq b. Yahya
190.68
(CAM /, 254)
704. Yazld b. 'Abd Allah
179.98
Anonymous (or illegible ?)
191.00

Chipped and scaling
(Petrie 176)
183.43
Anonymous
187.44
Chipped
(Petrie 175)
Although marked "quarter-ratl",
this is really a half-ratl weight.
Quarter
Catalogue:
657. 'Isa b. Mansur 93.45
658. Same 93.74
664. Musa b. Abi '1-Abbas 93.37
669. Abu Ja'far Ashinas 94.08
692. Ishaq b. Yahya 92.32
716. Yazld b. 'Abd Allah 90.66
Ratl
In the literature:
Anonymous (or illegible?) 96.40
Though identified as a two-wuqiyya
piece, with a query, this weight
is a quarter ratl.
(CAM I, 255).
Triple-Wuqiyya or Quarter Ratl
In the literature:
Unidentified
(CAM I, 255) 96.40
Miles wrote: "Two wuqiyya."
Double Wuqiyya
Catalogue: In the literature:
799. Anonymous 62.14 Anonymous 66.10
800. Anonymous 59.60 (Petrie 252)
16
Marked wuqiyya kablr, but evi-
dently an overweight later 'Ab-
basid double wuqiyya
Anonymous 58.55
(CAM I 239)
Thick disk, yellowish, four cobalt
patches.
Very late.
Anonymous 59.92
(CAM II. Ruthven 54)
Thick flattened disk, 4 cobalt
patches, square impression.
Very late.
One and a half Wuqiyya
Catalogue:
685. A. Sulayman b. Harthama 47.67
592. Salih b. Muslim 47.50
Wuqiyya
Catalogue:
654. 'Isa b. Mansur
675. 'Allb. Yahya
736. Ahmad b. Tulun
737. Same
801. Anonymous
803. Anonymous

804. Anonymous
In the literature:
31.50 Abu Ja'far Ashinas
31.45 (BMC 27 g)
33.22 'Isa b. Mansur
32.13 (Miles, "Muntaza," 52)
33.49 Yazld b. 'Abd Allah
31.92 (EAG II, 32.)
29.24 Anonymous
(Petrie 255)
Anonymous
(Petrie 256)
Anonymous
(Petrie 254)
34.02
31.37
31.50
31.69
31.32
31.24
Catalogue:
661. 'Isa b. Mansur
681. Itakh al-Turki
682. Same
Half Wuqiyya
In the literature:
16.03 Miisa b. Abi '1-'Abbas
15.90 (CAM I, 193)
15.63 'All b. Yahya
15.74
16.06
17
683. Same
693. Ishaq b. Yahya
702. 'Anbasa b. Ishaq
718. Same
719. Same
727. Muzahim b. Khaqan
728. Same
729. Same
805. Anonymous
806. Anonymous
807. Anonymous
15.60
15.51
15.94
16.08
15.95
15.54
15.77
15.70
15.58
16.63
15.67
16.64
(CAM I, 195)

Muzahim b. Khaqan
(CAM I., 245)
16.11
In the literature:
Anonymous
Fifth Wuqiyya (?)
5.89 CAM II. Ruthven 59).
Catalogue:
572. Ibrahlm b. Salih
System Ratl Kablr
Ratl Kablr
In the literature:
493.63 Ibrahlm b. Salih
(CAM II. Ruthven 33)
492.60
Catalogue:
791. Yahya
Although not specified on
the impression, this is a half
ratl kablr.
Half Ratl Kablr
In the literature:
237.02 'AH (?)
236.52
(Petrie 174)
From Petrie's illustration I read
rather yaday (= 'ald yaday),
and not 'All. The weight is
marked 1 /4 ratl, but it is definit-
ely a half ratl kablr. Chipped.
Catalogue:
589. Musa b.
'Isa
Quarter Ratl Kablr
123.35
18
Wuqiyya Kablr
No intact wuqiyya kablr weights have been found to date. Two anonymous ring
weights in this collection (Cat. 799, 800), although marked wuqiyya kablr, are only late
'Abbasid normal double-wuqiyya weights.
From the five weights of the ratl kablr series published above (ratl, half and quarter
ratl kablr) it is possible to calculate that the wuqiyya kablr should weigh approximate-
ly 41 gm.
Dahmds or Dahmasas
Only one weight is known:
Catalogue:
802. Anonymous, three dahmas 28.18
The Syrian Umayyad Ratl
Ratl
In the literature:
Caliph Yazld III. 337.55
(Ettinghausen, pp. 73-76)
Half Ratl
In the literature:
Caliph 'Abd al-Malik 175.50
(Jafar 'Abd al-Kader, Berytus 1935,
pp. 39-40.)
Quarter Ratl
In the literature:
Anonymous, 87.00
contemporary with the caliph

'Abd al-Malik. Found together with
the ratl weight.
(Jafar 'Abd al-Kader, in
Berytus 1935, pp. 39-40).
Exceptional Weight: "Standard of 88 H."
Catalogue:
(Also published by Jungfleisch, BIE 1956, and CAM. I, 260-261).
The Ratl Systems
The evidence points to three major and distinct ratl systems in use in Egypt. There
also occur, as exceptions, two other weight systems, either due to isolated circumstances
(Cat. 795, "Standard of the year 88") or to some local tradition (Cat. 802, three dahmas).
A quite different ratl of lighter standard was used in Syria under the Umayyads.
But this "Syrian Umayyad ratl" was issued and used in Syria, and not even stray
specimens have been found in Egypt.
Our study of the intact pieces in our collection and those in the literature and a
comparison of them with the data furnished by Sauvaire leads to the following con-
clusions:
1. Umayyad ratl
Our figures indicate that the Umayyads introduced an Egyptian ratl weighing
about 440.00 gm. This early ratl was kept in use from Qurra b. Shank's gover-
norship until some time during al-Mansur's reign. The equivalent of this early
ratl seems to be in Sauvaire (Vol. 2, Pt. 2, pp. 310-311 of the original pagination;
pp. 182-3 of the offprint): a ratl Mesry of 444 gm. from seven different literary
sources but all of the same weight. He also mentions, from yet another source, a
ratl Tunisi, also of exactly the same weight. This is an example of how a weight, when
adopted in another country, acquires a new name but remains at the same weight.
I also believe that the now lost Louvre ratl published by Mauss belongs in the same
category. It is true that this ratl weighed only 437.2067 gm. compared with our empir-
ical figure of an even 444.00 gm. or the theoretical weight calculated by Sauvaire

(444.9312 gms.). The small loss (ca. 7 gm.) is easily accounted for by the chipping,
which is clear on Mauss's drawing.
We may therefore assume that our early ratl, Sauvaire's ratl Mesry and ratl Tunisi,
as well as Mauss's Louvre ratl all belong in the category of what I propose to call the
Umayyad ratl of ca. 444.00 gm.
We learn from Sauvaire (Vol. 2 Pt. 2, pp. 302-3 of the original pagination) that the
wuqiyya of the ratl Mesry and Tunisi has a theoretical weight of 37.0776 gm. The
empirical weight of the early wuqiyya in our collection, represented by five intact
specimens, is ca. 37.00 gm., a figure which corresponds well enough with the theoretical
weight worked out by Sauvaire. The three specimens listed from the literature weigh
about one gram less, which is also only a small practical difference. Worked out from
the existing wuqiyyas, the weight of the early Umayyad ratl is confirmed at 37 x 12
== ca. 444.00 gm.
The wuqiyya of this early ratl is composed of 12 dirhams, which, established on an
empirical basis, weigh 3.083 gm. each. This figure is very near the theoretical weight,
calculated by Sauvaire (Vol. 2 Pt. 1, p. 429) at 3.089 gm. Of course, the ponderal dirham
of 3.083 (or 3.089) is not to be confused with the monetary dirham. The latter has peen
calculated by Zambaur (see Grohmann, p. 144) at 2.97 gm. and the correctness of
this figure empirically confirmed by Miles ("Byzantine Miliaresion," p. 214).
2. The 'Abbasid ratl
The early ratl, as mentioned, was in use from the time of Qurra b. Sharlk onward.
However, during the governorship of Muhammad b. al-Ash'ath and the finance-direc-
torship of Nawfal b. Furat, between 141 and 143 H., a ponderal reform was introduced
and the weight of the ratl drastically reduced from 440. to ca. 397 or 395 gm. The
first ratl weight of this new standard bears, in fact, the joint names of Muhammad b.
al-Ash'ath and Nawfal b. Furat. I propose to call this new ratl of 397 or 395 gm. the
'Abbasid ratl. It remained unchanged throughout the entire 'Abbasid period and even
during the independent Tulunld rule.
Documentary evidence of this 'Abbasid ratl can be found in Sauvaire, Vol. 2 Pt. 2,
pp. 308-309 (original pagination), but there is a complication: two groups, the first
a ratl weighing 395.4944 gm., and a second, weighing 397.260 gm., are rather too close
one to the other, to allow an unequivocal attribution. Even when a ratl weight is in an
excellent state of preservation, it is impossible to ascertain its original weight within a
margin of one or two grams. Therefore, I tried to establish the weight of the wuqiyya,
from existing intact pieces. According to Sauvaire (Vol. 2 Pt. 2, p. 302) the wuqiyya
of the 397.260 gm. ratl should weight 33.105 gm. and that of the 395.4944 gm. ratl,
32.957 gm. (my calculation for the latter is 32.91 gm.). But the intact 'Abbasid

wuqiyya weights in this collection (7 specimens) and in the literature (6 specimens)
weigh an average of 32.0 gm, which is too low a figure. It would, therefore, be more
practical to leave open, at least until further evidence is at hand, the question of which
of the two weights, 397.260 gm., or 395.4944 gm., is the true weight of the 'Abbasid
ratl.
3. The Ratl Kablr
The third ponderal system used in 'Abbasid Egypt was that of the ratl kablr. Al-
though no mention of it is made in mediaeval Arabic literature and no well-preserved
ratl kablr or its fraction was known until quite recently (see CAM II Ruthven 33),
scholars tried to deduce its weight (see Grohmann, Chrestomathie, p. 152, paragraph 1
and note 5). Grohmann conjectures its weight at ca. 518 gm.
Although intact or well-preserved specimens of this series are still quite rare, we have
three, as well as twenty fragments, in the present collection. The present corpus of the
ratl kablr series consists, of two ratls, two half and one quarter ratl. Although the
number of the well-preserved specimens is rather small, their weights are quite accurate
in relation to the place they occupy in the system.
The full ratl kablr, according to our figures, weighs ca. 493.0 gm.; the half, ca. 240 gm.
and the quarter, 123.35 gm. Multiplied by four, the quarter has the exact weight of
the full ratl kablr. The half, somewhat lighter, is less well-preserved.
I believe that I can identify the group of ratls in Sauvaire (Vol. 2 Pt. 2, p. 311) which
represent the ratl kablr: the ratl folfoly, that of Qayrawan, of Sevilla, Fez and Tunis,
and the ratl of Fez, Tlemcen and Tunis. They all weigh 494.368 gm. according to
Sauvaire's calculations. The ratl kabir makes its first appearance on the weights of
Ibrahlm b. Salih and his prefect 'Asim b. Hafs, between 165 and 167 H. The last issue
dates from the reign of al-Mutawakkil, around 247 H. In the present collection the
ratl kablr system is represented by Cat. 339-342, 572, 573-574, 582, 583, 587, 588, 589,
607, 608, 622, 626, 627, 633, 641, 646, 651, 688 and 791.
4. The Syrian Umayyad ratl
There are no specimens of this system in our collection and only three intact pieces
of this series are known from the literature: the half- and quarter-ratl pieces of the
caliph 'Abd al-Malik, described by Jafar 'Abd al-Kader, and the full ratl of Yazld III,
published by Ettinghausen. The half ratl bears the name of 'Abd al-Malik, the full
ratl that of Yazld III and his Syrian prefect; the quarter, although anonymous, is
undoubtedly contemporary with 'Abd al-Malik. Fortunately, there exists another full
ratl of 'Abd al-Malik which fits exactly into this weight system. It is a lead disk
weighing 337.5 gm. of the transitional Arab-Byzantine style, with 'Abd al-Malik's
protocol and the mint name Filastln.9 Artuk described it as a lead seal, but I am con-
vinced that it is a weight. There is little doubt in my mind that from the reign of
'Abd al-Malik until that of Yazld III (67-126 H.) a special weight system was used in

Syria (Filastln). This is as far as these few documents reach.
The nearest figure to this Syrian Umayyad ratl is in Sauvaire, Vol. 2. Pt. 2 p. 307,
in the 5th row from the bottom. It is listed as the Ratl roumy (romain) de Sicile (Edrisy),
of 346.0576 gm. It seems to belong to the same weight system. Grohmann, Chresto-
mathie, p. 151, mentions that according to Zambaur (WNZ 1903, p. 319) the lightest
Egyptian ratl weighs 343 gm., a figure even closer to our weights, except that Zambaur
speaks of an Egyptian ratl, and the ones with which we are concerned are Syrian.
Pliny says that the Athenian mina consists of one hundred drachmae (or its equi-
valent denarius, of 3.41 gm. and weighs, therefore, 341.0 gm. This figure seems to be
the same as the weight of the Syrian Umayyad ratl.
9 Pliny, NH 21.109.34.
5. Exceptional Weights
The 'iyar of 88 H. (Cat. 795-796) is a controversial piece. When I first published it,
I took the date, 88 H., at its face value. This was, however, contested by Miles (CAM I,
260-261), and also by Walker in a private communication. I am now convinced that
both Miles's and Walker's attribution of the weight to the second or even third century H.
is correct.
Miles, as well as Walker, thought that the century has been omitted from the date,
as sometimes happens on coins in later times. But I believe now, the number may have
another meaning; it could be a reference to the year in which this specific standard
(jL*) was instituted: standard of the year 88 H., or more exactly, as engraved on the
weight: standard in the year 88 H. This is, of course, only an assumption. I am also
tempted to assume that it is identical with the Greek-Byzantine libra of 297.945 gm.
listed on the second and third line of Sauvaire Vol. 2 Pt. 2, p. 307. Notably, 297.5 gm.
are equivalent to one hundred dirham kayl of ca. 2.97 gm., so that one should consider
the standard of 88 H. just that: 100 dirham kayl. It is true that our specimen (Cat.
795) actually weighs only 291.60 gm., but loss of 5-6 gm. surely resulted from the rather
extensive oxidation of the superficial layers.
The second category of exceptional weights is the dahmas or dahmasas, listed under
the weights used by the medical profession in Sauvaire (Vol. 2 Pt. 2. pp. 425, 505).
Sauvaire refers to the Escurial Ms. of al-Antary, Les poids et les mesures de capacite en
usage en medecine. The dahmas is equivalent to three mithqal or dirakhmy: 9.9315 gm.
Our specimen (Cat. 802) seems to be unique.
Accuracy of the Heavy Weights
The mediaeval Egyptian artisans who prepared the small glass weights destined for
the control of gold, silver and copper coins, merit the highest praise for skill and ac-
curacy (see Miles, Coin Weights). Discrepancies, whenever they occur, generally do

not differ more than a few centigrams, usually only one or two, from the theoretical
weight.
The artisans who manufactured the heavy glass weights, which often weighed several
hundred grams, also merit our admiration. The heavy weights are mostly quite accurate,
but considering their bulk and the rather primitive manufacturing techniques of their
times, one should be prepared to accept, as still within the limits of good workmanship,
differences of several percent.
By a fortunate coincidence, I am able to illustrate the small and quite acceptable
imperfections of the mediaeval Egyptian glass weights. The present collection contains
an intact disk ratl weight of the early 'Abbasid prefect 'Abd al-Rahman b. Yazld
(Cat. 440), weighing 433.67 gm. There are also, in this collection, three equally well-
23
preserved wuqiyya disk weights of the same man (Cat. 442-444). Cat. 442 weighs
37.98 gm.; Cat. 443 37.50 gm. and Cat. 444 37.66 gm. As the wuqiyya multiplied by
twelve gives the weight of its ratl, the ratl of Cat. 442 would be 455.76 gm., that of Cat.
443 450.00 gm. and, finally the ratl of Cat. 444 would weigh 451.92 gm. As can be seen,
all three wuqiyya weights differ from each other, all are overweight and the ratl issued
by the same official is underweight.
One should, therefore, be somewhat lenient when drawing conclusions from the
preserved, intact weights themselves and comparing them with the theoretical weight
calculated from information in mediaeval authors. Even so, it is astonishing how
small the margin of error generally was.
TABLE 2: Approximate Mean Gram Values of the Coin Weights
Number of
Frequency
Mean
High
Low
specimens
peak
weight
Value
Value
Dinar
between
35
4.21 and 4.23
4.43
3.99

4.20
1/2 Dinar
43
2.09
2.09
2.10
2.08
1/3 Dinar
42
1.40
1.36
1.42
1.35
Dirham
2.80
2.84
2.76
1/2 Dirham
1.35
Dirham kayl
2.95
2.95
2.95
2.92
and one double
dirham kayl
24
Fals
Number of
Number
Fre-
Average
High
Low
Miles's
qlrat or
of spec-
quency
weight
value
value
average
kharruba
imens
peak
36
6.99
7.15
6.92
6.957
35
6.83
6.91
6.75
34
6.53

6.546
33
6.354
32
6.19
6.204
Q1
Ol
30
14
5.76
5.87
5.46
5.847
29
5.270
28
5.49
Coin Weights
Most of our systematic knowledge of coin weights is due to George Miles, whose
research in this field has left little for future generations of Arabic metrologists to
discover. The facts published in his paper on eighth-Century Arab coin weights are
based on the exhaustive study of nearly 700 coin weights. Of these, 85 are dinars, 16
dirhams and 587 pieces are fals weights. Of the latter, 423 well-preserved specimens
served as a basis of calculation of the exact weight of the kharruba (or qlrat) and of the
fals weights composed of various numbers of kharruba.
The number of coin weights included in the present collection is, naturally, much
more modest. It consists of 231 pieces, of which 120 are dinars and fractions of the
dinar, 10 are dirhams and 101 fulus.
The average weight of our dinar weights is slightly lower than that of Miles, 4.20 gm.
against 4.23 gm. Our average of the half dinar (43 specimens) is 2.09 gm. against
his 2.12 gm. and the third (42 specimens) is 1.36 gm. against his 1.41 gm. The dif-
ferences may be due to the inferior state of preservation of our material.
Miles's study of the dirham is based on 16 specimens. We have only 10 pieces, but
they present one or two interesting new features. The average weight of our dir-
hams is only 2.80 gm., roughly five centigrams less than that of Miles, 2.85 gm.
Four of our dirham weights belong to the Umayyads (Cat. 217 to Yazld b. Abl
Yazld and Cat. 243-245 to 'Isa b. Abl 'Ata) and three to the 'Abbasids (Cat. 357 to
the caliph al-Mansur, Cat. 434 to Yazld b. Hatim and Cat. 631, a half dirham, to
'Abd Allah or 'Ubayd Allah b. Muhammad).
There are also three pieces of special interest, dirhams kayl or legal dirham weights:
Cat. 680 belongs to Itakh al-Turkl, Cat. 834 is anonymous and Cat. 925 has the name of
an unknown amlr, al-Hasan b. Mu'adh.
The Umayyad and 'Abbasid dirham weights were issued well before the Fustat

mint started to strike silver dirhams in 172 H. (see Miles "Coin Weights," p. 83).
This is an indication that silver, although of extraneous origin, was circulating in Egypt
at a very early date. The weights of the glass dirham coin weights, those published by
Miles as well as ours, are curiously and constantly lighter than the circulating Umayyad
and early 'Abbasid silver dirhams and stayed between 2.80 and 2.85 gm., 10 to 15 centi-
grams less than the actual silver coins. For the present there seems to be no explanation
for this anomaly.
There exists, however, a special dirham glass weight, the dirham kayl, which
conforms exactly to the silver dirhams. Although intact dirham kayl weights are
extremely rare (only two simple and one double dirham kayl weights have been pre-
served), the weight of the single glass dirham kayl is exactly 2.95 gm, the same figure as
that established by Miles for the silver coins. (Miles, "Coin Weights," p. 83 and "Byzan-
tine Miliaresion," p. 213).
Cat. 434 has the legend "dirham of two-thirds" and weights 2.76 gm., which may sig-
nify that the piece weighs, according to the law, two-thirds of a mithqal (2.834 gm.);
the difference between the two figures (7 centigrams) is negligible.
This dirham of two-thirds of 2.80-2.85 gm. may explain that the other ordinary
dirham glass weights, also of 2.80-2.85, were issued according to the same regulations.
It definitely does not justify their existence at a time when there were the glass dir-
hams kayl of 2.95 gm. and when all the silver coins weighed ca. 2.95 gm.
There are also several "dirhams of 13 kharruba." As Miles pointed out, they should
not be considered dirhams, but 13 kharruba fals weights. In these cases the word dir-
ham is only an engraver's error, or rather, the popular expression used generally for
money. (Cat. 282-284, 296-297, 388).
Our series of fals weights consists of 101 pieces. The highest value is 36 kharruba
(or its equivalent the qlrat), the lowest 9. The glass fals weights which are inscribed
with various multiples of the kharruba or qlrat were hitherto considered as different
fals weights, according to the number of their kharruba. They have been constantly
referred to as: a fals of 36, or 32, or 25, or 18, etc. This would mean that there is
no fals unit of fixed value, and that the word is a vague name for a piece of copper,
the undefined weight of which is only determined by the number of kharrubas it
contains.
I am convinced, however, that this is not so and that the fals is a well-determined
weight unit of fixed value. I think that the complete fals consists of 36 kharrubas.
There are no fals weights of a denomination higher than 36 kharrubas, and the fals
weights containing smaller number of kharrubas are fractions of the complete 36
kharruba fals. For example, the 35-kharruba fals is 35/36th of the complete fals unit,
the 25-kharruba fals is 25/36th of the complete fals. There is another argument in
favor of the 36-kharruba full fals: we have a half fals of 18 qlrat (Cat. 821).
Petrie's coin weight No 249, which weighs 10.57 gm, would then be a unique example
of a one and one-half fals weight. According to Miles ("Coin Weights," p. 85) it should
have the theoretical weight of 7.027 gm. +3.514 gm. = 10.541 gm. Therefore, Petrie's

specimen would not be incompatible with our theory, if it were a one and one-half
fals piece, and if the full fals really is composed of 36 kharruba. And, of course, I have
no explanation to offer for the"half fulQs" mentioned by Miles ("Coin Weights," p.87)
of 17, 15 and 9, except that ^j^j has been engraved instead of JxZ, by mistake or
negligence.
It is correctly assumed by Miles ("Coin Weights," p. 86) that the glass fals weights
were destined to weigh copper coins and not gold or silver, and that copper was not a
fiduciary currency but was accepted by weight based on its intrinsic value.
On some weights the word shatr, J*Ji, occurs (see Miles, "Coin Weights," p. 84).
Shatr means "half" or "part" and occurs on " . . . the 22 kharruba and on . . . the 12
kharruba." On these weights shatr can only mean part, because neither 22 nor 12
kharruba are half of the complete, 36 kharruba fals. On the other hand, we have in
this collection an anonymous weight (Cat. 828) marked shatr of 18 qlrat, for which
the translation "half" would be correct. The word nisf, âJ, "one-half," in connec-
tion with 17 qlrat (Cat. 84) and 9 qlrat (Cat. 833) can only be part or portion and not
half of a complete fals. (See Miles, "Coin Weights," pp. 83-84).
A "fals al-kablr" was mentioned by Miles ("Coin Weights," p. 83; it occurs on some
of the 30-kharruba pieces (Cat. 152-155), but as their weight is about the same as that
of the ordinary 30-kharruba fulus (Miles found a difference of three centigrams above
the normal weight), he had no explanation for the special name. Neither have I.
They may be part of the ratl kablr issues.
Names of Substances on Heavy Weights
Three substances are named on some of the heavy weights. These are -J~, meat;
grapes; and t_>Lt, jujube. Meat occurs on seven issues, all of them early. Grapes is
found on three emissions and jujube on one only. These three substances are not
pharmaceuticals which are found in great numbers and variety on the vessel stamps,
but rather the simple market products. This is the reason why they are on weights and
not on the stamps of vessels which were reserved for the sale of drugs. There can be no
doubt that meat is not a medicine, nor, most probably, are the two other substances,
although the fruit of the jujube has been used as a drug. But then other vegeta-
bles which normally are consumed as foodstuffs have also been prescribed as medica-
ments. At one time I thought that the word written ^^jJI, was to be read as i*JI,
which is the expression for unminted gold or silver, and that the heavy weight on which
it occured, was a special ratl for precious metal. Although I now accept Grohmann's
and Miles's reading, grapes, I am still a little skeptical, because I do not understand why
a commodity of such little economic importance should have deserved a special ratl
with its name inscribed in the legend.
Erroneous Denominations
Although the denominations on the weights are mostly correct, errors occur from
time to time and on examination of a glass weight one should always check the
denomination against the actual weight (of course, only when a weight is intact or at
least very well-preserved). Errors are relatively few, when we consider the great
number of preserved specimens, but I found in this collection twelve faultily "la-
belled" weights, of which four are coin weights and eight heavy weights. They are

as follows.:
Coin weights:
Catalogue:
84. This is a half fals of 17 qlrat (it should weigh 18 qlrat).
158. Although a fals of 32 kharruba, the legend is: ratl.
495. According to the inscription, it is a fals of 33 kharruba, but it weighs
only 28.
808. This bears the Coptic figures for 26 kharruba, but the actual weight is that
of 28.
28
Heavy weights:
592. Labelled as one wuqiyya, this weighs one and a half.
648. Notwithstanding the legend: ratl kablr, this is a later 'Abbasid double ratl.
651. Although labelled as a half ratl kablr, it is a normal 'Abbasid ratl.
791. Inscriped one-quarter ratl, the weight is that of a half ratl kablr.
799-800. Both pieces have the legend wuqiyya kabir, but are 'Abbasid double
wuqiyya weights.
804. Labelled one-half wuqiyya, it weighs a full wuqiyya.
805. This piece is inscribed one-quarter wuqiyya and is really a half-wuqiyya
weight.
807. This is the most curious piece of all. An oval disc, it bears the legend one-

quarter dirham kayl, three times repeated, and in reality, is a half wuqiyya.
ANALYSIS OF THE MEASURES
Measure Stamps
A substantial part of the collection consists of vessel stamps, 413 specimens distri-
buted as follows: Umayyads 178, 'Abbasids 130, Tulunids 4, unidentified 'Abbasid
officials 15 and anonymous 86.
The measure stamps can also be grouped in the following categories: Those which
show the protocol of officials and the name of a substance, with or without the name
of the measure of capacity of the vessel. Or those on which, after the names of the
officials, only the measure of capacity is mentioned.
From a very early date, it became usual to affix two stamps to the rim of the vessel,
one with the name of the drug and another with the short protocol of the official re-
sponsible for the manufacture of the pharmaceutical measure of capacity. The latter
stamp is called the "executive stamp." We have a few specimens which are composed
of a segment of the rim of the bottle, with the two stamps still attached to it side by
side.
The apposition of drug stamp and executive stamp on the vessels started under
Yazld b. Abl-Yazld (Cat. 221) who was Umayyad prefect and also finance director
between 116 and 128 H. The latest stamp with the name of the measure of capacity
dates from the governorship of 'All b. Sulayman, between 169 and 171 H., but the
stamps with an official's protocol and the name of drugs ceased before this date. For the
period after 171 H. through the entire 'Abbasid period and also under the Tulunids,
only executive stamps have survived. Some of the drug stamps may also result from
this later epoch.
It has already been stated that it was Miles who recognized that the stamps with
names of substances were, in reality, labels for pharmaceutical containers and not simple
markers for seeds, fruit, vegetables and other market products. Over one hundred
drugs are listed in Miles, "Pharm." and these seem to represent the pharmaceuticals

which were prescribed in the everyday medical practice of the eighth and ninth centuries
A.D. As there were about 3000 different drugs known to the authors of Arabic medical
works, those substances on the glass must have been only the most frequently dispensed
medicaments.
Notwithstanding the large number of drugs listed by Miles, we can present 12
hitherto unpublished drug names from the vessel stamps in this collection. They are
the following:
J^jl, or jLjl, cinnamon
^l, myrtle
JijXj, or 'ijjL*, wine of the Abyssinians
29
JsSÎ, rosemary
lyJV\ jU*., black Vetch
^liJI jL^, sarsaparilla
v^JI, sour milk
aJLjI, cooked milk
^,^l trJift. black lentils
^ci*. or jLi*. spurge flax
tfjll, garum
iiJo, dwarf elder
On most vessel stamps, except on the purely executive ones, the quantity of the
content is marked. The most common measure of capacity is the qist or its fractions
(1/2, 1/4). Otherwise, the measure is the mikyala (mikyal or, more frequently mikyal),
the value of which is uncertain. In a few cases, however, the mikyala is specified as
containing: One-half ratl of whey (Cat. 897), or two and one-half ratl of sarsaparilla
(Cat. 866), or simply a mikyala of two ratl (Cat. 914). The word mikyala is sometimes
omitted and then the stamp reads: One half ratl of grease (Cat. 171, 190), or on other
stamps the substance is marked in ounces: wuqiyya of grease (Cat. 603).
An enigmatic measure of capacity is the qist al-kablr (Cat. 919), of which there are
also fractions: half (Cat. 920-921) and quarter (Cat. 922). The mikyal al-kablr (Cat.
288-289) also belongs here. These measures of capacity of the "kablr" system must
belong with the ratl kablr and the fals kablr systems. But whereas we now know, more
or less exactly, the weight in grams of the ratl al-kablr and its fractions, there are no
documents to indicate the value in grams or cubic centimeters of the qist or mikyal
al-kablr. In other words, there are several intact weights of the kablr system, but no
intact measures of capacity.
The only indications of how much a qist al-kablr weighed (and not what its content

expressed in measure of capacity) is in Sauvaire (Pt. 2, p. 442, lines 2-4): it was equi-
valent to 4 ratls of 397.26 gm. (the later 'Abbasid ratl) = 1589.04 gm.
Another measure of capacity, about which nothing but its name is known at present,
is the qistan, The qistan occurs as a half qistan, on Cat. 159-161, and as a quarter
qistan on Cat. 162-169. Miles tentatively interpreted the word j^-J as two qist,
but at the same time remarked that it seems unlikely that the engraver intended to
write "half of two qist." (CAM I, p. 51). Launois (Cairo, pp. 60-64) translated the
word jliuJ as mustar, jlk~*, or grape juice or must, which is evidently a mistake.
Qistan, jlk-J, or qistar (?), jlk~i, is probably a special measure of capacity not
mentioned in Sauvaire. There is, however, qestes, ^Jtî, which should be the same
as qist, Ja-Ji.
Another measure of capacity, although known to Sauvaire, has never before been
met with on the glass: it is the rub', _>, or the rub'a, i^. For discussion, see our
Cat. 59-60. Finally, an equally rare measure of capacity must be mentioned; the thumn,
J, which occurs only on Cat. 600.
Analysis of the Measures 31
Intact Measures of Capacity
Very few intact measures of capacity have been preserved and those extant are all
small, only fractions of the unit, the qist. I know of only seven specimens, but there
may be more, especially in the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo. At the present, the
following complete measures are known to me:
1. With lateral stamp, on it: olj .k~i> qist waf. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
York. Published by Florence E. Day "An Umayyad Pharmacist's Measuring Cup,"
(May 1953), p. 259. Height: 70 mm. Capacity 50 cc.
2. Miles, "Pharm." Fig. 1. Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, Inventory no. 14646.
With lateral stamp, on it: SLd
Capacity 60 cc. isoj
. . ftt
3. Miles, "Pharm." Fig. 2. H. D. Colt coll. Capacity 5.9 cc.
4. Miles, "Pharm." Fig. 3. Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo. Capacity 3.0 cc.
5. Balog coll., unpublished. Small jug with handle (32 x 40 mm.), stamp missing from
spot where the upper branch of the handle joined the rim. Thin wall. Capacity 24 cc.
6. Balog coll., unpublished. Mortar shaped vessel with thick walls and pushed up
bottom, no handle. (58 x 58 mm.). One stamp (16 mm.) on the rim, one underneath.
Surfaces corroded, so that the capacity, now of 21 cc, may have been of 20 cc.
originally. No inscription on the stamps, effaced by the corrosion. Green.
7. Balog coll., unpublished. Phiole or situla-shaped small measure, with handle and
rim. Stamp on the side opposite the handle. Total length 55 mm., width near the
neck 17, and near the rounded bottom 22. On the stamp: (i_)_L5
Capacity 9.75 cc. Pale green. olj
It will be noted that of the seven measures, one has the legend qist waf, another

mikyala waf and a third, mikyala zayt nafls. The inscriptions on the other four have
been effaced or are missing. Therefore, only three could be useful in calculating the
relationship with the corresponding qist or mikyala. The fact that on the specimen of
the Metropolitan Museum ,Jlj Jaî is written, does not mean that this is a complete
qist. It is evidently a fraction. Such inaccuracies occur quite often.
At this stage, the few existing intact measures of capacity are not sufficient to re-
construct the value of the qist, especially as four out of seven specimens bear no indica-
tion of the container's nature and denomination, and two are mikyalas, which probably
only means a receptacle without any fixed value.
In this regard, one cannot use Sauvaire's text (Pt. 2, pp. 439-444) with any degree of
confidence, in the absence of archaeological material. But it probably is simpler than
the manifold data in Sauvaire suggest, just as the weight systems used in Egypt proved
simpler than the impression given in his "Materiaux."
CHRONOLOGY OF THE OFFICIALS IDENTIFIED
IN THE CATALOGUE
Umayyads
Qurra b. Shank, governor, 90-6 H./ A.D. 709-14.
Usama b. Zayd, finance director, 96-9 H./ A.D. 714-17; interim governor, 102 H./
A.D. 720-1.
Hayyan b. Shurayh, finance director, 99-101 H./ A.D. 717-20 (probably later, until
ca. 102 or 104 H.)
Caliph Yazld II. 101-5 H./ A.D. 720-4.
'Ubayd Allah b. al-Habhab, finance director, 102-116 H./ A.D. 720-34.
Junada b. Maysara, prefect, 111 H./ A.D. 729-30.
Hafs b. al-Walld, governor, 108 H./ A.D. 727; governor, 124-7 H./ A.D. 742-4; finance
director, 124-5 H./ A.D. 742-3; governor, 127-8 H./ A.D. 745-6.
Al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd Allah, finance director, 116-24 H./ A.D. 734-42.
Muslim b. al-'Arraf, prefect, 119 H./ A.D. 737.
Zaffar b. Shaba, prefect, 122-3 H./ A.D. 740-1.
Dawud b. al-Murr, prefect, 123 H./ A.D. 740-1.
Yazld b. Abl Yazld, prefect, ca. 116-7 H./ A.D. 734-45.; finance director, 127-8 H./
A.D. 745.
'ha b. Abl 'Ata, finance director, 125-7 H./ A.D. 743-5; 128-31 H./ A.D. 745-9.
Yazld b. Tamlm, prefect, 128-32 H./ A.D. 745-9.
'Abd al-Malik b. Marwdn, finance director, 131-2 H./ A.D. 749; governor, 132-3 H./
A.D. 748-50.
Mukhallad b. Yahya (or: Mukhallad and Yahya?) under 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan
Ka'b b. 'Alqama, prefect, ca. 131-3 H./ A.D. 748-50.
'Abbasids
Al Muhammad, propaganda name of the 'Abbasid dynasty, probably at beginning of

their rule.
Muhammad b. Shurahbll, prefect, 133- ca. 152 H./ A.D. 749-69.
Salih b. 'All, governor, 133 H./ A.D. 750-1; 136-7 H./ A.D. 753-5.
al-Luqa, executive, 133 H./ A.D. 750, or 136 H./ A.D. 753.
'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld, governor and finance director, 133-6 H./ A.D. 751-3; 137-41 H./
A.D. 755-8.
'Asim b. Hafs, prefect, ca. 133-41 H./ A.D. 751-8; ca. 165-9 H./ A.D. 781-6.
32
Chronology of Officials
33
Caliph al-Mansur, 136-58 H./ A.D. 754-75.
Musa b. Ka'b, governor and finance director, 141 H./ A.D. 758-9.
Maymun b. Ka'b, prefect, presumably for his brother (?) Musa b. Ka'b, ca. 141 H./
A.D. 758-9.
Nawfal b. Furat, finance director, 141-3 H./ A.D. 759-60.
Salih b. Qustantln, prefect, 141-3 H./ A.D. 759-60.
Muhammad b. al Ash'ath, governor, 141-3 H./ A.D. 759-60.
'Abd al-Rahman b. Yazld, prefect, 141-52 H./ A.D. 759-69.
Kamil, lesser official, ca. 141-52 H./ A.D. 759-69.
Humayd b. Qahtaba, governor, 143-4 H./ A.D. 760-2.
Yazld b. Hatim, governor, 144-52 H./ A.D. 762-9.
'Abd Allah b. Rashid, prefect, 141-3 H./ A.D. 759-60.
Sa'ld b. al-Musayyib, prefect, sometime between 144-52 H. / A.D. 761-9 and 152-7
H. / A.D. 769-73.
Salama, prefect, ca. 144-57 H. / A.D. 762-74.
Sawiris, lesser official, ca. 144-57 H. / A.D. 762-74.
Ibrahim b. 'Abd Allah, executive, 145 H. / A.D. 762.
Muhammad b. Sa'ld, governor, 152-7 H. / A.D. 769-73.
'Umar b. Yahya, prefect, 152-7 H. / A.D. 769-74.
'Abd al-Wahhab b. Tamlm, prefect, 152-5 H. / A.D. 769-71.
Qutayba b. Ziyad, prefect, 152-7 H. / A.D. 769-71; 157-9 H. / A.D. 773-5.
Caliph al-Mahdl, 158-69 H. / A.D. 775-85.
Muhammad b. 'Amr, prefect, sometime during al-Mansur's or al-Mahdl's reign.
Yahya, mawla of al-Mahdl, sometime between 158 and 169 H. / A.D. 775-85. If identi-
cal with Abu Salih Yahya, then: 162-3 H. / A.D. 778-9. In any case, this is a true

mawla.
Matar, governor, 157-9 H. / A.D. 773-5. Also a true mawla.
'Abd al-Rahman b. Tamlm, prefect under Matar, 157-9 H. / A.D. 773-5?
Muhammad b. Sulaymdn, prefect, later governor, 159-61 H. / A. D. 775-7.
al-Muhajir, in charge of manufacture, 159-61 H. / A.D. 775-77, and probably after
161 H. prefect.
Abu Bakr b. Tamlm, prefect, 159-61 H. / A.D. 775-7.
'ha b. Luqman, governor, 161-2 H. / A.D. 777-8.
'Imran b. 'Utba, prefect, 161-2 H. / A.D. 777-8.
Wadih, mawla of al-Mansur, governor and finance director, 162 H. / A.D. 778. A true
mawla. Earlier, prefect.
'Abd al-Rahman b. Maysara, deputy prefect, 162 H. / A.D. 778; prefect, 167-8 H.
/ A.D. 784-5.; 169-71 H. / A.D. 786-7.
Isma'll b. Ibrahim, finance director, 164 H. / A.D. 780.
Yahya b. Sa'ld, prefect, 164 H. / A.D. 780.
Ibrahim b. Salih, governor, 165-7 H. / A.D. 781-4; finance director, 174 H. / A.D. 790-1;
governor and finance director, 176 H. / A.D. 792.
'Abd Allah b. Yazld, prefect, 165-7 H. / A.D. 781-4 or 174 H. / A.D. 790-1, or 176 H.
/ A.D. 792.
34
Musa b. al-Mus'ab, governor and finance director, 167-8 H. / A.D. 784-5.
al-Fail b. Salih, governor and finance director, 168-9 H. / A.D. 785-6.
'All b. Sulayman, governor, 169-71 H. / A.D. 786-7.
Mu'awiya b. Mawla al-Muhsin, prefect, 169-71 H. / A.D. 786-7.
Musa b. 'Isa, governor, 171-2 H. / A.D. 787-8; 175-6 H. / A.D. 791-2; 179-80 H.
/ A.D. 795-6.
Salih b. Muslim, prefect, ca. 171-82 H. / A.D. 787-98., under Layth b. al-Fadl, 182 H.
/ A.D. 798 and under Mahfuz b. Sulayman, 187-9 H. / A.D. 802-4.
Musa b. Sabiq, prefect, sometime between 171 and 180 H. / A.D. 787-96.
Hilal b. al-Hasan, prefect, 173-4 H. / A.D. 789-90.
Hashim b. Salim, executive, 171-2 H. / A.D. 787-8 or 175-6 H. / A.D. 791-2 or 179-80 H.
/ A.D.795-6.
Nasih, executive, partner of Hashim b. Salim, and his contemporary in office.
Huwayy b. Huwayy, governor, probably 176-9 H. / A.D. 792-5.
'Umar b. Ghaylan, finance director, 173-4 H. / A.D. 789-90.
or
'Umar b. Mihran, governor, 176 H. / A.D. 792.
Ishdq b. Sulayman, governor, 177-8 H. / A.D. 793-4.
al-Laylh b. al-Fadl, governor, 182 H. / A.D. 798; 187 H. / A.D. 802.
'Abd al-'Aziz b. Humayd, prefect under al-Layth b. al Fadl, 182 H. / A.D. 798, or
187 H. / A.D. 802.
Mahfuz b. Sulayman, finance director, 187-9 H. / A.D. 802-4.
'Abd Allah b. 'Irbad, prefect, ca. 187-9 H. / A.D. 802-4.
'Abd Allah or 'Ubayd Allah b. Muhammad, prefect, then governor, 189-90 H. / A.D.
804-5.

Al-Khaslb b. 'Abd al-Hamld, finance director, 190-1 H. / A.D. 805-6.
Mukarram b. Khalid, prefect under al-Khaslb b. 'Abd al-Hamld.
al-Husayn b. Jamil, governor, 190-2 H. / A.D. 805-7.
'All b. al-Safradl, prefect for al-Husayn b. Jamll and Malik b. Dalham, between 190
and 193 H. / A.D. 805-8.
'Abd Allah b. Abl Bakr, prefect under al-Husayn b. Jamll.
Malik b. Dalham, governor and finance director (22 Rabl' II 192-4 Safar 193 H. / Feb.
24-Nov. 27. A.D. 808.
'Abd Allah b. 'Isa, prefect, 192-4 H. / A.D. 807-9.
Caliph al-Amln, 193-8 H. / A.D. 808-13.
al-Hasan b. al-Bahbah, governor, 193-4 H. / A.D. 808-10.
Jabir b. al-Ash'ath, governor, 195-6 H. / A.D. 811-12.
Muhammad b. Muhammad, prefect, 195-6 H. / A.D. 811-12.
al-'Abbas b. Musa, governor, 198-9 H. / A.D. 813-14.
Caliph al-Ma'mun, 198-218 H. / A.D. 813-33.
'Abd Allah (b. Tahirl), governor, 211-13 H. / A.D. 826-8 (?)
al-Multalib b. 'Abd Allah, governor, 198 H. / A.D. 813-4; 199-200 H. / A.D. 814-5.
Abu Bakr b. Junada, prefect under al-Muttalib and under al-Sarl b. al-Hakam.
Harith b. Zur'a, executive, with title of mawla, 199-200 H. / A.D. 814-5.
Chronology of Officials
35
Sulayman b. Aflah, executive, 199-200 H. / A.D. 814-5.
Muhammad b. al-Sarl, governor, 205-6 H. / A.D. 820-1.
'Abdawayh b. Jabala, prefect, 212-3 H. / A.D. 827-8; governor, 215-6 H. / A.D. 830-1.
'Isa b. Mansiir, prefect, Sha'ban 215-6 H. / A.D. 830-1; governor, with title of mawla,
216-7 H. / A.D. 831-2.
Caliph al-Mu'tasim, 218-27 H. / A.D. 833-42.
Abu-Ja'far Ashinds, viceroy, with title mawla, 219-30 H. / A.D. 834-44.
Musa b. Abi'l-'Abbas, governor, 219-24 H. / A.D. 834-8.
Malik b. Kaydur, governor, with title of mawla, 224-6 H. / A.D. 838-40.
'All b. Yahya al-Armani, governor, with title of mawla, 226-9 H. / A.D. 840-3;
234-5 H. / A.D. 848-9.
Caliph al-Wathiq, 227-32 H. / A.D. 841-6.
Itakh al-Turki, viceroy, with title of mawla, 230-5 H. / A.D. 844-9.
Caliph al-Mutawakkil, 232-47 H. / A.D. 846-61.
Sulayman b. Wahb (or: . . ?. . b. Sulayman), prefect or executive, under al-Mutawakkil.
Harthama b. Nadr Jabali, prefect before 230 H. / A.D. 844; governor, 233-4 H. / A.D.
847-9. With title of mawla.
'All b. Muhammad, prefect under al-Mutawakkil.
Hatim b. Harthama, governor, 234 H. / A.D. 848-49.
Ishaq b. Yahya, governor, with title of mawla, 235-6 H. / A.D. 849-50.
Khut 'Abd al-Wahid Yahya, governor, with title of mawla, 236-8 H. / A.D. 850-2.
Zakariya and 'Isa, sons of Yahya, government clerks, 237 H. / A.D., 851, or before.
Hamza b. al-Mughlra, government clerk, 237 H. / A.D. 851.
'Anbasa b. Ishaq, governor, 238-42 H./ A.D. 852-6.
al-Husayn b. al Zafar al-Mutaqannit, prefect under 'Anbasa b. Ishaq, ca. 238-42 H.

/ A.D. 852-6.
Yazid b. 'Abd Allah, governor, with title of mawla, 242-53 H. / A.D. 856-67.
al-Hasan b. Abi'l-Mahasin, prefect, ca. 242-53 H. / A.D. 856-67.
Muzahim b. Khaqan, governor, with title of mawla, 253-4 H. / A.D. 867-8.
Tulunids
Ahmad b. Tulun, governor, with title of mawla, 254-66 H. / A.D. 868-79; ruler, 266-
70 H. / A.D. 879-83.
Khumarawayh b. Ahmad, ruler, with title of mawla, 270-82 H. / A.D. 883-95.
Harun b. Khumarawayh, ruler, 283-92 H. / A.D. 896-904.
A Note Concerning the Illustrations
To get reasonably clear pictures of the inscriptions from photographs taken directly
of the glass pieces themselves would have been an extremely difficult task. Therefore,
I used plaster casts which are easier and quicker to photograph. I also employed a
special technique which had already served me well in the photographing of badly
worn or dark Islamic copper coins, that of shading with graphite. The prominent patrs
of the coins or the glass (primarily the inscriptions) are very delicately treated with
graphite, which has been rubbed onto the tip of one's finger. Then the graphite is
passed onto the surface of the cast with very slight strokes. It is important not to apply
any pressure, otherwise not only the prominent parts of the inscriptions, but also the
whole surface between them, become dark, and the purpose of the treatment is defeated.
When correctly applied, the legends stand out very clearly from the background.
To show well-preserved, complete ring weights in lateral view, and one very large
disk weight in frontal view, direct photographs of the glass were preferred. On some
weights the inscriptions are much effaced and would not have been visible; we therefore
decided not to reproduce them. Others are not illustrated since the surface of the glass
was too brittle, and the making of a cast would have seriously damaged the already
precarious state of the legends. Some varieties are already well known from illustrations
in other publications; these have been omitted from the plates. On the other hand,
quite a few hitherto unpublished or otherwise interesting pieces have been illustrated in
several specimens.

More than half of the photographs were made with the affectionate help of my wife.

THE CATALOGUE
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS
'Abd al-Kader Amlr Jafar 'Abd al-Kader, "Monnaies et poids en verre indits,"
Melanges syriens offerts a M. R. Dussaud (Paris, 1939), pp. 399-419.
Ahmed Issa Ahmed Issa Bey, Dictionnaire des noms des plantes en latin, francais,
anglais et arabe, Cairo, 1930.
Balog, "Estampilles" Paul Balog, "Quelques estampilles en verre arabes du huitieme
siecle A.D. avec les noms de drogues," JESHO 6 (1963), pp. 219-27.
Bedevian A. K. Bedevian, Illustrated Polyglottic Dictionary of Plant Names,
Cairo, 1936.
Belot J. Belot, Vocabulaire arabe-francais, 17th ed., Beirut, 1955.
Bernard, Samuel, Notice sur les poids arabes anciens et modernes, Paris, 1817.
BIE Bulletin de VInstitut d'Egypte, Cairo.
BMC Stanley Lane-Poole: Catalogue of Arabic Glass Weights in the British Museum,
London, 1893.
CAM I George C. Miles, Contributions to Arab Metrology. Early Arabic Glass
Weights and Measure Stamps Acquired by the American Numismatic Society,
1951-1956, (ANSNNM 141), New York, 1958.
CAM II. Benaki George C. Miles, Contributions to Arabic Metrology. Early
Arabic Glass Weights and Measure Stamps in the Benaki Museum, Athens, and
the Peter Ruthven Collection, Ann Arbor. First Part: The Benaki Collection,
(ANSNNM 150), New York 1963, pp. 1-27.
CAM II. Ruthven George C. Miles, Contributions to Arabic Metrology. Early
Arabic Glass Weights and Measure Stamps in the Benaki Museum, Athens, and
the Peter Ruthven Collection, Ann Arbor. Second Part: The Peter Ruthven Collec-
tion, (ANSNNM 150), New York, 1963, pp. 28-57.
Casanova Paul Casanova, Catalogue des pi&ces de verre d'epoque byzantine et arabe
de la collection Fouquet, (Memoires publics par les membres de la mission archeolo-

gique francaise au Caire 6), Paris, 1893.
Casanova, "Poids" Paul Casanova, "Etude sur les inscriptions arabes des poids
et mesures en verre (Collections Fouquet et Innes)," BIE Ser. 3 Vol. 2 (1891),
pp. 89-121.
Ducros A. H. Ducros, Essai sur le droguier populaire arabe de Vinspectorat des
pharmacies du Caire, (Memoires de VInstitut d'Egypte 15), Cairo, 1930.
Dudzus, "Gewichte" Wolfgang Dudzus, "Umayyadische glaserne Gewichte und
Eichstempel aus Agypten in den Berliner Museen," Aus der Welt der Islamischen
Kunst. Festschrift fur Ernst Kuhnel, (Berlin, 1960), pp. 275-82.
Dudzus, "Glasstempel" Wolfgang Dudzus, "Friihe Umayyadische Glasstempel aus
Agypten," FB (-961), pp. 18-24.
39
40
EAG I George C. Miles, Early Arabic Glass Weights and Stamps, (ANSNNM 111),
New York, 1948.
EAG II George C. Miles, Early Arabic Glass Weights and Stamps. A Supplement,
(ANSNNM 120), New York, 1951.
Ettinghausen, Richard, "An Umayyad Pound Weight," Journal of the Wallers Art
Gallery 2 (Baltimore, 1939), pp. 73-6.
Fahmy 'Abd al-Rahman Fahmy Muhammad, $inaj al-Sikkah fi Fajr al-Islam
[Early Islamic Coin Weights], Cairo, 1957.
al-Ghafiqi M. Meyerhof and G. Sobhy, The Abridged Version of the "Book of Simple
Drugs" of Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Ghafiqi by Gregorius Abu'I Faraj (Barhebraeus)
Cairo, 1932.
Grabar, Oleg, The Coinage of the Tulunids, (ANSNNM 139), New York, 1957.
Grohmann Adolf Grohmann, "Arabische Eichungsstempel, Glasgewichte und Amu-
lette aus Wiener Sammlungen," Islamica 1 (Leipzig, 1925), pp. 145-226.
Grohmann, Chrestomathie Adolf Grohmann, Einfiihrung und Chreslomathie zur
Arabischen Papyruskunde, Prague, 1954.
Heuser, G., "Die Personnennamen der Kopten," Studien zur Epigraphik und Pa-
pyruskunde Vol. 1, No 2 (Leipzig, 1929), pp. 103, 105.
Hinz, Walter, Islamische Masse und Gewichte, Leiden, 1955.
Honigberger, Johann Martin, Friichte aus dem Morgenlande oder Reise-Erlebnisse,
Vienna, 1853.
IB Ibn al-Baytar, Kitab al-JamV li-Mufradat al- Adwlya. Translated by L. Leclerc,
Notices et Extraits des Manuscrits de la Bibliolheque iVa/iona/eVols. 23,25 and 26,
Paris, 1877-83.
Jungfleisch, "Poids" Marcel C. Jungfleisch, "Un Poids et une Estampille sur verre

datant d'Ahmed ibn Touloun," BIE 30 (1947-8, publ. 1948), pp. 1-9.
Jungfleisch, "Ratls" Macrel C. Jungfleisch, "Les ratls discoides en verre," BIE 10
(1927-8, publ. 1929), pp. 61-71.
Jungfleisch, BIE 1956 Marcel C. Jungfleisch, "Le systeme ponderal islamique dit
"Kebir"," BIE 38 (1955-6, publ. 1956), pp. 303-6.
Kazimirsky 1860 Albert de Bieberstein-Kazimirsky, Dictionnaire arabe-francaise,
2nd edition, Paris, 1860.
al-Kindl al-Kindi, Governors and Judges of Egypt, edited by R. Guest, London/
Leiden, 1912.
Kisch, Bruno, "Weights and Scales in Mediaeval Scandinavia," Journal of the History
of Medicine and Allied Sciences (New Haven, Apr. 1959), pp. 165-6.
Kmietowicz, Anna, "Deneraux et poids musulmans en verre conserves dans les musees
de Pologne," Folia Orient 1 (1959), pp. 135-41.
Lane Edward William Lane, An Arabic-English Lexicon, London, 1863-93.
Launois, Cairo Aimee Launois, Estampilles et poids faibles en verre Omeyyades et
Abbasides au Musee Arabe du Caire, (Melanges Islamologiques, Institut Francais
d'Archeologie Orientale, 3), Cairo, 1956.
Catalogue: Bibliography
41
Launois, C.d.M. Aimee Launois, Estampilles et poids en v^rre du Cabinet des
Midailles, (Art Islamique, Institut Francais d'Archeologie Orientale, 4), Cairo,
1959.
Launois, C.d.M. Suppl. Aim6e Launois, "Estampilles et poids en verre musulmans
du Cabinet des Midailles," Maspero, pp. 53-67.
Launois, Maspfro Aimee Launois, Catalogue des etalons monetaires et autres pieces
musulmanes en verre de la collection Jean Maspero, Paris, 1960.
Maimonides Max Meyerhof, $arh al-Asm'a al-'Uqqar. Un glossaire de matiere
mtdicale compose de Maimonide, (Memoires de 1'Institut d'Egypte, 41), Cairo,
1940.
Miles, "Byzantine Miliaresion" George C. Miles, "Byzantine Miliaresion and Arab
Dirhem," ANSMN 9 (1960), pp. 189-218.
Miles, "Coin Weights" George C. Miles, "On the Varieties and Accuracy of Eighth
Century Arab Coin Weights," Eretz Israel 7 (1964, L.A. Mayer Memorial Vol.),
pp. 78-87.
Miles, "Corning" George C. Miles, "Umayyad and 'Abbasid Glass Weights and
Measure Stamps in the Corning Museum," JGlassStud 13 (1971) p. 64-76.
Miles, "Cumin" George C. Miles, "Cumin and Vinegar for Hiccups," Archaeology,
1951, p. 23.
Miles, "Hayyan" George C. Miles, "A Glass Measure Issued by Hayyan b. Shurayh,"
Studi Orientalistici in Onore di Giorgio Levi Della Vida 2 (Rome, 1956), pp. 148-58.
Miles, "Muntaza" George C. Miles, "Early Islamic Weights and Measures in Mun-
taza Palace, Alexandria," Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 3
(Boston, 1964), pp, 105-13.
Miles, "Pharm." George C. Miles, Egyptian Glass Pharmaceutical Measures of the

8th Century A.D.," Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences 15 (New
Haven 1960), pp. 384-9.
MSES Paul Balog, Coinage of the Mamluk Sultans of Egypt and Syria, (ANSNS 12),
New York, 1964.
Petrie Flinders Petrie, Glass Stamps and Weights Illustrated from the Egyptian
Collection of University College, London, London, 1926.
Preisigke, Friedrich, Namenbuch, Heidelberg, 1922.
Rhazes W.A. Greenhill, A Treatise on the Small-Pox and Measles by Abu-Beer
Mohammed ibn Zacariya Al-Rhazi, London, 1848.
Rice, David Storm, "A Wuqiyyah Weight of Wadih," BSOAS 17 (1955), p. 172, in a
review of EAG I and EAG II.
Rogers E. T. Rogers, "Unpublished Glass Weights and Measures," JRAS 1878,
pp. 98-112.
Sauvaire Henri Sauvaire, "Materiaux pour servir a l'histoire de la numismatique
et de la metrologie musulmanes, " Journal Asiatique 14, 15, 17, 19, Paris, 1879-
1887.
Sharaf Muhammad Sharaf, An English-Arabic Dictionary of Medicine, Biology and
Allied Sciences, Cairo, 1928.
42
Tuhfa Tuhfat al-Ahbab, Glossaire de matiere mMicale marocaine, Paris, 1934.
French translation by H.P.J. Renaud and Georges Colin.
Vire Francois Vire, "Deneraux, estampilles et poids musulmans en verre en Tunisie
(Collection H.H. AbdulWahab)," Cahiers de Tunisie 4 (Tunis, 1956), pp. 17-90.
Weil Gustav Weil, Geschichte der Chalifen, 2, Mannheim, 1848.
Wiet, Gaston, Prcis de l'histoire d'gypte, 2, Cairo, 1932.
Wiet, Maqrizl al-Maqrizl, Al-Mawa'iz wa'l-I'tibar fi dhikr al-Khitat wa'l-Athar,
Vol. 5 No. 1 (Memoires de l'lnstitut francais d'Archeologie Orientale 53), Edited by
G. Wiet, Cairo, 1927.
Wiistenfeld, F., Die Statthalter von Agypten zur Zeit der Chalifen, Gottingen, 1875-6.
Zambaur Eduard von Zambaur, Manuel de genealogie et de chronologie pour I'his-

loire de /'Islam, Hanover, 1927.
I. UMAYYADS
QURRA B. SHARIK
Governor, 90-6 H. / A.D. 709-14
Ring Weights
1. RATL. Fragment of a ring weight; only part of the head preserved.
j*\ Ordered the amlr
Ji>j :> Qun.a. Ratf, (full)
vJ weight.
Blue green, translucent.
Unpublished. In one of the important public collections there are unpublished heavy
weights of Qurra.
2. RATL FOR MEAT. ^
Broken head of a compact weight, originally shaped like a modern yoghurt
bottle. There might have been a suspension hole across the body of the weight,
now lost. \
jj Ordered the amlr
kiSC>î i>. J Qurra b. Sharlk
Ji,j a ratl for meat.
Blue green, transparent. Total diameter 50.
Unpublished.
Coin Weights
3. DINAR.
4-UI p-~> In the name of Allah,
I ej Qurra the
amir.

43
Olive green, transparent, 27, 4.43.
Unpublished.
The weight is not that of the reform dinar, but rather approaches the Byzan-
tine solidus.
4. DINAR.
VI j*\ Ordered the
e J _x-* amir Qurra
J*>* OjJ. the weight of a dinar,
,JIj full weight.
Light green, transparent. 29, 4.24.
Another example was published by both Fahmy 1, and Launois, Cairo 2.
5. ONE-THIRD DINAR.
VI I Ordered the
cj amlr Qurra
viJu Ci'j^ a weight of one-third,
j full weight.
Pale green, transparent. 19, 1.37.
Unpublished. Launois, Maspiro 1 has a different legend.
6. QIST.
Bottle Stamps
j>J^\ Ordered the amlr
J* ij Qurra b. Sharlk
Jaî liSC a qist,
eiIj full measure.
Light green, translucent. Deep impression, thick rim. 45.

Petrie 87.
Catalogue: Umayyads
45
7. QIST.
Light blue green, transparent. 40.
Unpublished.
Ordered the amlr
Qurra b. Sharlk
a qist, full measure.
8. ONE-HALF QIST.
Light green, transparent. 37.
Unpublished.
Ordered the amlr
Qurra one-half
qist.
9. ONE-HALF QIST.
Ordered the amlr
Qurra one-half
qist,
full measure.
Bottle green, transparent. 29.
See Casanova, p. 367, No. 96bis, which has full name.
10-13. ONE-QUARTER QIST.
ji-Vljj
Ordered the amlr
Qurrah one-quarter
qist,
full measure.

10. Light green, translucent. 33.
11. Light green, translucent, broken. 37.
Casanova, p. 397, No. 96: EAG.I, 3.; CAM.I, 3.; Dudzus, "Glasstempel" lb (without
Jto
46
USAMA B. ZAYD
Finance Director: 96-9 H./ A.D. 714-7
Interim Governor: 102 H./ A.D. 720-1
Disk Weight
14. RATL. Fragment, less than half preserved.
i-,L.I j*\ Ordered Usama
Jkj (.^J *>) (b. ZaYd) TSL$
j... [...].
Light blue green, nearly transparent. Diam. 114; diam. of impression 34;
thickness of rim 40.
EAG.I, 4; CAM.I, 7 (half ratl).
So far only these three heavy weights of Usama are known. There are others,
still unpublished, in a Cairo public collection.
Coin Weights
15. ONE-HALF DINAR. Broken but mended without loss of weight.
L.I jj Ordered Usa-
j i>. ma b. Zayd
j>r a weight of one-half
,JIj J^_i dinar, full weight.
BM 2; CAM.I, 4, 5; CAM.II. Benaki 2; Launois, Cairo 2; Fahmy 4, 5.
16-17. ONE-THIRD DINAR
| jj Ordered U-
t> i-,L. sama b.
I^, Jbj Zayd a weight

Ij kiij j of one-third, full
,j weight.
Catalogue: Umayyads
17
16. Grass green, translucent. 20, 1.38.
17. Light green, translucent. 20, 1.41.
Fahmy 6; Launois, Cairo 10.
Both authors published the same specimen.
18. FALS OF 14 QlRAT.
i^L.I Ordered Usama
OIj>-* Jbj i> b. Zayd the weight
I (jJj of a fals of four-
isj3 jLs. teen qirat.
Light green, with gray green patina. 24, 2.65.
Casanova, p. 378, No. 20.
Casanova read Jlau, but on his illustration jI>-i is clear; CAM.I, 6. in-
stead of bj*3 .
19. QIST.
Bottle Stamps
I jj Ordered U-
j !>. sama b. Za-
Oj yd a qist,
* ejIj full measure.
Light green, transparent. 39,
EAG.I, 5; Launois, Cairo 8, 9.
20-21. ONE-HALF QIST.
I Ordered U-
j i> 3L.L. sama b. Za-
* iJvj Ju yd one-half

vJIj ia~i qist, full measure.
20. Grass green, translucent. 38.
21. Light green, transparent. 37.
Petrie 89, 90; CAM.I, 8, 9.; CAM.II, Ruthven 1. Launois, Cairo3,4; Dudzus, "Glasstempel"
2. Miles, "Corning" 1.
48
22. ONE-QUARTER QIST.
Ja,i Ju
Ordered U-
sama b. Za-
yd one-quarter qist,
full measure.
Casanova, p. 397, No. 98; Petrie 91; CAM.I, 10, 11.
(sic) h.-U j
Light blue-green, milky. 29.
Same die as our piece, with the same defect.
Ordered Usa-
ma b. Zayd one-
quarter qist.
24. QIST FOR OLIVE OIL. c~>j
U j*\
Green, milky. 29.
Launois, Ca/ro 6 (without ciIj).
Ordered Usa-
ma b. Zayd
a qist for olive oil,
(full) measure.

25-26. QIST FOR TILA. ^kJ|
LI s*\
^kU Ja-J
25. Milky green. 40.
26. Milky green. 34.
Unpublished.
For the discussion of the meaning of ^JjJI see EAG.I, p. 28, EAG.II, p. 49
and Miles, "Pharm." p. 386, No. 4.
Ordered Usa-
ma b. Zayd
a qist for tila,
full measure.
Catalogue: Umayyads
49
27. ONE-HALF QIST FOR TILA.
Ll^l
**J Cr. **
Milky blue green. 37.
Miles, "Corning." 2.
Ordered Usa-
ma b. Zayd
one-half qist
for tila.
28. ONE-HALF QIST FOR TILA.
LI
.r"
Blue green, translucent. 34.
Unpublished.
*kJI
Ordered Usa-
ma b. Zayd
one-half qist
for tila,
full measure.
29-30. ONE-HALF QIST FOR TILA.
LI jj
la..J jj
!*kJI
Ordered Usa-

ma b. Zayd
one-quarter qist
for tila.
29. Light blue green, translucent. 31.
EAG.I, 7 (but: ^kll); Vire" 1.
31. MIKYALA OF WHITE CUMIN.
*LC Ju j
i djJ
Bottle green, transparent. 39.
Unpublished.
Ordered U-
sama b.
Zayd a mikyala
of white
cumin.
32.
UA FOR
WHEY.
trll
L.l^l
Ordered Usa
Juj Cx. *-.
ma b. Zayd
XLC
a mikyala
jua
for whey.
Grass green, transparent. 28.
Unpublished.
There seems to be a superfluous alif at the end of the third line, but I am in-
clined to attribute it to an engraver's error. In Miles "Pharm.," p. 386 the pos-
sible alternative drug (JJLi\, box-tree, is suggested. I think in this case there is
little doubt that the substance is (_ill. See also Balog, "Estampilles," Nos.9,13.
33. MIKYALA OF WOAD LEAVES. SLr^JI
U j*\ Ordered Usa-
Juj i>. *- ma b. Zayd
I iLSC a mikyala of
irp woad leaves,
,Jlj full measure.
Green, transparent. 32.
Unpublished.

HAYYAN B. SHURAYH
Finance Director: 99-101 H. / A.D. 717-20
(but probably until 102 or 103 H. / A.D. 721 or 722)
Ring Weights
34. DOUBLE-RATL FOR MEAT. ^
Fragment. Only a large part of the head with most of the principal impression
and about half the secondary impression is preserved.
Round principal impression, 25:
jLa. jj Ordered Hayyan
(_,) >;-i i>. b. Shurayh
pjT (>U two ratl for meat,
,jlj full weight.
Catalogue: Umayyads
51
Round secondary impression, 12:
(*JU)li
Honesty
for Allah.
Emerald green, transparent.
CAM.II Ruthven 3; Casanova, p. 391, No. 47 is a half-ratl weight but otherwise has same
legend.
35. RATL FOR GRAPES.?
Fragment of a ring weight, with most of the round principal impression pre-
served, 27:
(i>.) OW* y\ Ordered Hayyan (b.)
Traces of a second, smaller impression.
Blue green, transparent.
This specimen, presented to me by the late Kamil Osman Ghalib pasha, is identical with
the one mentioned in Miles, "Hayyan." p. 152.
Miles identified the substance as grapes, i_^jjJ|. At first, I thought that it must
rather be jyjJI, precious metal, or unminted gold or silver and that this weight
was manufactured with special care for the weighing of gold or silver. The
more so, as I failed to see why grapes would call for a special weight in a Mu-
hammadan country. Since, however, I have come round to the view expressed
by Miles that, in all probability, this is indeed an ordinary commercial weight
for grapes. There are now several weights with the name of this commodity:
Dudzus, "Gewichte" No. 3 in the name of al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd Allah, another
similar one in our own collection (Cat. 136), and two more in the name of Yazid
b. Abl Yazld also in our collection (Cat. 213-214). The fact, that there isanother,

unique weight in our collection, in the name of al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd Allah, for
the weighing of i_>L*JI, jujube, seems to substantiate this assumption.
Thus the number of commodities for which special weights have been made
has risen to three: grapes, jujube and finally meat.
In this conjunction I should like to mention that there is in the collection
of the Louvre a bottle stamp which Vir6 read (p. 24) as i--~yJI, al-'ubab, "'ubab
aux baies rouges de l'alkekenje ou coqueret (Physalis alkekengi)." The place
of the substance i^-jJI on a bottle stamp is, of course, fully justified, , .oJI
being a well-known drug listed at No. 1512 in IB.
Shurayh the stamping
of a ratl for grapes,
full weight.
52
Disk Weights
36. WUQIYYA. Intact oval disk weight with two round impressions. Principal
stamp, 25:
Ordered Hayyan
^jyi i>. D- Shurayh
ijj the stamping of a wuqiyya,
iJIj full weight.
Smaller stamp, 14:
jj| Honesty
jlU l i for Allah.
Emerald green, translucent. 57 x 44, 36.63.
Unpublished.
This is, so far, the earliest known intact Umayyad wuqiyya weight.
Coin Weights
37-38. ONE-HALF DINAR.
jU Ordered Hayyan
^ji, b. Shurayh
iX^-. a weight of one-half,
,JIj full weight.
37. Light green, nearly transparent. 21, 2.12.
38. Light green, transparent. 21, 2.10.
CAM.II Ruthven 2; Fahmy 8.
Bottle Stamps
39. MIKYALA OF WINE OF THE ABYSSINIANS. XjL.\
t> jL* j-.I Ordered Hayyan b.

>j-2 Shurayh
I iLiCc a mikyala of
iiju. usqurqa.
Bottle green, translucent. 37.
Unpublished.
Catalogue: Umayyads
53
The identification of the substance, written here as i>and on other stamps
as *SjL., is open to some doubt, but it is the nearest I could come to as an
explanation. (Kazimirsky 1860, p. 1106) is a kind of fermented beverage
prepared from millet or barley. According to Lane (Vol. 1 Pt. 4, p. 1379), it
is "a certain beverage made from millet, or the wine of the Abyssinians, or
a certain beverage of the people of al-Hijaz, made from barley and other grains."
Its name, gjL,, is the Arabicized form of the Persian 'iSjL.. As the word is
not of Arabic but of foreign origin, it may well be that the engraver wrote it
with two qafs, according to the Arabic spelling, but ended it with a ha, as in
the Persian original. The spelling with an initial alif indicates either that the
substance, was sometimes pronounced with it, or that it is simply an engraver's
error. But I have little doubt that both stand for the same thing.
The substance iiyj or aSJL*, is not recorded in IB, al-Ghafiqi, Maimonides
or Ducros. 'isjL, occurs on our Stamp Cat. 171, issued by al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd
Allah, and, I believe, on CAM.I, 66 and on Rogers, p. 101, No. 3.
4043. QIST OF FIGS. &
jL* ja\ Ordered Hayyan
jtjyi j> b. Shurayh
^ kjij a qist of figs,
sfc iJIj full measure.
40. Bottle green, transparent. 31.
CAM.I, 12; CAM.II Rufhven, 4; Dudzus, "Glasstempel" 3a.

Dudzus read the substance as olive oil, but I think I can recognize the word
sj from his illustration.
44. MIKYALA OF HINNA FOR THE HEAD.
ol~>. Ordered Hayyan
-î (> b. Shurayh
La. iLC mikyala of hinna
j for the head, full
measure.
Olive green, translucent. 40.
Unpublished.
The only other stamp with hinna al-ras, in the collections of the ANS, is men-
tioned in CAM.II, Benaki, p. 13. It was issued in the name of Usama b. Zayd.
MIKYALA OF HINNA M
ARE
I? \ ,. U
Ordered Hayyan
b. Shurayh
a mikyala of hinna
iJIj \j*
mardi (?), full measure.
Emerald green, translucent.
35.
Unpublished.
I own a little-known publication by Ernest Sickenberger on the Egyptian
plants in Ibn al-Baytar, (Les Plantes F.gyptiennes d'Ibn el-Beithar. Cairo,
1890), in which is listed on p. 10 the plant hinna koreich, ^Ji^J L, which is
described in IB under Nos. 664 and 721. According to Sickenberger it is a kind
of Lecanora. IB gives it as a lichen, called by the Egyptians hinna quraysh,
uîj Lo>. IB adds "C'est une plante qui ressemble a la lentille d'eau... Le nom
arabe de cette plante signifie Lichen des Roches." Under No. 664 IB lists an
alternative name: Hazzaz al-Sakhr.
In Ahmed Issa, p. 186, No. 13, j**a}\ jl>. of which u1jJ L is a synonym,
is identified with Usnea barbata Var. Florida of the family of the Vacciniaceae.
This botanical excursion is made for the following reasons: the first two letters
of the adjective which follows the word hinna on the glass stamp have been
read as ^, mim ra. The second part of the adjective is, to say the least,
enigmatic. Miles (CAM II. Benaki 34, and "Muntaza" 16), very reluctantly
and with a query, identified it with (hinna) mard or mara? I could find no

substance in the Arabic medico-pharmaceutical treatises within my reach which
would be compatible with such a reading. On the other hand, ^ could mean
J, qur-, as there is no difference between the mlm and the qaf of this primitive,
very archaic form of Kufic script. Of course, the second half of the adjective
still remains enigmatic and illegible, but I very tentatively suggest that it may
have been intended to represent, in a bungled way, a ya and sln. If this be true,
then the substance would be hinna quraysh.
46-51. ONE-QUARTER QIST FOR SOUR MILK. ^Jl
i> jL^ j*\ Ordered Hayyan b.
ij 7*Jj-i Shurayh one-quarter
ft^-jii k...? qist for sour milk.
,Jlj full measure.
46. Light green, transparent. 33. Broken.
Catalogue: Umayyads
55
50. Grass green, transparent. 31.
51. Light green, translucent. Broken.
Unpublished.
Several stamps, which have been published with the reading olive oil, oj>U,
seem to me to bear the legend sour milk, ^.jii . I list them here for further
checking: Petrie 12; Rogers 2; Vir6 3; CAM.II Ruthven 5.
Although on several stamps the final mlm of ^.j is partially off flan, it is
sufficiently well preserved on others. I have little doubt about the correctness
of the attribution of the substance.
Al-rakham, ^jJI, is listed by IB under No. 1038, but not in Maimonides or
al-Ghafiqi. I found it, however, in Belot. In Lane's Vol. 1 PI. 3, p. 1059. Kazi-
mirsky 1860, p. 841 translates the word as "lait caille," sour milk. Sour milk
is still called al-rakham in modern Persian.
52. ONE HALF QIST FOR OLIVE OIL.
jL*. j*) Ordered Hayyan
b. Shurayh
U.vf i_iy* j one-half qist
j cj vl) for olive oil, full
measure.
EAG.I, 9; CAM.I, 14; Dudzus, "Glasstempel" 3b.
53. ROAST LENTILS.
(sic) ^ySjj^

Ordered Hayyan
b. Shurayh
lentils,
roast
full measure.
Olive green, transparent. 35.
Unpublished.
Casanova, p. 367, No. 10 has a different legend.
56
54. QIST FOR AL-TILA.
Ordered Hayyan
b. Shurayh
a qist for al-tila
full measure.
Light bottle green, transparent. 34.
Unpublished.
55-57. ONE-HALF QIST FOR AL-TILA. ^kJI
jL>. j*\ Ordered Hayyan
>_j b. Shurayh
U,. ,_'rr \ one-half qist
j Ûai) for al-tila, full
eiI measure.
55. Light bottle green, translucent. 32.
Launois, Cairo 17.
58. ONE-QUARTER QIST FOR AL-TILA. ^kJI
(Ordered) Hayyan
b. Shurayh
one-quarter qist
for al-tila, full
measure.
CAM.I, 16; Miles, "Muntaza" 3; Dudzus, "Glasstempel" 3c.

oL~ 0*i)
wiii jj
Catalogue: Umayyads
57
59-60. RUB'A FOR JUJUBE.
(J-JU yy. (sic)
Ordered Hayyan
b. Shurayh
a rub'a for jujube,
full measure.
Unpublished.
The reading of the substance did not present great difficulties. As for the
name or denomination of the measuring vessel, the only solution seems to me:
al-rub', ^^JI. Sauvaire lists a measure of capacity called al-rub', ^J|, in
Vol. 2, Pt. 3 p. 171 of the original pagination, p. 48 of the offprint). This "al-
rub"' is a large measure used in Andalus (Al-Moqaddasy p. 240, cited by Sau-
vaire), and not to be used for pharmaceutical products. But according to Eliya,
also cited by Sauvaire (Vol. 2 Pt. 3, p. 172 of the original pagination, 49 in
offprint), there exists a "rub') containing only 200 dirhams of wine, or 180
dirhams of olive oil, or 270 dirhams of honey. Calculated by Sauvaire, this
"rub"' contains 584 gm. wine, or ca. 526 gm. olive oil, or 686 gm. honey. Based
on Miles's figure of 2.93 gm. for the silver dirham ("Byzantine Miliaresion,"
pp. 189-218), there would be: 586 gm. of wine, or 527.40 gm. of olive oil, or
791.10 gm. of honey. This is well within the limits of the use of pharmaceutical
drugs.
However, the name of our container does not end with a regular final 'ain.
The latter is followed by a diagonal stroke, which might represent a final ha'.

If so, then the container is not a rub', but rather a rub'a (Sauvaire, Vol. 2 Pt.3,
p. 173 of the original or 50 in offprint). This rub'a is one fourth of the qadah
and equals 514.96 gm; based on Miles, it should contain only 488.31 gm.
61. M IKY ALA OF INDIGO (WO AD LEAVES).
Ordered Hayyan
b. Shurayh
a mikyala of woad
leaves, full
measure.
Green, translucent. 30.
Launois, C.d.M., Suppl. 1
58
CALIPH YAZID II
101-5 H. / A.D. 720-4
Vessel Stamps
62. ONE-QUARTER QIST FOR OLIVE OIL.
.re-
ordered 'Abdullah
Yazld, Commander of the faith-
ful, one-quarter qist of
olive oil, full measure, at the
(hands) of Hayyan b.
Shurayh.
Casanova, p. 66, No. 95; Petrie 86; CAM.1,19-22; Miles, "Hayyan," p. 151, Nos. 4-6.
Although not dated, this was issued in 101 H. which was Hayyan's last year
in office, as well as Yazld II's first.
63. MIKYALA OF GARUM (FISH PASTE). Dated 101 H. with
HAYYAN B. SHURAYH.
40JI JL*
Ordered 'Abdullah
Yazld, Commander of the faithful,
may Allah mend him, a mikyala of
garum (fish paste), full measure. At
the hands of Hayyan b. Shurayh.
Year one hundred and one.

Blue green, transparent. 48. Broken but mended.
Unpublished.
Launois, Cairo 15 published a vessel stamp with the same legend and a nearly
identical arrangement. Launois read the substance as .n-H, carthame, but
I believe it is al-murri, as on the present specimen.
Catalogue: Umayyads
59
Garum, is described in IB 211 Ibis as prepared from salted fish. It is supposed
to act on the alimentary tract, and also as a vermifuge. In Rhazes, p. 196, garum, iSj^,
is identified with caviare. According to Houdas, Et-Bokhari, Les Traditions Islamiques,
(Paris, 1914), p. 9 note 3, "Le mori ou morri est une preparation du poisson; elle consiste
a mettre le poisson dans du vin avec du sel et de l'exposei ensuite au soleil de facon
a laisser evaporer le vin."
UBAYD ALLAH B. AL-HABHAB
Ring Weights
64. RATL OF MEAT. ^J,
jo j*\ ^ Among those things which ordered
i>.I *JUI Jifj* 'Ubayd Allah b.
(^jlpbJ-I al-Habhab, a
Ji,j ratl of meat,
,J| j full weight.
Dark emerald green, translucent. Total diam. at top 58, stamp 30.
Fragment; about half the specimen preserved.
Unpublished.
Petrie 96 is a fragment of one-half ratl for meat, with different protocol.
65. RATL OF MEAT dated 114 H. ^
Small fragment, the two impressions preserved.
Principal round stamp (only partly preserved):
40)I (In the name of) Allah,
jl-* (jj) (ordered) 'Ubayd
\*J-\ i>. (M)I) (Allah) b. al-Habhab

J.k) (v) a ra^ of meat,
(JIj) full weight.
60
Secondary stamp, 21:
I ii- year
j four-
jLs. teen
LLj and one hundred.
Bottle green, opaque to translucent.
Unpublished. EAG.I, 24 published a ratl disk weight of the same date.
Disk Weight
66. ONE-HALF RATL. Fragment, about half preserved.
(jb) L, Of those things ordered (by)
(i>. 40)I) J^s- 'Ubayd Allah b.)
al-Habhab.
(Jij) One-half (ratl),
full (weight).
Blue green, translucent. Total diam. 90, stamp 39.
EAGII, p. 7 refers to a fragmentary half-ratl disk weight.
Coin Weights
67. DINAR. Small chip, about 10 cgm missing from border.
*j jj^, Of those things ordered by
I jU)I 'Ubayd Allah i-
i~.l*J-I i> bn al-Habhab,
^ JUi-. the weight of a
oIj dinar, full weight.
Light grass green, translucent, 29, 4.12.

EAG.1I, 3; Launois, C.d.M. 5
Catalogue: Umayyads
61
68. DINAR. About a quarter broken off.
At jj L,
[...]
[...]
In the name of Allah,
among those things ordered by
'Ubayd Allah b. al-
Habhab, the weight of a d-
Light green, translucent. 29.
Launois.. Cairo 51 (but (Jl2U instead of jl>-.); Fahmy 10.
69. ONE-HALF DINAR.
U)I
* tJlj
among those things ordered by 'Ubayd
Allah b. al-Habhab,
the weight of one-half,
full weight.
Pale green, translucent. 23, 2.07.
CAM I, 23; Miles, "Muntaza" 5: Fahmy 12
70. ONE-HALF DINAR.
Jl2L. V_J
iJ
Fahmy 13.

Among those things ordered
by 'Ubayd A-
llah b. al-Habhab,
the weight of
one-half, full
weight.
62
71-73. ONE-THIRD DINAR.
by 'Ubayd A-
llah ibn al-Habhab,
the weight of one-third,
full weight.
71. Light blue green, transparent. 19, 1.37.
73. Cobalt blue, translucent. 20, 1.40.
BM 3 g; EAG I, 11; CAM II. Benaki 6; Launois; C.d.M. 6
74. FALS OF 36 QTRAT.
Mil ^j
Sea green, transparent. 34, 7.15.
Unpublished.
Among those things ordered by 'Ubayd
Allah b. al-Habhab,
the weight of a fals of six and
thirty qlrat, full
weight.
This is a complete "fals" of 36 qlrat. The word qlrat is written with an alif
but without the yd.
"ij Wj*

ordered 'Ubayd Allah
b. al-Habhab
the weight of a fals in which
thirty four
qlrat, full
weight.
Green, translucent. 34, 6.53.
CAM I, 24 (the word jlJ is visible on the illustration); Fahmy 15 (discussion of the word
ju); Launois, C.d.M. 7.
Qlrat written with an alif.
Catalogue: Umayyads
63
76. FALS OF 24 KHARROBA.
Light green, translucent. 25, 4.57.
CAM I, 25 (nostar); CAM II. Benaki 7
5 (no star); Miles ."Corning" 7-8.
chip missing from border.
Ordered 'Ubayd A-
llah b. al-Habhab
the weight of a fals,
twenty four
kharruba, full
weight.
io star); Launois, Cairo 45-47; Launois, Maspiro
Among those things ordered by
'Ubayd Allah b.
al-Habhab, the weight
of a fals of twenty
kharruba, full weight.
Miles, "Muntaza" 7; Fahmy 22-24.
*JJI [*~J
JJi\ JLj-ft ja\

Green, translucent, 28. 3.93.
EAG I, 12: CAM I, 27; Launois, Cairo
men, which has a slightly different leg
order of 'Ubayd Allah
ibn al-Habhab
of a fals-weight
of twenty qlr-
at.
and Fahmy 21 both published the same speci-
1 ending from ours; Launois, C.d.M. Sup pi. 2.
64
79-80. FALS OF 18 KHARROBA.
(sic) ^1*I
79. Green, translucent. 27, 3.59.
Launois, Cairo 52-53; Fahmy 25, 27-31.
Among those things ordered by 'Ubayd
Allah ibn al-Habhab,
a fals-weight
of eighteen
kharruba.
by 'Ubayd Allah ibn
al-Habhab, a fals-weight
of eighteen
kharruba.
Î L,
I i>J
(sic) jLs\ 3Lux
CAM I, 29; CAM II. Benaki 8; Launois. Cairo 54-56; Miles, "Muntaza" 8; Petrie 100-
101; Fahmy 26.
Fahmy simply refers to the legend of his No. 25, but from the illustration it
is clear that his No. 26 is identical with the present weight.

^pfH0^m 4 r,.*-lC ^yj-î^
b. al-Habhab a weight of
fals of eighteen
qlrat, full weight.
Green, near transparent. 28, 3.49.
Unpublished.
Qlrat written with alif. There is a marginal linear circle.
Catalogue: Umayyads
65
84. ONE-HALF FALS OF 17 QlRAT.
4JI j^s. j*\ ordered 'Ubayd Allah
i^j\^J-\ Cx b. al-Habhab
JL^J Jlau a weight of one-half
aj^, ^jjj fals of seven-
is_fj jts. teen qlrat,
cjIj full weight.
Light green, almost transparent. 27, 3.26.
EAG I, 13; Fahmy 32-33.
One-half fals should really contain 18 qlrat and not 17. As was suggested in
the introduction, the complete fals consists of 36 qlrat or kharruba. In the
present case, the word is to be interpreted as "part of" and not literally as
one-half. Of course, would have been the exact terminus technicus.
ai) I In the name of Allah,
jUJI JLjjX. j*\ Order by 'Ubayd Allah
Ui* i_jlstJ-I t> b. al-Habhab of the weight
tr!i Q-,n\ J of one-half fals
of fifteen
I j \>\ qlrat, full
o weight.
Grass green, translucent. 24, 2.85.
EAG I, 14; CAM 1, 30; Launois, Cairo 57; Fahmy 34-35.
86. PART ^ki) OF FALS, OF 12 KHARRUBA.

jji | In the name of Allah,
*JU I x~s. order by 'Ubayd Allah
(sic) Jjt* i^j\^J-\ i>. b. al-Habhab to make
yLs. Î ^k-i a partial weight of twelve
j hjji. i kharruba, full weight.
EAG I, 15-16; CAM I, 31; Fahmy 36, 37-40; Launois, C.d.M. 4.
66
Vessel Stamps
87-88. EXECUTIVE STAMP.
87. Green, translucent. 25. 3.60.
To my knowledge, five more specimens of this curious issue are known: Petrie 97 ("Frag-
ment, ground around; green; stamp?); CAM I. 28. Weight: 3.78; Miles calls it a "curious
piece"; CAM I. 45 "Executive stamp;" Fahmy 41. Weight: 3.87; Launois, Maspiro 6.
Weight: 4.20.
Most of the published pieces have been tampered with by the Egyptian antique
dealers who had them ground around the margin and often also on the reverse.
This was to raise the commercial value of the pieces which could now be sold
as coin weights and not as broken-off bottle stamps. Traces of recent grinding
are visible on my two specimens; they were also detected by Petrie on his No. 97.
Miles, on the first specimen in CAM I, 28, remarks that "this is a curious piece"
and his second, CAM I, 45, actually is a bottle stamp. Another indication that
they cannot be coin weights, is the fact that each piece has a different weight.
It is therefore probable that the entire series should be considered bottle stamps.
'Ubayd
Allah b.
al-Habhab.
89. QIST.
U)I X~S. 4j
ij Jai
Rogers, p. 112; Casanova, p. 367,

by 'Ubayd Allah
b. al-Habhab,
a qist, full
measure.
. 103; CAM I., 33; Dudzus, "Gewichte" lc.
by 'Ubayd Allah
b. al-Habhab, one-quarter
qist, full
measure.
Catalogue: Umayyads
67
90. Blue green, transparent. 30.
92. Green, transparent. 30.
93. Blue green, translucent. 30.
96. Blue green translucent. 31.
Casanova, p. 366, No. 106-107; Petrie 105-106; EAG I, 20; CAM I, 38-41; CAM II.
Ruthven 8; Launois, Cairo 20-27; \iri 11; Dudzus, "Glasstempel" 4b; Miles, "Corning" 9.
97. MIKYALA OF MYRTLE. ^\
40JI JL-*
Emerald green transparent. 35.
Unpublished.
Myrtle, (Myrtus communis L.) is mentioned by al-Ghafiql, p. 74, No. 9,
Ducros No. 4; Ahmed Issa, p. 122, No. 19, IB, p. 66, No. 69 and Sharaf p. 526.
IB describes its astringent qualities at great length; it can be applied topically
or taken internally and was said to be effective against different aches. It was
also applied in cases of ulcers of the stomach. Not only the fruit, fresh or dried,
but also the leaves, the rind and even the wood was employed.
98. QIST OF OLIVE OIL.
L.J i_>l3E-J-I
Petrie 107; Casanova 108; Launois, Cairo 40; Vire 4-5.
i> between the father's and the son's name omitted.
In the name of

Allah, order of
'Ubayd Allah
b. al-Habhab
for a mikyala of myrtle,
full measure.
order by 'Ubayd Allah (b.)
al-Habhab for a qist
of olive oil, full
measure.
68
99-105. ONE-QUARTER QIST OF OLIVE OIL. ojJ
ordered 'Ubayd A-
llah b. al-Habhab
one-quarter qist
of olive oil, full
measure.
102. Grass green, transparent. 34. Broken.
Petrie 108; Casanova, p. 368, No. 109-119; EAG I, 21 (slightly different arrangement);
EAG II, 4; CAM I, 42-43; CAM II. Ruthven 9; Miles, "Muntaza" 11 (slightly different
arrangement); Dudzus, Gewichte le; Launois, Cairo 31-38; Vire 9; Miles, "Corning"
10-12.
Jtl mi p
106. MIKYALA OF BLACK LENTILS. j^VI ^
jU)I In the name of Allah,
I x>\ ordered 'Ubayd Allah
ujlsbJ-I Cf. b. al-Habhab
js. iL5Ci a mikyala of black
^ lentils,

,J|j full measure.
Unpublished.
In this case, "black lentils" do not mean "decorticated ordinary lentils," but
are to be identified with Lens esculenta s. sp. nigricans (M. Bieb) Telling, or
Lens nigricans Godr. This is a wild-growing weed with yellowish seeds. Its
habitat is Spain, Italy, Greece, Asia Minor, Caucasus and Algiers. (Flore de
France, by G. Rouy and J. Foucaud, Aisnieres, Paris, 1899, Vol. 5, p. 204).
The mediaeval Arabic medical works do not mention Lens nigricans among their
drugs.
Catalogue: Umayyads
69
107. MIKYALA OF SHELLED LENTILS
iLSCi 'it
Emerald green, transparent. 36.
BAG /, 23.
b. al-Habhab
the manufacture of a mikyala
of shelled lentils, of
full measure.
108. MIKYALA OF PRIVET.
jU)I ^
<*
ordered 'Ubayd Allah b.
al-Habhab the manufacture
of a mikyala of privet,
of full measure.
Blue green, transparent. 36.
Unpublished.
Privet (Buxus dioica Forskal, Fam. Buxaceae). The dried leaves, mixed with
Minna, were used for dyeing the hair. (IB 1886, Ahmed Issa, p. 34, No. 23),
Miles, "Pharm." p. 386 mentions an unpublished bottle stamp in the Ray W.
Smith collection, issued for privet (~$). The issuing official's name is not
mentioned.

109-111. MIKYALA OF WHITE CUMIN
*JUI
*JUI
.l
110. Emerald green, transparent.
Dudzus, "Glasstempel" 4d.
b. al-Habhab the manufacture
of a mikyala of white
cumin, of full measure.
40.
70
112-113. MIKYALA OF BLACK CUMIN. *jj QyS
jlUI H the name of Allah,
jU)I Ju~* ordered 'Ubayd Allah
'l. ..r . cjbt-J-I i> b. al-Habhab the manufacture
(sic) m yS SIX* of a mikyala of black
|j j^J cumin, of full
(i=.)j mea(sure).
112. Green, translucent. 36.
Launois, Cairo 39 is published as one-half mikyalah.
I suggest that the last three letters of ju^qj at the end of the third line are
off flan and so the beginning could be read as To my knowledge no
fractions of the mikyala have so far been found.
On both stamps the word ^yS is written with a final mim: ^.
114. MIKYALA OF WOAD LEAVES (INDIGO), irj
jlU| In the name of Allah,
M)I A~s. ja\ ordered 'Ubayd Allah
i_.L>cJ-I (y b. al-Habhab
iLSC the manufacture of a mikyala
iJIj ajtj of woad leaves, of full measure.
Emerald green, transparent, broken. 37.
EAG II, 5. Full discussion of the substance.
115. QIST, with JUNADA B. MAYSARA. Dated 111 H.
<mi
.mi

^s. JIj Ja~i
Seagreen, translucent. 44.
Unpublished.
b. al-Habhab the stamping
of a full-measure qist. At the
hands of Junada b.
Maysara. Year
one hundred and eleven.
Catalogue: Umayyads
71
Only the alif of the digit is on the flan. Nevertheless, I believe the date is
111 H. because all the stamps of 'Ubayd Allah b. al-Habhab issued together with
Junada b. Maysara bear the same date, 111 H. Compare CAM I, 37 and Cata-
logue Nos. 116-123.
116. QIST, with JUNADA B. MAYSARA. Dated 111 H.
jUJ I In the name of Allah,
Jl-* j*\ ordered 'Ubayd Allah
Ja~i c_jl?tJ-I Cx. b. al-Habhab a qist,
L. (^Jlj oIj full measure, at the hands of J una-
ei da b. Maysara.
jLs. (^JlÎ ju*. Year eleven
i^, j 'i and one hundred.
Unpublished. For the reading of the prefect's name, which is quite clear on our specimens
(Cat. 115-123), compare CAM I, 37.
117-123. ONE-QUARTER QIST, with JUNADA B. MAYSARA. Dated 111 H.
b. al-Habhab one-quarter
qist. At the hands of Juna-
da b. Maysara. Year
eleven
one hundred.
117. Sea green, translucent, 44.
118. Sea green, translucent. 45.

121. Blue green, translucent. broken. 38.
122. Emerald green, translucent. 40.
123. Light blue green, translucent. broken. 40.
Rogers 1; BM 392; EAG I, 19; CAM II. Ruthven 10; Miles, "Muntaza" 10; Launois.
Cairo 43; Dudzus, Gewichte Id.
No warn between ijLs. and S^.
0*.
72
HAFS B. AL-WALID
Governor: 108 H. / A.D. 727; 124-8 H. / A.D. 742-5
Disk Weights
124-125. ONE-HALF RATL.
ordered the amlr Hafs
b. al-Walld the manufacture
of one-half ratl,
(full weight).
124. Fragment. Dark emerald green, barely translucent.
125. Fragment. Dark olive green, opaque.
Unpublished.
126. DOUBLE WUQIYYA. Chipped. About 15-20 percent missing. Square imprint,
shallow and superficial, 19 x 19:
Dark emerald green, translucent. 45, 53.80.
Thickness 18.
Unpublished.
The legend is in small characters, difficult to read; there are also some flaws
in the surface of the impression. Nevertheless, I believe that the reading is
correct.
The center of the reverse presents a sallow lenticular excavation, about two
cm. in diameter, caused by hammering. The weight was tampered with, prob-
ably for fraudulent reasons, at the time of its circulation.
Among those things which ordered the a-

mlr Hafs b.
al-Walld, the manufacture
of two wuqiyya, full
weight.
Catalogue: Umayyads
73
The peculiar, very thick disk form is exceptional at this early stage. The
central imprint on the disk weights is generally deep and is surrounded by a
thick, prominent, sausage-like rim.
Rogers 14; Grohmann 5; Fahmy 42 (but different arrangement); Launois; Maspiro 8 (end
of sixth and seventh lines illegible).
130. ONE-HALF DINAR, with YAZlD B. ABl YAZlD.
Coin Weights
127-129. DINAR, with YAZlD B. ABl YAZlD.
God ordered honesty
and ordered the amlr
Hafs b. al-Walld
the manufacture of a dinar weight,
full weight. At the hands of Yaz-
ld b. Abl Yaz-
ld.
jJ^\ jjj li
JUlj 'ijCÔi
Jb
Allah ordered hone-
sty and ordered the amlr

Hafs b. al-Walld
the manufacture of the weight
of one-half dinar, full weight.
At the hands of Yazld b.
Abl Yazld.
Launois, Maspiro 9.
131. DIRHAM, with YAZlD B. ABl YAZlD.
jUJI In the name of Allah,
_jJlj 40JI I God ordered hone-
li sty and ordered the amlr
_jJI i>. p**- Hafs b. al-Wa-
Jj lld the manufacture of a
Jli dirham weight.
Cx ^.j iS^ ^ At the hands of Yazld b.
j^y Abl Yazld.
Petrie 128.
Errors in spelling.
Vessel Stamps
132. QIST.
jlUI In the name of Allah,
_^^| j*) ordered the amir
JJjJI i> ^ Hafs b. al-Walld
U1n; the manufacture of a qist,
,JIj full measure.
Emerald green, translucent. 26,2.84.
EAG I, 26; Launois, Cairo 102.
133. MIKYALA OF LUPIN (^/), with YAZlD B. ABl YAZlD.
40)I ^
Emerald green, translucent. 39.
Unpublished.

God ordered honesty
and ordered the amlr Hafs
b. al-Walld the manufacture
of a full-measure mikyala
of lupin. At the hands of
Yazld b. Abl Yazld.
Catalogue: Umavyads
75
134. MIKYALA OF PURE WHITE CUMIN. OyS
jJL 40J| God ordred hone-
0r>^ j-<Ij l sty and ordered the amir Hafs
?ju^qj JJjJI 0" b. al-Walld the manufacture
iJIj of a full-measure mikyala
VI Oj~&) for Pure
^^.jij ^îo white cumin.
Sea green, translucent. 36.
Unpublished.
AL-QASIM B. UBAYD ALLAH
Ring Weights
135. ONE-HALF RATL OF MEAT. ^1
Fragment with two round stamps at the top:
Principal stamp at right, 30:
* cJ
In the name of Allah, or-
dered the amir
al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd
Allah one-half ra-
tl of meat, full
weight.
Second stamp at left, 18:
Anepigraphic; linear pentagram in circular line, and a pellet in each external

angle:
Emerald green, almost opaque.
The linear pentagram is characteristic for al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd Allah. It does
not occur on the weights or stamps of any other official, Umayyad or 'Abbasid.
76
136. RATL OF GRAPES? (^-?.u) with. MUSLIM B. AL-'ARRAF. Dated 11... H.
Top part of ring weight, with round stamp, which may have been around 45 mm.
in diameter:
ajj I In the name of Allah. Ordered
s*( i )j lijJL juuI God honesty and ordered
, uJI JJ(j) the manufacture of a ratl of grapes,
JL-c r(-U3I) (al-Qa)sim b. 'Ubayd
(J* iS-^ J* (Ô (Allah). At the hands of Muslim
jLu. oIy-(JI i>.) (b. al-) 'Arraf. Year
j oît [...] ten and
(*jL) (one hundred).
Very dark green, almost black, opaque.
Unpublished.
This is one of a small group of exceptional heavy weights with the name of
a commodity other than meat, î-. The substance was accepted as
grapes, ,_^lJI, by Miles, "Hayyan" p. 152; Dudzus, "Gewichte" 3d; and Groh-
mann, Chrestomathie p. 153 first paragraph and note 4. This is the specimen
described above, p. 000 which was given to me by Ghalib Pasha. See also Cat.
53, 215-216.
137. DOUBLE RATL, with ZAFFAR B. SHABA. Dated 123 H.
Large ring weight, about half (top and right side) preserved. Round imprint
at top (40), with deep narrow punch hole in prominent rim on the left side
A similar punch hole presumably existed on the now broken-off right side
These punch holes were probably produced by a double pointed instrument
to keep the weight in place during the stamping operation.

40JI In the name of Allah,
j}[> *M\ God ordered hone-
jjj li sty and ordered the manufacture
p-UUI i^JiLj of a double ratl, al-Qasim
*JS\ X-s. b. 'Ubayd Allah.
i>, j Lib tSJj ^s. At the hands of Zaffar b.
rz iu. iL-i Shaba. Year two
ilL j i>_j-l* and one hundred twenty.
Dark olive, almost black, opaque.
Unpublished.
Catalogue: Umayvads
77
I first thought that the prefect's name was Saffar, jU^. but accept Miles's
reading as Zaffar, jlik, because of the long vertical stroke on the first letter
(U instead of ê). All the previously published weights or stamps with the
name of Zaffar b. Shaba were issued in 122 H.; the present weight proves that
he was still in office for some time during 123.
138-139. RATL OF JUJUBE (v bJI), with DAWOD B. AL-MURR.
Only the head portion of both specimens is preserved.
I jUJ I In the name of Allah,
lijJL jlUI God ordered honesty
Jl,j -. ,n; j*\ j and ordered the manufacture of a ratl
*~U)I of jujube, al-Qasim
iJl> ^s. Ajj I x~s. b. 'Ubayd Allah. At the hands
jlI (j ijb of Dawud b. al-Murr.
j viA? 5i Year twenty three
iJu. j 0* and one hundred.
138. Dark emerald green, translucent. Fragment 58 x 48; round imprint 38.
139. Dark sea green, almost opaque. Fragment 58 x 48; round imprint 38.
Unpublished.
The substance, jujube or al-'unnab (c_jU*JI), has not been previously seen on
the glass. See IB 1594, Maimonides 291 and Ahmed Issa p. 192, No. 7. The
fruit of several species are used, mostly that of Zizyphus sativa Gartner (= Zi-
zyphus vulg. Lamm.)
For the name of the prefect's father, al-Murr, see Cat. 144 and 204, on which
al-Murr is quite clear. See also Musa b. Ka'b's complete name in al-Kindi,
p. 106. There the ancestor's name is Murr, without the article.

140. RATL. Dated 118 H. About
(l>.) |%~lSJI
ij'Lj) jLs. oljj
Emerald green, translucent. Diam.
sagelike rim.
Unpublished.
Weights
the round weight preserved.
among those things which ordered (the)
amlr al-Qasim (b.y
'Ubayd Allah, (year)
eighteen and (one hundred),
the manufacture of a (ratl),
full (weight).
105; diam. round imprint 51. Thick, sau-
78
141. ONE-QUARTER RATL. A little more than half preserved.
jOJI In the name of Allah,
pÛJI ordered al-Qasim
jlUI j^s. Cf. b. 'Ubayd Allah
uâj the manufacture of one-quarter
'[...] [...]
Trace of a small round second imprint.
Emerald green, translucent. Diam. 80; diam of imprint 40.
Unpublished.
142. ONE-QUARTER RATL, with YAZlD B. ABl YAZlD. Dated 122 H.
Round disk of which about half is preserved. Punch-hole like fixation point in rim.
( jlUI (In the name of Allah),
(.jJl aJUI (God ordered hone-)
^(UJI jjj U) (sty and ordered al-Qa)sim
J* *JU(I JL-* i>.) Q>. 'Ubayd A)llah. At the
Jbji Î i> Ju(j>_ tSJu) (hands of Ya)zld b. Abl Yazld.
* J (Year) two and
j !> jls. twenty and
Si one hundred.
Diam. 76; diam. round imprint diam. 42.
Unpublished.
143. THREE WUQIYYA, with ZAFFAR B. SHABA. Date missing.
Fragment of a round disk with one round imprint. Fixation point in the rim.
(jlUI) In the name of (Allah),
(jJL *Ji) \ ordered (God hone-)

(j*)Ij li sty and ordered (the manufacture)
(liJI oLij) vi.ô* of three wu (qiyya al-Qa)-
(JL^) i>. (- sim b. ('Ubayd)
(iS.î J-)-*1 Allah. At the (hands)
(3Li) >. jUli of Zaffar b. (Shaba).
'[...] fc- Year [...].
Dak brown, almost black, opaque. Length 70.
Unpublished.
The denomination of three wuqiyya is equal to one-quarter ratl.
Catalogue: Umayyads
79
144. ONE-QUARTER RATL, with DAWUD B. AL-MURR. Dated 123 H.
Round disk of which nearly half is missing, one round stamp. Broken and mended.
(jUJ)I In the name of A(llah).
(jJL) jUJI ^,I Gof ordered (hone-)
(l;*iyaj) jjj li sty and ordered the (manufacture)
(ÛI Jij) j of one-quarter (ratl al-Qasim)
(cSJu Jx. 40)I Jl)-^ i>. b. 'Ubay(d Allah. At the hands)
(i^Î) !> ijb of Dawud b. (al-Murr. Year)
(i>.)jÛj cJj* twen(ty) three
Si L j and one hundred.
Emerald green, translucent, Disk 76, stamp 44.
Unpublished.
Coin Weights
145. DINAR, with ZAFFAR B. SHABA. Dated 122 H.
jOJI In the name of Allah.
* 40) I I God ordered hone-
,~i jjj li sty and ordered the manufacture
UJI vJIj jj* JlSti of a dinar weight, full weight, al-Qa-
Ai) I Jl..* i>. f*~ sml D- 'Ubayd Allah. At the
(> jLik (^Ju hands of Zaffar b. Shaba.
jLs-i t>^ 3L Year twenty two
SJL j 0" an<^ one hundred.
Fahmy 44. The prefect's name is misread.
146-147. ONE-HALF DINAR.

ai)I ^ In the name of Allah.
jÛJI jj Ordered al-Qasim
40JI JL^ o". b. 'Ubayd Allah
u JlSic a weight of one-half,
ciIj full weight.
80
146. Pale green, translucent. 23, 2.10.
147. Pale green, translucent. 23. Broken, about one-third missing. No star.
Writing differently arranged.
CAM 1I. Benaki 10. No. star.
148-150. ONE-HALF DINAR, with MUSLIM B. AL-'ARRAF. Dated 119 H.
148. Olive yellow, translucent. 23, 2.08.
149. Olive green, translucent. 23, 2.11.
EAG I, 28; Miles, "Muntaza" 12; Launois, Cairo 89-91; Fahmy 89-91.
151. ONE-HALF DINAR, with ZAFFAR B. SHABA. Dated 122 H.
I jUJI ^
jJL 40) I
In the name of Allah.
God ordered hone-
sty and ordered the manufacture
of a weight of one-half and
ordered al-Qasim b.
'Ubayd Allah. At the hands
of Muslim b. al-'Arr-
af. Year nine-
teen and one hundred.
In the name of Allah. Ordered
God honesty and ordered the
manufacture of a weight of one-half
dinar, al-Qasim b.

'Ubayd Allah. At the hands
of Zaffar b. Shaba.
Year twenty two
and one hundred.
Unpublished.
Catalogue: Umayyads
81
152-155. FALS AL-KABlR OF 30 KHARROBA.
Among those things which ordered
al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd
Allah, the weight of a fals
al-kablr of thirty kharr-
uba, full weight.
BM 5; Petrie 112-114; EAG II. 8; CAM I. 49-50; Fahmy 53-58; Launois, Cairo 96-98;
Launois, Maspiro 7.
Full weight, ,JIj, is written: c_,|,J
156-157. FALS OF 30 KHARROBA, with MUSLIM B. AL-'ARRAF. Dated 119 H
156. Olive green, translucent. About one-half preserved. 35
157. Olive green, translucent. Smaller fragment.
BM 4; EAG I, 30; CAM I, 51; Launois, Cairo 95; Fahmy 59-60.
The denomination of 30 kharruba is based on the complete identity of the
legend with that of the previously published pieces.
(I .0))I ^
In the name of A(llah).
God ordered (honesty)
and ordered the manu (facture)
of a fals weight of (thirty)

kharruba, al-Qa(sim)
b. 'Ubayd Allah. (At the hands)
of Muslim (b. al-'Arra-)
f. Year nine-
teen and (one)
(hundred).
82
158. COIN WEIGHT. but denomination, RATL.
Ordered al-Qa-
sim b. 'Ubayd
Allah a ratl,
full weight.
Blue green, transparent. 31, 6.11.
Unpublished.
Style of writing not very good. The denomination, ratl, is also puzzling
The weight, 6.11 gm., approximates the 32 kharruba.
In CAM I. 55, Miles discussed the meaning of the curious ending jlU .;.
He raised the question whether jlki might be the dual of Ja^j, but re-
jected this possibility immediately; although his No. 55 was a full "qistan,"
No. 60 was a quarter of this measure. It is at least doubtful that one-quarter
of a double qist should be registered on the stamps, when one-half of a qist
would be the simpler and more usual way to give the denomination. Also,
a qist is preferable and infinitely more usual than one-half of a double qist.
I believe that qistan is not a double qist, but the name of a special measure
of capacity. See my Introduction, p. 00.
Vessel Stamps
159-161. ONE-HALF QISTAN.
-mi *h

-mI Jl^
Ordered al-Qasim
b. 'Ubayd Allah
one-half qistan,
full measure.
Petrie 124; Dudzus "Glasstempel" 6d.
Catalogue: Umayyads
83
162-169. ONE-QUARTER QISTAN.
CAM I, 60; Launois, Cairo 60-64 (misread).
Ordered al-Qasim b.
'Ubayd Allah, one-quarter
qistan,
full measure.
170. MIKYALA OF SESAME SEED.
40)I ,h
(... > -o)I)
Unpublished.
God ordered honesty and ordered
the manufacture of a mikyala of sesame
seed,
al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd

(Allah. At the hands of [...]).
171. ONE-HALF RATL OF GREASE. Dated 122 H.
In the name of Allah. Or-
dered God honesty and
ordered the manufacture of one-half
I 4JUI
Unpublished.
ratl of grease. al-Qasim
b. 'Ubayd Allah.
Year two and twen-
ty and one hundred.
84
The quantity of the substance is stated in weight (ratl) and not in measure
of capacity (qist or mikyala). This is exceptional but not surprising. Even
today, certain semi-liquid commodities, like thick fresh cream, although poured
into a container, are sold per pound and not per ounce or pint in Italy and
the Middle East.
Petrie 123; Miles, "Muntaza" 15; Launois, Cairo 65; Dudzus, "Glasstempel" 6c.
173. MIKYALA OF THE WINE OF THE ABYSSINIANS. ByL.
Light blue-green, translucent. 41.
Unpublished.
Compare Cat. 39, a stamp issued by Hayyan b. Shurayh, on which the sub-
stance is written with an initial alif: 'HjkJ\.
172. ONE-QUARTER QIST OF OLIVE OIL.
(Or)dered al-Qasim
b. 'Ubayd Allah
the manufacture of one-quarter
qist of olive oil,
full measure.
Ordered al-Qasim
b. 'Ubayd Allah
a mikyala of the wine of
Abyssinians, full measure.
174-175. MIKYALA OF MUSTARD.

Ordered al-Qasim
b. 'Ubayd Allah
of mustard,
full measure.
Catalogue: Umayyads
85
175. Blue green, transparent. Small segment at bottom broken off. 37.
This specimen was published in Balog, "Estampilles" 10.
The substance, was erroneously read there as zayyan, jUi, Clematis. I am
now convinced that Miles's reading, mustard, al-sinab, ^-.L^, is correct.
176. MIKYALA OF WHITE CUMIN. Î o^S
jU)| In the name of Allah.
ÛJI Ordered al-Qasim
*JUI Ju* (6..) (b.) 'Ubayd Allah
iL5d ?.:.,n the manufacture of a mikyala
I Oj*S of white cumin,
Launois, Cairo 67-68.
full measure.
177-181. QIST, with MUSLIM B. AL-'ARRAF. Dated 119 H.
I 4JUI
lipL Ji)I
U.ill I jut.
dered God honesty
and ordered the manufacture
of this qist
al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd
Allah. At the hands of Muslim
b. al-'Arraf. Year

nineteen and
one hundred.
177. Peridot green, transparent. 40.
178. Olive green, translucent. 44.
180. Olive green, translucent. Chipped. 40.
181. Olive green, translucent. Broken. 39.
EAG II, 10; CAM I, 56-57; Launois, Cairo 73-75; Dudzus, "Gewichte" 3e; Miles, "Cor-
ning" 14-15.
86
182-189. ONE-QUARTER QIST, with MUSLIM B. AL-'ARRAF. Dated 119 H.
185. Peridot green, translucent. 38.
186. Dark olive yellow, translucent. 39.
187. Dark olive green, translucent. 36.
189. Mottled green and yellow, translucent. 36.
EAG II, 11; CAM I, 61; CAM 1I. Benaki 15; Launois, Cairo 69-72; Dudzus, "Glasstem-
pel" 6d; Miles, "Corning" 16.
190. ONE-HALF RATL OF GREASE with MUSLIM B. AL-'ARRAF.
4j L J ^M,fr A*M
dered God honesty
and ordered the manufacture
of one-quarter qist al-Qa-
sim b. 'Ubayd Allah.
At the hands of Muslim
b. al-'Arraf. Year
nineteen and one hundred.
U*.5 (-^D
God ordered hone-

(,J-)-L rfj, >
of one-half (r)atl of grease
al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd Allah.
At the hands of Mus(lim)
(b. al)-'Arraf.
[...]
Unpublished.
Ra of ratl omitted.
Catalogue: Umayyads
87
191-192. MIKYAL-QIST OF OLIVE OIL c^j, with MUSLIM B. AL-'ARRAF.
Dated 119 H.
Unpublished.
These two stamps are of exceptionally small size for the period, and the
writing is also in very small characters. The double qualification of the vessel,
as a "measure of qist", JUC, in which the word mikyal is associated with
qist, seems to me, if not unique, at least quite unusual.
193-195. MIKYALA OF WOAD LEAVES, INDIGO, irj, with MUSLIM B. AL-
'ARRAF. Dated 119 H.
dered God honesty (and)
(or)dered the manufacture of a mikyal-
qist of pure olive oil,
al-Qasim b.'Ubayd Allah. At the
hands of Muslim b. al-'Arraf.
Year nine(teen and)
(one hundred).
God ordered honesty
and ordered the manufacture of a mikyala
of woad leaves, al-Qasim b.
'Ubayd Allah. At the hands of
Muslim b. al-'Arra-

f. Year nine-
teen and
one hundred.
194. Olive green, translucent. 40 Broken.
195. Olive green, translucent. One-half broken off.
Dudzus, "Glasstempel" 6f.
196-197. QIST, with ZAFFAR B. SHABA. Dated 122 H.
I .ujl ^
U!l J*~2)l lib
Jjl JL_i i># ^m
dered God hone-
of this qist, al-Qa-
At the hands of Zaffar b.
Shaba. Year two and
twenty and
one hundred.
Launois, Cairo 78.
198. ONE-HALF QIST, with ZAFFAR B. SHABA. Dated 122 H.
.mi p~i
yu -0J| jj
U)l Ja...? uiyai
jlUI J^s. j*. *-
*f* I A.IK 4 I. I I)
God ordered hone-
of one-half qist, al-Qa-

At the hands of Zaffar b.
Shaba. Year
twenty two
and one hundred.
Green, tanslucent. 36.
Petrie 120; EAG II, 12; CAM I, 58.
Petrie's reading is not quite accurate.
Catalogue: Umayyads
199-202. ONE-QUARTER (QIST), with ZAFFAR B. SHABA. Dated 122 H.
200. Green, translucent. Chipped. 37.
201. Green, translucent. Chipped. 36.
202. Green, translucent. Broken. 34.
EAG I, 36; CAM I, 62; Launois, Cairo 79-81; Launois, Maspiro 9.
203. MIKYALA OF WOAD LEAVES ir.j, with ZAFFAR B. SHABA.
God ordered ho-
nesty and ordered
the manufacture of one-quarter,
al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd
Allah. At the hands of Zaffa-
r b. Shaba. Year
twenty two
and one hundred.
Dated 122 H.
A .*
God ordered honesty and
ordered the manufacture of a mikyala
of woad leaves, al-Qasim
b. 'Ubayd Allah. At the hands
of Zaffar b. Shaba. Year
twenty two
and one hundred.

Launois. Cairo 82.
90
204. QIST, with DAWUD B. AL-MURR. Dated 123H. About one-third broken off.
I -mI j> In the name of Allah. Or-
ja j lijJL *M\ dered God honesty and (or)dered
Ja^SJI II* the manufacture of this qist,
jlUI Jl-* i>. f*Î al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd Allah.
(Î i>) iSA> ^ ^ the hands of Dawud (b. al-Murr).
iZJj Year three (twen-)
(ilL)-. j i> ty and one hundr(ed).
Unpublished.
205. MIKYALA OF WHITE CUMIN o^, with DAwOD B. AL-MURR.
Dated 123 H.
jlUI In the name of Allah.
jJL jU)I jm\ God ordered hone-
r\ l s^y an{^ 01"dered the manufacture
i_î.o VI j3*50I iLSC of a mikyala of white cumin,
ju* ij- ÛJI al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd
ijb (^Jj Ac jU)I Allah. At the hands of Dawud
j cJa iu- ^1I i> b. al-Murr. Year three and
ij'L j jLs. twenty and one hundred.
Emerald green, near-transparent 42.
EAG I, 38.
See also Cat. 138, 139 and 144 for the official's name. The name of the sub-
stance is faultily written, but there is no doubt that ^juÎ j^S is meant.
206. QIST OF PURE ... (substance off flan), with YAZlD B. ABl YAZlD.

s*\ -OJI In the name of Allah. Ordered
j^s. i>. ^^-(JI) (al-)Qasim b. 'Ubayd
(Ja.)_~j "-.-/; 40)I Allah the manufacture of a qis(t) [...]
y (Jb As. ^^.(J) (p)ure. At the hands of
'*4} ijt| j* .** (Ya)zld b. Abl Yazld.
CAM I. 65. The substance is also missing
Small but neat writing.
Catalogue: Umayyads
91
207. MIKYALA OF MUSTARD ^L^, with YAZlD B. ABlYAZlD. Dated 121 H.
j*\ jU)I In the name of Allah. Ordered
UjJL jUJI God honesty and ordered
wjLysJI iLCi the manufacture of a mikyala of mustard,
.0)I Ju-* i> p~UJI al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd Allah.
j I Jbj>_ (^Jl> At the hands of Yazld b. Abl
(sic) i^. X>j Yazld. Year one
j i> jLs. twenty and
1^* one hundred.
Unpublished.
208. ONE-QUARTER QIST, with YAZlD B. ABl YAZlD. Dated 122 H. Chip
missing at bottom.
jUJ I f*~o In the name of Allah.
jJL -mI God ordered hone-
i'.jû jjj l i sty and ordered the manufacture
UJI Ja*J> of one-quarter qist, al-Qa-
jUII Jl^ i> sim b. 'Ubayd Allah.
(jj| o" iSM (J* At the hands of Yazld b. Abl
<y^$\ 5Ll~ X>'y Yazld. Year two
i> jLs. j and twenty
(*jLj) (and one hundred).
Casanova, p. 368 Nos. 128-9; Grohmann 3.
209. Anepigraphic.

There is only a large linear pentagram with sharp points and five pellets in
the external angles. This is certainly a secondary stamp. The attribution
to al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd Allah is based on the complete identity of this stamp
with the secondary impression on Cat. 135, issued by al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd Allah.
This pentagram, with pointed tips and pellets, has not been found on the glass
of any other official. There are only two exceptions, easy to recognize: Cat.
576, a broken coin weight of Ibrahlm b. Salih, with small linear pentagram in
92
exergue, but no pellets, and the coin weight Cat. 698 of Zakariyya and cIsa, with
small linear pentagram in the center, rounded points and no pellets.
Olive green, almost opaque 28.
Unpublished.
YAZID B. ABI YAZID
Prefect: 116-27 H. / A.D. 734-45
Interim Finance Director: 127-8 H. / A.D. 745
As Prefect
Vessel Stamps
Casanova, p.373 Nos. 175-182; EAGI, 47; CAM I. 74-75: CAM II. Ruthven 17; Launois,
Cairo 120-124.
As above, but six-pointed star at the bottom: *
EAG I, 48; Petrie 132; Miles, "Muntaza" 20; Launois, Cairo 125.
At the hands
of Yazld b. A-

bl Yazld.
Catalogue: Umayyads
As Interim Finance Director
Ring Weight
215-216. RATL OF GRAPES?
Fragments. Only most of head with round stamp preserved.
ij>\ i> Jbj* j*\ Ordered Yazld b. Am"
1 uJI Jl.j Juj< Yazld a ratl of grapes,
,JIj full weight.
215. Emerald green, translucent. Stamp 33.
216. Emerald green, translucent. Stamp 35.
Unpublished.
For the substance grapes, c^jjI, see Miles, "Hayyan," p. 152 and Cat. 35
and 136.
Coin Weights
217. DIRHAM (Without denomination).
j^y ^jI Abl Yazld
iy\ Yazld ibn
Unpublished.
The legend starts in the second line and continues in the first. The piece
seems to have been issued during Yazld's interim finance directorship because
the prefect formula, ^jJb ^c, is not used. At the same time, the superior
formula ^J, is missing from the protocol.
218-220. FALS OF 20 QlRAT.
A>j Ordered Yazld
*J k. Abl Yazld
^Jj JliL. the weight of a fals
at.

j3 ij_jZs. of twenty qlr-
220. Light green, transparent. No rim. Six-pointed star at the top. 29, 4.11.
BM 7; EAG I, 43; Miles, "Muntaza" 18; Fahmy 80-83; Launois.. Cairo 130-131; Launois,
C.d.M. 12.
94
Vessel Stamps
221. EXECUTIVE STAMP.
Miles, "Corning" 18-19..
Ordered Yazld
b. Abl Yazld.
222-223. QIST OF OLIVE OIL. c~>j
til
CAM I, 68-69.
Ordered Yazld
b. Abl Yazld
a qist of olive oil, full
measure.
224-226. ONE-HALF QIST OF OLIVE OIL. c^j
Ordered Yazld
b. Abl Yazld one-half
qist of olive oil,
full measure.
Jlj
226. Emerald green, transparent. 37.
CAM I, 70; CAM II. Ruthven 16; Launois, Cairo 119.

227-232. ONE-QUARTER QIST OF OLIVE OIL.
Ordered Yazld
b. Abl Yazld, one-
quarter qist of olive
oil, full measure.
Catalogue: Umayyads
EAG II, 14; CAM I, 72-73; CAM II. Benaki 20; Launois, Cairo 116-118.
233. MIKYALA OF SHELLED LENTILS. jZJu ô*
Ordered Yazld b.
Abl Yazld
a mikyala of pure
shelled lentils.
Unpublished.
Ordered Yazld
b. Abl Yazld
a mikyala of cumin,
white,
pure.
Light emerald green, transparent. 37.
Unpublished.
235. MIKYALA OF LUPIN.
Ordered Yazld
b. Abl Yazld
a mikyala of lu-

pin, full
measure.
Unpublished.
The letter sin of turmus has an extra tooth.
96
236. QIST FOR FENNEL. ^JJI
Ordered Yazld (b.)
Abl Yazld
a qist for fennel,
full measure.
Peridot green, transparent. 50.
Balog, "Estampilles" 11.
'ISA B. ABi 'ATA
Finance Director: 125-7 H. / A.D. 743-5; 128-31 H. / A.D. 745-9
Ring Weight
237-238. RAIL FOR MEAT. -J.
Only the round principal imprint of both specimens is preserved, and a small
portion of the head. The edge of a smaller second stamp is visible.
God ordered honesty
and (ordered) the amlr 'Isa
(b. A)bl 'A\a the manufacture
of a ratl for meat, full
weight.
237. Emerald green, translucent. Stamp: 33.
238. Emerald green, translucent. Stamp: 32.
Unpublished.

I between j and omitted in the third line.
Catalogue: Umayyads
97
Disk Weights
239. RATL, with YAZlD B. ABl YAZlD, Issued between 125 and 127 H. Fragment.
j*\ *JU I In the name of Allah. Ordered
Îj li^JL -mI God honesty and ordered
lkc i>. (LJ-_^) ('Isa) b. Abl 'Ata
fcjIj Jl,j (::..,~;) (the manufacture) of a ratl, full weight.
Î i> {îj (J*) tne hands of Yazld) b. Abl
(Yazl)d.
Green, translucent. Total length 113; round imprint 50.
Unpublished.
240. ONE-HALF RATL, with YAZlDB. ABI YAZID. Issued between 125 and 127 H.
Fragment
Principal round stamp, 45:
God ordered hone-
sty and or(dered [...])
[...]
[...]
Round executive stamp, 18:
At the hands of
Yazld b. A-
bl Yazld.
Dark emerald green, translucent. Total length 95.
Petrie 137-138.
As the name of the senior official is missing, the attribution is based on the
issues.

similarity with Petrie 137. This may belong to al-Qasim b. 'Ubayd Allah's
98
Coin Weights
241. ONE-HALF DINAR, with YAZlDB. ABlYAZlD. Issued between 125 and 127 H.
In the name of AMI
Ordered 'Isa b. Abl
jlU I In the name of Allah.
iî \S~^ J*'
Ul* lkc 'Ata the manufacture of the weight
jo s i_iâJ J of one-half dinar. At the
t> Joy ^Jb hands of Yazld b.
Jbî .| Abl Yazld.
BM. 6d; Launois, C.d.M. 10; Fahmy 70-71.
There are several errors in the legend: without the nun, JUt* without
the tha and the alif and dinar written: yto. Yazld b. Abl Yazld's protocol is
still that of a prefect (^Ju ^s.); therefore, the weight was issued during 'Isa
b. Abl 'Ata's first tenure in office, between 125 and 127 H.
242. ONE-HALF DINAR, with YAZlD B. ABl YAZlD. Issued between 125 and 127 H.
*JJ I In the name of Allah.
(sic) Î i>. 'Isa b. Abl (sic)
i*^> manufactured a weight
J* J of one-half. At the
I j> joj (^Ju hands of Yazld b. A-
jj,y ^ bl Yazld.
Casanova, p. 379 No. 24; EAG I 40; CAM I. 46; CAM II. Benaki 21; Fahmy 72.

Defective writing; the name 'Ata has been omitted.
243-244. DIRHAM, with YAZlD B. ABl YAZlD. Issued between 125 and 127 H.
j*\ -mI ^ In the name of Allah. Ordered
lijJL jU)I God honesty
I i> ^.....^ and ordered 'Isa b. A-
1kc bl 'Ata the manufacture
Ij *j i J lU of a dirham weight, full
jjji j^Ju ^ J weight. At the hands of Yazld
l^| C x ^* Yazld.
Catalogue: Umayyads
99
Unpublished.
The dirham weight has been published, but with different legend: Petrie
133; BM 6; CAM I, 78.
245. DIRHAM, with YAZlD B. ABl YAZlD, Issued between 125 and 127 H.
Ordered Allah honesty
and ordered 'Isa b. Abl 'Ata
the manufacture of a weight
of dirham. At the hands of Yazld
b. Abl Yazld.
Unpublished.
Vessel Stamps
246-247. QIST.
Ordered the amlr
'Isa b. Abl
'Ata the manufacture
of a qist, full
measure.
247. Emerald green, transparent. Chipped. 40
Unpublished.

On both specimens is written without the nun.
100
248. ONE-HALF QIST. Legend at the beginning and the end of several lines recon-
structed.
40) I ^ In the name of Allah,
j-iI Ordered the amlr
lke. Î i> 'Isa b. Abl 'Ata
uiâJ 'i*x*> the manufacture of one-half
ijIj J-a qist, full measure.
Green, almost transparent. 30.
BM 394; Other published half-qist stamps, with different legends: CAM I, 81-82; Miles,
"Muntaza" 22.
Petrie 135; Casanova, p. 369, nos. 134-
83; Dudzus, "Gewichte" 4a, b.
ordered the amlr
'Isa b. Abl 'Ata
the manufacture of one-quarter qist,
full (measure).
; EAG I. 42; Launois, Cairo 106-109; CAM I.
jU)I
^ ^ (*.)

Launois, Cairo 113.
Ordered 'Isa
(b.) Abl 'Ata
the manufacture of one-quarter
qist, full measure.
With this stamp begins the transformation of the primitive, archaic Kufic.
The letters ta, sad and yd are already horizontally stretched.
Catalogue: Umayyads
101
252. MIKYALA OF LUPIN.
jj 4O)I ^j
uTV
|j o-OO
4_S
God honesty and
ordered 'Isa b. Abl
'Ata the manufacture of a mikyala
(of lu) pin, full
measure.
Unpublished.
253. MIKYALA OF BLACK CUMIN. i^\ oyS
In the name of
Allah. Ordered the amlr
'Isa(b). Abl
'Ata a mikyala
of cumin,
black.
Unpublished.
The word j between 'Isa and Abl-'Ata is omitted.
254. MIKYALA FOR WHITE CUMIN. ^Vl dyS
(mi r..i)

(In the name of Allah).
God ordered hone-
sty and ordered 'Isa
(b.) Abl 'Ata the manufacture
of a full-measure mikyala
for white cumin.
Unpublished.
Dudzus, "Glasstempel" 4c has a shorter legend.
102
255. MIKYALA OF ... (substance off flan).
jU)I In the name of Allah.
40JI j*\ God ordered hone-
_> Ii sty and ordered the amlr
Hi* Î i>. (,^~=*) ('&*) b. Abl 'Ata
'iiSL* the manufacture of a mikyala of ,
oIj full measure.
As the substance is missing it is impossible to say whether or not the stamp is published.
'ABD AL-MALIK B. MARWAN
Finance Director: 131-2 H. / A.D. 749
Governor: 132-3 H. / A.D. 750
Ring Weights
256. RATL. Fragment. Only part of the head portion is preserved, with one of two
imprints. The impression, originally round, has assumed, through pressure of
the second stamp, an oval shape, 35 by 28. The second imprint was probably
identical with the existing one.
jU)| - > In the name of Allah.
lijJL jUJI God ordered honesty
Jl* and ordered the amlr 'Abd-
Ojj^ i>. liLM al-Malik b. Marwan,
j Uj i*ôj the manufacture of a ratl, full
,J| weight.
Dark emerald green, translucent.
EAG I 50.
stamp.

The legend is identical with ours, but the second stamp is a smaller, executive
Catalogue: Umayyads
103
257. RATL, with MUKHALLAD and YAHYA. This is an even smaller fragment than
Cat. 256. The principal stamp, of which only a third is preserved (in the right
sector) is identical with the legend of Cat. 256 and is easy to reconstruct. On
its right side is a small round, complete, executive stamp, 21:
Dark emerald green, almost opaque.
Unpublished.
Although there seem to be two executives' names on this weight, "Mukhallad
and Yahya," ^^.j Jlk, it might just be a mistake of the engraver, instead
of "Mukhallad b. Yahya." On the following ratl, Cat. 258, the first name is not
legible, but the last line reads: "b. Yahya," ê. j.. Cat. 261 shows the name
of Mukhallad, but the father's name is missing.
258. RATL. About half the longitudinally broken oval disk is preserved.
Round principal imprint, 42:
Jik ts-b Js.
At the hands of Mukhallad
and Yahya.
Disk Weights
(-mI
(In the name of Allah).
(God ordered honesty and ordered)
(the amlr 'Abd) al-Malik
b. Marwan, the manufacture
of a ratl full weight.
Round executive stamp, 20:
... (At the hands of)

... (Mukhallad?)
b. Yaha.
Dark emerald green, translucent. Total length: 128.
Unpublished.
104
Coin Weights
259. ONE-HALF DINAR, with YAZlD B. TAMlM.
.UJi p~i
Casanova p. 379 No. 25; Fahmy 89.
Ordered the amir 'Abd al-
Malik b. Marwan the manufacture
of a weight of one-half
dinar, full weight. At the hands
of Yazld b. Tamlm.
260. FALS OF 30 KHARROBA, with KA'B B. 'ALQAMA.
4JUI
Fahmy 97.
Ordered the amlr 'Abd al-
Malik b. Marwan, may Allah keep him
straight, the manufacture of a fals-weight
of thirty kharruba, full weight.
At the hands of Ka'b b.
'Alqama.
For the prefect Ka'b b. Alqama, see Cat. 275, 276, Launois, Cairo 310-311;
and Dudzus, "Gewichte" 5b.
261. FALS OF 30 KHARROBA, with MUKHALLAD (B. YAHYA?). Broken at

the bottom. About a quarter missing.
4JUI
Jut
tfl
Jdk (jb J*
Ordered the amlr 'Abd al-
Malik b. Marwan, may Allah keep him
straight, the manufacture of a fals-weight
oi thirty kharruba, full weight.
At the hands of Mukhallad
Catalogue: Umayyads
105
Unpublished.
For the prefect Mukhallad, See Cat. 257.
Mithqal, JUi, written without the tha.
262-264. FALS OF 30 KHARRCBA, with YAZlD B. TAMlM.
262. Green, translucent. One-half missing.
263. Green, translucent. Two-thirds missing.
264. Green, translucent. Two-thirds missing.
Petrie 140; Casanova, p. 379 Nos. 27-28; EAG I, 49; CAM I, 90; Launois, Cairo 137-140;
Fahmy 92-96.
Vessel Stamps
265. ONE-HALF QIST. Chipped.
[...]
[...]
God ordered hone-
sty and ordered the amlr
'Abd al-Malik b. Mar-
fan) the manufacture of one-half
(qist, full)
(measure).

BM 391; Miles, "Muntaza" 25.
106
j*\ Mil j^j
Petrie 141; CAM I. 92.
God honesty and ordered
the amlr 'Abd al-Malik
b. Marwan the manufacture of one-quarter
qist, full measure,
267-268. MIKYALA OF JUJUBE. Jgjl
I Jull
djj* i>.
dsaii
268. Green, transparent, 41.
God honesty and
ordered the amlr 'Abd
al-Malik b. Marwan
of jujube, of full measure
269. MIKYALA OF SHELLED LENTILS. JJu ^ju
Broken.
xs. jJi\ jj J

Ij J:JLt fjXz. iL5C*
'Li
Unpublished.
and ordered the amlr 'Abd
al-Malik b. Marwan the manufacture
of a mikyala of shelled lentils
of full measure.
Catalogue: Umayyads
107
270. MIKYALA OF WOAD LEAVES. irjJI
j*\ JJUI a-mj In the name of Allah. Commanded
j~\j lijJL -mI God honesty and ordered
liSCLlI Jl* the amlr 'Abd al-Malik
ijCâu Oij-* i> b. Marwan the manufacture
j-U -iljC a mikyala of woad
'isr leaves
iJIj of full measure.
CAM I, 93-94.
YAZID B. TAM1M
Prefect: ca. 128-32 H. / A.D. 745-9
Disk Weight
271. RATL. Small fragment, with portion of the thick rim, and the round executive
imprint, 21:
j^jj ^s. At the hands of
(> Jijji Yazld b.
^jf Tamlm.
Green, translucent. Total length: 70.
Unpublished.
The entire principal impression with the protocol of the authority has disap-
peared.
Vessel Stamp
At the hands of

Yazld b.
Tamlm.
108
Casanova, p. 374, No. 190; CAM I, 88. Launois, Cairo 141-142; Miles, "Corning" 18-19.
KA'B B. 'ALQAMA
Prefect under 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan
ca. 131-3 H. / A.D. 748-50
Disk Weight
275. RATL. Small fragment of a disk weight. Traces of the round principal stamp
have preserved only part of the first line of the legend: jlUI (pj), "(In the
name) of Allah. Commanded...." The name of the issuing senior official is
missing. The round executive stamp, 23, impressed in the thick rim, contains
the prefect's name:
^jo ^s. At the hands of
i^S Ka'b
iusLc ij* b. 'Alqama.
Emerald green, translucent. 55 x 40.
Unpublished.
Vessel Stamp
(^Jlj Vs. At the hands of
^ Ka'b
iusU Cr b. 'Alqama.
Launois, Cairo 310-311.

Cat. 275 and 276 were stamped with the same die.
For Ka'b b. 'Alqama see Fahmy 97; Launois, Cairo 310-311; Dudzus, "Ge-
wichte" 5b and Cat., 260, 275, 276.
II. ABBASIDS
THE FAMILY OF MUHAMMAD (AL-MUHAMMAD). ju* JT
In recent times students of Arabic metrology seem to have agreed that coin weights
and vessel stamps issued in the name of "the Family of Muhammad," or"Al-Muham-
mad," Just JT, most probably belong to the 'Abbasid dynasty. It has, however, not
yet been established whether they belong to the beginning of the 'Abbasid rule in
Egypt, or to a slightly later period.
Miles (CAM I, 211-212 and note 71 on the same page [92]), thought it possible that
the governor Wadih, mawla of the caliph al-Mansur, who was known for his 'Alld in-
clinations, might have issued them. Miles added, however: "This is pure speculation,
needless to say, and it is doubtful that the hypothesis could ever be substantiated."
In his "Coin Weights", p. 79 second paragraph, Miles writes: "For reasons too par-
ticular to be argued in detail here I tentatively suggest that these two classes (juji JT
and the larger anonymous class) were issued about the time of the transfer of authority
from the Umayyads to the 'Abbasids."
Commenting on No. 45 of "Corning," which appeared eight years later, Miles
suggests: "In CAM I, p. 92 I observed that the question of the attribution of those
weights in the name of the "Family of Muhammad" remained unsolved. The late
Giorgio Levi della Vida subsequently wrote me that he was doubtful about my ten-
tative hypothesis that they might be attributed to Wadih (162 H.), and suggested the
period of the caliph al-Ma'mun, whose policy of 'appeasement' toward the Shi'a is
well known. The term Al-Muhammad would be noncommittal, including both 'Ab-
basids and 'Alids. I have adopted Levi della Vida's suggestion in placing these weights
ca. 200 H. Launois (Cairo p. 40) proposed to date them at the end of the Umayyad
period; her well-reasoned argument is elaborated in her review of CAM I in RN (1958),
p. 234." Fahmy (p. 167) has in mind the time of Humayd b. Qahtaba and the 'Alld
uprising, but offers no proof for this argument.

We know from Ibn al-Athlr (V, 164, cited by Zambaur10) that al-Saffah granted the
honorary title "amlr Al-Muhammad" to Abu Muslim and at the same time that of
"wazlr Al-Muhammad" to Abu Salama. This event took place some time in or before
131 H. because there is a fals of Rayy, dated 131 H. on which the names of the two high
ranking officials are followed by the new honorary titles. This fals proves materially
that the 'Abbasids did use their much advertised relationship with the Prophet at a
very early stage, in the most efficacious way, i.e. on the coinage. Indeed, the presumed
kinship with the Prophet served as propaganda even before the Umayyads were over-
10 E. von Zambaur, Contributions a la numismatique orientate 1 (Vienna, 1905), p. 4 no. 6.
109
thrown and al-Saffah mounted the caliphal throne. It seems quite possible, even
likely, that the new "motto" was applied to the glass as soon as power was taken
over from the last Umayyad governor. The issuing of glass weights and vessel stamps,
as an expression of its authority, was nearly as important for the government of Egypt
as that of the coinage.
I believe that the glass coin weights and vessel stamps bearing "Al-Muhammad" as
the issuing authority can be attributed to Salih b. 'All, the first 'Abbasid governor,
and that there are indications in favor of this assumption.
It was Launois (Cairo p. 39) who drew attention to the fact that one of her vessel
stamps shows the motto "amara Al-Muhammad bi'l-wafa." According to Launois,
this constitutes a subtle transformation of the classic Umayyad formula "amara Allah
bi'l-wafa," suited to 'Abbasid interests.
The motto "amara Al-Muhammad bi'l-wafa" is present on the eight vessel stamps
in my collection, and one of my coin weights even bears it in a more extended form:
"amara Al-Muhammad bi'l-wafa lillahi." The other coin weights, in my collection as
well as in the literature, only have "amara Al-Muhammad." I think that Launois'
assumption is correct and that the gradual changes in the motto were aimed at an
easy acceptance of the new 'Abbasid protocol, to be introduced shortly.
The assumption that the Al-Muhammad issues of coin weights and vessel stamps
were put into circulation under Salih b. 'All seems to be further confirmed by another
curious vessel stamp in my collection (Cat. 301). On this piece the 'Abbasid caliph is
not named, only referred to with the following formula: "Amr minb.Hashimli'1-wafa,"
liU) Û Cr Cj* -r*'' followed DY tne protocol of the governor, Salih b. 'All.
A further argument in favor of an early 'Abbasid date of issue is based on stylistic
characteristics of the writing. Here we must sharply differentiate between coin weights
and vessel stamps. The coin weights are of smaller size, and therefore the usually

long legend consists of very small characters which do not differ from the writing on
the late Umayyad coin weights. Even until the reign of the caliph al-Mansur there is
no noticeable change in writing style on the coin weights.
It is difficult to narrow down the date limits of the coin weights of the "Al-Muham-
mad" series on purely stylistic grounds but it becomes much easier for the vessel stamps.
The characters which compose the legend on all the "Al-Muhammad" bottle stamps
are identical with those written on the stamps of Salih b. 'All and, in fact, the whole
legend of the former is indistinguishable in style from that of the latter. On all, the
characters are tall and uniformly thin, clearly delineated and engraved with a well-
skilled hand. They all seem to have been written by the same calligrapher. The
only other official whose stamps are quite similar to the above is 'Abd al-Malik b.
Yazld, who was governor and finance director during the three year period between
Salih b. 'All's first and second governorships.
I am, however, inclined to attribute the "Al-Muhammad" issues to Salih b. 'All,
rather than to 'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld, because it is more likely that the first 'Ab-
basid governor had the task of accustoming Egypt's public to the 'Abbasid protocol.
It is interesting to note that no heavy weights of the "Al-Muhammad" series have
come to light.
Catalogue: 'Abbasids
111
277. DINAR.
Coin Weights
jU)I In the name of Allah.
Juj Jl ordered the Family of Muhammad
J Li* a dinar weight,
,JIj full weight.
CAM I, 211-212; Miles, "Muntaza"56; Fahmy241; Launois, Cairo 145; Launois, C.d.M. 13.
278. DINAR (but no denomination).
In the name
(JT) j*\ *JUI of Allah. Ordered (the Family)
jJL of Muhammad hone-
*Ji l i sty to God.
Pale green, devitrified, chipped. 27, 4.11.
Large writing.
Unpublished.
279-281. ONE-THIRD DINAR.
-mI ^
279. Light green, translucent. 20,
Unpublished.
Ordered the Family of Muhammad

a weight of one-third
dinar, full weight.
1.36.
1.41.
1.38.
The letter lam of Al-Muhammad has been omitted.
112
282-284. DIRHAM OF 13 KHARRUBA.
a dirham weight
of thirteen khar-
ruba, full weight.
282. Light green, translucent. 24. 2.56.
The word dirham is used here in its general meaning of "money," and not as
the legal dirham, which it is not. See Miles, "Coin Weights," pp. 82, 84 and
Introduction above, p. 00.
Casanova, p. 381, No. 44; Petrie 94; BM 33; Launois, Cairo 146; Fahmy 243-244; Miles,
"Corning" 45.
287. Green, transparent. 36 Chipped.
Casanova, p. 371, Nos. 162-164; Petrie 95; Launois, Cairo 143.
Ornament: if at the end of the third line.
Vessel Stamps
honesty. One-quarter
qist, full measure.

288-289. MIKYAL AL-KABlR.
40JI
the Family of Muhammad honesty.
Mikyal al-kablr,
full measure.
113
Unpublished.
This is the iirst occurrence of the measure of capacity "mikyal al-kablr,"
JJC. Note the spelling mikyal and not mikyala or mikyal.
290. MIKYAL OF WOAD LEAVES. irjJI
j*\ 40JI In the name of Allah. Ordered
jJL Juji JT the Family of Muhammad hone-
jJI J-C li sty. Mikyal of woad
eiIj if" leaves, full measure.
Unpublished.
Mikyal and not mikyal, or mikyala.
291-292. MIKYAL OF WHITE CUMIN. oyS
*u" r*w In the name of Allah.
L s^. JT Ordered the Family of Muhammad ho-
* U>J nesty. Mikyal
(sic) jLX] of white cumin,
full measure.
Unpublished.
Al-kammun, written: j^SOI; mikyal, and not mikyal or mikyala.
Henri Arroyo of Toulon has a similar stamp. He read the substance as
"kemmat," oUSi truffles (IB 1964), but the last letter is not a ta marbuta

on my two specimens or on his. His reading may still be the right one. Either
way there seems to be a small engraver's error.
114
SALIH B. 'ALI
Governor: 133 H. / A.D. 750-1, 136-7 H. / A.D. 753-5
Ring Weight
293-294. RATL. Only the head portion is preserved of both weights, each with one
round imprint, 40:
^ Among those things which ordered
tL*> the amir Salih
-UiI *^Jlv>I i>. b. 'All, may Allah keep him straight.
J^JI IjijI Give just measure and be not among the
,v defrauders. Ratl, full weight.
293. Dark green, opaque. Fragment 85 x 40.
294. Dark emerald green, translucent. Fragment 50 x 46.
Petrie 150; EAG I, 61.
Disk Weight
295. WUQIYYA. A little over half an oval disk weight is preserved. Principal round
imprint, 35:
(^,) (Among those things) which ordered
(the) amir Salih
,1* (i>) (b) All, may God exalt him,
Lij the manufacture of a full-weight
JLiIj wuqiyya.
Remaining marginal section of a small round executive stamp:
. . . .)-*| Ab.. (Abbau?)
lb... (Ibrahim?).
Green, almost transparent. 60 x 32.

Unpublished
See Cat. 352, 742-747 for the executive.
115
Coin Weights
296-297. DIRHAM OF 13 KHARROBA.
Square impression 16 x 16:
jO)I In the name of Allah.
jl2t Dirham weight,
jLs. liL* jjj of the weight of thirteen
ijjî. a kharruba.
Reverse, counter-clockwise marginal legend:
a*Ls,\ ,J* i> as [* Among those things which ordered the
jlUI amlr Salih b. 'All, may God keep him
straight.
Center, in circular line:
j'.y Manufactured
J/ Kayl.
296. Pale green, translucent. 23. 2.46.
297. Pale green, translucent. 23 2.47.
Unpublished.
The first appearance of the square impression on the coin weights, these are
also the first coin weights with a reverse legend. For the official responsible
for the manufacture of the weights, Kayl, see EAG I, pp. 100-104, 106 and
CAM I, p. 39. Grohmann, cited by Miles in CAM I, identifies the Arabicized
name Kayl with the Coptic Chael. Although there are several coin weights
of the caliph al-Mansur countersigned by Salih b. 'All, these are the first two
issued in Salih b. 'Ali's name alone.
298. QIST.

Vessel Stamps
A \^ Among those things which ordered
*j the amlr alih
*J]\ **L*>I J* (i>) f) 'All, may God straighten him,
l,.;il ijc^x) the manufacture of a qist,
(,JIj) (full measure).
*?tM written without the lam.
t_jlj Ja ...4,1l
Salih b. 'All, may God
straighten him, the manufacture of one-
quarter
qist, full measure.
CAM I, 104-105; Casanova, p. 370 No. 141; Launois, Cairo 158-160.
j*\ JUil j^j
>Ul tf.*i J* J* i>. Û
Ja,.i .0j U
In the name of Allah. Order
from the son of Hashim for ho-
nesty. Among those things which ordered
the amlr
Salih b. 'All. At the hands of al-
Luqa. One-quarter qist,
full measure.
t_ij

Unpublished.
This is a remarkable vessel stamp. It presents the 'Abbasid Caliph without
his name, as "son of Hashim," in other words, as direct heir of the ancestor of
the 'Abbasid dynasty. The motto "Order from the Son of Hashim for honesty"
is a transformation of the Umayyad formula: "amara Allah bi'l wafa". The
application of the transformation formula suggests a very early 'Abbasid issue
under the caliph al-Saffah, at the latest in 136 H. The prefect al-Luqa (Lucas)
is unknown; al-Luqa is written here with a qaf, instead of a kaf, but there is no
doubt about the reading.
117
'ABD AL-MALIK B. YAZID
Governor and Finance Director: 133-6 H. / A.D. 751-3; 137-41 H. / A.D. 755-8
Ring Weight
302. RATL, with MUHAMMAD B. SHURAHBlL.
Fragment. About two thirds of the round impression is preserved:
jj JJi\ (In the name) of Allah. Ordered
)_^(IJLc) ('Abd)al-Malik b. Yaz-
Jjj '-:-* .<*: (Jb) (Id) the manufacture of a ratl,
tSJb ^s. (JIj) (full weight). At the hands of
j (>J^) (Muhammad) b. Shur-
(j*-) (ahbll).
Emerald green, translucent. Imprint 40.
EAG II, 19; CAM II, 28.
Disk Weight
303-313. WUQIYYA, with MUHAMMAD B. SHURAHBlL.
There are eleven fragments of this disk weight, all of different provenance and
dimensions. Six specimens are about half the disk, the others are smaller por-
tions. The reconstruction of the legend is easy. Diameter of the reconstructed
disk is 55.
Obverse:
dered 'Abd al-Malik b.
Yazld the manufacture of a wu-
qiyya, full weight. At the hands of
Muhammad b. Shurahbll.

J , : .,n I A>}
118
Reverse, counter-clockwise circular legend, leaving a free margin of ca. 1 cm.
*j jm\ jOJI ^ In the name of Allah. Ordered the
Jl* amlr 'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld, may God
*OJI *jeLÎ Ji>j_ Cxm straighten himl
All the fragments are emerald green, nearly transparent.
303-308. About half preserved.
309. One quarter.
310. A large slice from the center.
311-313. Less than a quarter.
Casanova, p. 385, No 4-5.
Casanova did not record a reverse legend.
Coin Weights
314. DINAR, with MUHAMMAD B. SHURAHBlL.
Obverse:
I Juc j*\ Ordered 'Abd a-
Jbj_ i>. 1-Malik b. Yazld
Jlil* a dinar weight,
tjIj full weight.
Reverse, clockwise circular legend (retrograde):
J-_*jJi i> Juji (Jb (j*. At the hands of Muhammad b. Shurahbll.
Center (retrograde):
'iê, Manufactured
J/ Kayl.
Light green, translucent, 27, 4.20.

BM 10; Petrie 145; EAG II, 18; CAM I, 99; Launois, Cairo 167-168: Fahmy 105-106.
119
315-316. ONE-HALF DINAR, with MUHAMMAD B. SHURAHBlL.
Obverse:
Jl&C Jy
In the name of
Allah. Ordered 'Abd
al-Malik b. Yaz-
ld a weight of
one-half, full weight.
Reverse, clockwise marginal legend (retrograde):
J^*j-i ,y Juji j^Ju lt At the hands of Muhammad b. Shurahbll
Center (retrograde) in circular line:
i*jLy> Manufactured
J/ Kayl.
316. Blue green, translucent. 22, 2.09.
Petrie 146; Fahmy 107.
mi
JUfc
^l
Ordered the amlr 'Abd
al-Malik b. Yazld
a fals weight of four
and twenty kharr-

uba.
Petrie 144; EAG I, 64 (star at end); CAM I, 100 (star); CAM II. Benaki 27; Launois,
Cairo 169-172; Launois, C.d.M. 14; Fahmy 110-116.
120
319-321. FALS OF 23 KHARRUBA.
Square impression 19 x 19:
d53iI Xs. ja
dered 'And al-Malik
b. Yazld the weight of a
fals, three and
twenty kharruba.
EAG I, 65-66; Launois, Cairo 174-175; Fahmy 118-119.
322-325. DIRHAM OF 13 KHARROBA.
Obverse, square impression, 17 x 17:
j*s. iiij Ojj
Dirham-weight,
weighing thirteen
kharruba.
Jbj. Cx. ttSCLLI Juc
'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld.
Manufactured
Kayl.

323. Pale olive green, translucent. 25, 2.47.
324. Pale green, translucent, 25, 2.47.
Miles, "Muntaza" 26, Launois, Cairo 348; Fahmy 109.
121
Vessel Stamps
326-328. QIST, with MUHAMMAD B. SHURAHBIL.
jj JOJil +~i
Petrie 147; Launois, Cairo 161-162.
'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld
the manufacture of a qist, full
measure. At the hands of Muhammad
b. Shurahbll.
329-331. ONE-QUARTER QIST, with MUHAMMAD B. SHURAHBlL.
'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld
full measure. At the hands of Muhammad
b. Shurahbll.
Petrie 141 (erroneously attributed to 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan); EAG I, 67 (slightly dif-
ferent arrangement); CAM I 102-103t; CAM II. Benaki 29.
MUHAMMAD B. SHURAHBIL
Prefect: ca. some time after 133 H. until some time after 144 H./A.D. 750-63

Muhammad b. Shurahbll is not recorded in the chronicles but is well known from
a number of glass weights and bottle stamps. Miles tentatively placed his first ten-
ure of office as prefect under the last Umayyad governor, 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan,
in 132 H. He based this assumption on a vessel stamp in the collection of the ANS
(EAG I, 51) listed under the emissions of the last Umayyad governor.
122
Closer inspection of his illustration shows, however, that the governor's name is not
complete, as the father's name is off the flan. Miles assumed that it was Marwdn
and therefore listed it under 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan. It may be, however, that the
stamp was not issued by 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan, but by the second 'Abbasid
governor, 'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld, who held office between 133 and 136 H. and again
between 137 and 141 H. This would tally better with all the published stamps on which
Muhammad b. Shurahbll appears in connection with 'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld (EAG
I, 67; EAG II, 20-21; CAM I, 102-103; CAM II. Benaki 29) and also with our own
weights, Cat. 302, 303-313, 314, 315-316, and vessel stamps, Cat. 326-328, 329-331.
I believe, therefore, that Muhammad b. Shurahbll may not have been in office
before 133 H. or even later, because we have no glass of Salih b. 'Ali with Muhammad
b. Shurahbil. We can ascertain from the glass in our collection that Muhammad b.
Shurahbll was in office under the following officials:
1. 'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld, 133-6 H. and 137-41 H.
2. Musa b. Ka'b, 141 H.
3. Humayd b. Qahtaba, 143-4 H.
4. Yazld b. Hatim, 144-52 H.
It can be safely deduced that Muhammad b. Shurahbll was prefect from some time
after 133 H., until some time after 144 H., when Yazld b. Hatim became governor.
332. WUQIYYA ? Dated 135 H. About half of a longitudinally broken oval disk weight.
At one end, a small portion of the flower-shaped principal stamp. The second,
round impression (16) contains the date.
Remains of the principal impression:
Disk Weights

(At)
the hands of (Muhammad'?)
b. Sh(urahbll?).
Second impression:
Manufactured in the year
thirty five
and one hundred.
Green, translucent. Total length of fragment: 56
Unpublished.
123
The date fixes this issue in the first governorship of 'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld.
Although only the first letter of the name of the father is preserved, the prefect is,
in all probability, Muhammad b. Shurahbll.
333. A, B. WUQIYYA.
*M\ ^ ) In the name of Allah.
Juji tSJb ^s. At the hands of Muhammad
J.^yi (> b. Shurahbll.
,JIj iij Wuqiyya, full weight.
A. Blue green, round disk, transparent. More than one-half preserved. 54.
Impression: 36
B. Emerald green, transparent. Small fragment.
CAM I, 96.
Vessel Stamps
334-335. QIST.
Unpublished.
At the hands of Muhammad
b. Shurahbll. Manufactured
336-338. ONE-QUABTER QIST.
i_iIj JxJi
At the hands of Muhammad

b. Shurahbll. One-quarter
qist, full measure.
336. Emerald green, near transparent. 31
337. Emerald green, transparent. 40
338. Emerald green, transparent. 36
Petrie 155; Launois, Cairo 202 bis.
121
'ASIM B. HAFS
Prefect: ca. 133-41 H./A.D. 751-8; 165-9 H./ A.D. 781-6
Disk Weights
339-342. WUQIYYA KABlR. Oval disk weight with three square impressions, all
three 19 x 19, applied along the long axis of the weight. Thick rim on the long
sides. Two large fragments, about half the disk, and two smaller ones.
First impression:
tf* J*
Second impression:
(Writing upside down)
Third impression:
All olive green, translucent.
339. 58 x 36.
340. 52 x 32.
341. 35 x 35.
342. 29 x 23.
Unpublished.
At the hands of
'Asim
b. Hafs.
Wuqiyya
kablr,
full weight.
At the hands of
'Asim

b. Hafs.
Coin Weights
343-346. FALS OF 36 KHARROBA, with coptic figure for 36.
Counter clockwise marginal legend:
tSJb ^s. At the hands of 'Asim b. Hafs
125
Center:
Weight
of fals
36.
343. Vivid yellow green, translucent. 32, 6.96.
345. Olive green, translucent. Devitrified. 31, 7.05.
346. Olive green, translucent. Broken.
Casanova p. 382, no 53; EAG I., 68; CAM I, 106; Fahmy 122-126.
The writing is in elongated flowing Kufic. See Miles, "Coin Weights," p. 83.
347 FALS OF 30 KHARROBA. Square impression with rounded corners, 22 x 22.
Counter-clockwise marginal legend along the straight borders:
hjj^. (jîJj ^Jj Jlii* Fals-weight of thirty kharruba.
Center legend written on diagonally to square marginal inscription:
At the
'Asim
hands of.
Dark olive green, translucent. 31, 5.77.
CAM I, 107; CAM II. Ruthven 19.
Vessel Stamps
348. A, B. EXECUTIVE STAMP.
At the hands of
'Asim
b. Hafs.
A. Pale green, translucent. 22.

B. Green, transparent. 23.
Casanova, p. 374, Nos. 188-189; CAM II. Ruthven 20.
126
CALIPH AL-MANSUR
136-58 H./A.D. 754-75
Ring Weights
349. DOUBLE RATL. Fragment, with most of the round impression preserved. The
first line of the legend reconstructed from the ratl weights Cat. 350-351.
(ju j*\ [) (Among those things which ordered)
I Jl* jU)I xs. the servant of Allah, 'Abd
I oûjiI 40) Allah, Commander of the faithful.
jS^j V j iJ-X3I Give just measure and be not
j i>_r.Uei| ^ \y among the defrauders.
Ij c^> Two ratl, full
o weight.
Dark green, almost opaque. Round stamp 40.
Unpublished.
350-351. RATL. Two fragments, with round impression:
ju jj\ Lj Among those things which ordered
xs. jlU I JUf. the servant of Allah, 'Abd Allah,
jI tyjujiI Commander of the faithful. Give
V j J~SvJI Iji just measure and be not
^ among the defrauders.
,JIj JJ Ratl, full weight.
350. Dark emerald green, nearly opaque. Stamp 39.
351. Dark emerald green, nearly opaque. Stamp 38.
Unpublished.
Disk Weight

352. ONE-HALF RATL, with ... B. IBRAHIM. Fragment of a disk weight, with
round principal impression, of which about two-thirds is preserved (diam. ca.
38-40) and a segment of a small round executive stamp (diam. ca. 20).
127
Principal stamp:
(j j*\ (Among those things which ordered)
Jl* (jOJI Jl^) the servant of Allah,) 'Abd
(^juJ*_(JI _fr*\ (Allah, Commander of) the faithful.
j ,_)__(_50I (Give just mea)sure and
I & IjJ^5C(_J V) (be not) of the
JL^j defrauders. One-half
j Jkj ratl, full
cjI weight.
Executive stamp:
[...] [...]
[...] [...]
j I Ibrahlm.
Green, translucent.
EAG 1, 53 (executive stamp missing).
It may be that the prefect, . . . b. Ibrahlm is Abban b. Ibrahlm. Compare
Cat. 742-747, 295, 352.
Coin Weights
353. DINAR.
1^ Among those things which ordered
JLc. 4JJI JUfr the servant of Allah, 'Abd
JiI jUJI Allah, Commander of the faith-
j J12U c*~* ful, a weight of a
vJIj Ji> dinar, full weight.
Olive brown, translucent. 27, 4.16.

BM 57. Same die.
128
354. ONE-HALF DINAR.
4JUI JL JL
Unpublished.
the servant of Allah, 'Abd Allah,
Commander of the faithful. Give
just measure and be not
among the defrauders.
Weight of one-half,
full weight.
This Quranic Quotation is rather unusual on the coin weights. EAG I, 60,
which has been countersigned by the governor 'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld, has the
same one. Compare Miles, "Corning" 23, a dinar weight which also has the
same Quranic verse.
355-356. DINAR, with 'ABD AL-MALIK B. YAZlD
ju jj L, Among those things which ordered
Jut jUJI Juc the servant of Allah, 'Abd
}l\ _/_.I jU|I Allah, Commander of the faith-
Jl2U ^c-, ful, the weight of a dinar,
,JIj full weight.
Jo} i>. ti&lI Jtr* 'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld.
:*i^> Manufactured

J/ Kayl
355. Black, opaque glass paste. Scaling, therefore some loss of weight. 24,4.00.
356. Black, opaque glass paste. Perfectly preserved. 29, 4.22.
Petrie 145-146; EAG I, 59 (slightly different arrangement); CAM I, 120, 121.
129
357. DIRHAM, with 'ABD AL-MALIK B. YAZlD.
*j Among those things which ordered
Jut 40) I xs. the servant of Allah, 'Abd
^lI j*-*\ Û)I Allah, Commander of the faith-
JUt* ê weight of a dir-
Ij ^ ham, full
kJ weight.
Reverse counter-clockwise marginal legend:
Juj< Cf. l5GtlI Jl* 'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld.
Center:
ijCLy Manufactured
J/ Kayl.
Black, opaque glass paste. 26, 2.78.
358. DINAR. MISR, with MUHAMMAD B. SA'lD.
I Ordered the commander of
Ji>H^ the faithful, the weight of
-jIj jk* a dinar, full weight.
JLjlm. t> Juji iSJd, ^ UJ I In the name of Allah. At the hands of
Muhammad b. Sa'ld.
Center: in circle:
Misr.

Peridot green, transparent. 28, 4.23.
CAM I, 124; Fahmy 163.
130
359-360. ONE-HALF DINAR. MISR, with MUHAMMAD B. SA'lD.
I jji Ordered the commander of
JUt* o^>l tne faithful, a weight of
j !_iva-> one-half, full weight.
JUx~ i>. iS^. ,J* f-~j In tne name of Allah. At the hands of
Muhammad b. Sa'ld.
Centre, in circle:
359. _ya-. Misr.
360. Misr.
Light blue green, translucent. 21, 2.11.
Petrie 199 (no ornament in rev. circle); CAM I, 125 (ornament?).
361-364. ONE-THIRD DINAR. MISR, with MUHAMMAD B. SA'lD.
.UiI In the name of Allah.
I y\ Ordered the commander of
JUl* the faithful, the weight of
vJIj viiJ one third, full weight.
JLju. Cf. iSJi --UI * In the name of Allah. At the hands of
Muhammad b. Sa'ld.
Center, in circle:

Misr.
362. Colorless, transparent. 19, 1.40.
364. Peridot green, translucent. 18, 1.40.
EAG I, 88; CAM I,126; Fahmy 164.
131
365. QIST.
4JJ| Ju* 4j}\ xs.
Vesse/ Stamps
Petrie 152.
the servant of Allah, 'Abd Allah,
Commander of the faithful.
Give just measure and be not
among the defrauders. Qist,
full measure.
I JLfi UJ| Jut
^j\, jjbi lyjl
the servant of Allah, 'Abd
Allah, Commander of the faithful.
Give just measure and be not
among the defrauders. One-quarter
qist, full measure.

Casanova, p. 371, No. 153, p. 375, No. 5.
On both Casanova stamps the last line of the legend is off flan.
371. ONE-HALF QIST OF CINNAMON (ARMAL). J_j|
Xs.
.r"
Emerald green, nearly transparent. 32
Unpublished.
Ordered the servant of
Allah, 'Abd Allah,
Commander of the faithful,
the manufacture of one-half
qist of cinnamon,
full measure.
132
The reading of the substance is not easy, but I believe it to be correct. The
drug, armak, liSlyI or armal, JLjI, is, according to IB 46, a sort of cin-
namon. It is said to have a wide range of indications and multiple therapeutic
effect, probably all imaginary. It is not clear from IB's text whether the bark or
the wood itself was employed.
Ahmed Issa, p. 176, No 14, identifies the plant with Symplocos racemosa Roxb.
of the family of Slyraceae, in English lodh tree. Bedevian 3340 gives the same
plant name but attributes it to the family of Symplocaceae and writes the English
name as lohd tree.
The Arabic name is either armak, c^LjI, or armal, JLjI, both written with
a second alif, which is omitted on our bottle stamp. Such omissions are, how-
ever, not infrequent on the glass (see Cat. 236, a qist for fennel, j^J| on which
shamar is written: ^;JI).
372. MIKYALA OF CORIANDER SEEDS. I
^0J| Juc
Sea green, transparent. 49.
Unpublished.
Ordered the servant of Allah,
'Abd Allah, the commander of
the faithful, the manufacture
of a mikyala of coriander
seeds, full measure.
Coriander, kusbara, written as kusbur, _^JCJI. Both orthographs
are used with equal frequency. Casanova, p. 369, No 131 and Launois, Cairo 66
both misread this substance as JLSi\, chestnuts. Their reading was cited in

Miles, "Pharm.", p. 386.
373. MIKYALA OF DRIED
jUJI Xs. jU)
ijIj (J*jUI
Pale blue green, transparent. 41.
Miles, "Muntaza" 32.
The problem word ÛI is, I
PEAS. ÛI jaJ-I
Ordered the servant of
Allah, 'Abd Allah, Commander of
the faithful, the manufacture
of a mikyala of dried
chick peas, full measure.
believe: ÛI, dried.
374. MIKYALA OF SHELLED LENTILS ÛlI ^js.
jUJI jl* j*\ Ordered the servant of Allah,
*JS\ Jui 'Abd Allah, Commander
CfC->jl\ of the faithful,
iLC l*i ,n; the manufacture of a mikyala
^.u. of shelled lentils,
,JIj full measure.
Unpublished.
(j^jiI defectively written: yjj.
375-376. MIKYALA OF WHITE CUMIN. {J2h>yj\ OyS
jU)I Xs. j*\ Ordered the servant of Allah,
ajj I 'Abd Allah, Commander
*jCôj i>^jiI of the faithful, the manufacture
OyS'iLSL, of a mikyala of white
j jâjVI cumin, full
oI measure.
EAG II, 16; Miles: "Corning" 26.
377-379. MIKYALA OF WHEY OR FERMENTED WHITE CHEESE.
I Ju* Ordered the servant of
jlUI JL* jUJ Allah, 'Abd Allah,
(jûjiI Commander of the faithful,
iLSC* the manufacture of a mikyala
j iJ2l\ of whey, full measure.

379. Olive brown, translucent. 37.
Casanova, p. 371, Nos. 151-152; CAM I, 117-119; Miles, "Corning" 27.
134
Miles (CAM I, 85) translated the substance tentatively as "whey", which is
identical with the fermented white cheese still currently produced and consumed
in Egypt today. In a later study (Miles, "Pharm." p. 386) in the paragraph for
al-baqs, Miles expressed some doubts, that the reading al-mishsh might be an error
and should be discarded in favour of al-baqs.
There are several stamps in our collection on which al-mishsh is clearly legible
(^îI), and also several others with al-baqs (^JLJI) clear and unmistakable.
Therefore there is no doubt in my mind that both substances occur on the bottle
stamps.
The process by which mishsh, the oily white cheese of creamy consistence and
sharp flavor is prepared, has already been described in Balog, "Estampilles"
No 13. Today it is only used as a widely favored foodstuff, but there is no
doubt that in mediaeval Arabic pharmacy its laxative properties were also ap-
preciated.
The processing of mishsh is a long and tedious work, and the population of
Egypt is increasing more rapidly than the production of foodstuffs. Milk, sour
milk and cheese are consumed at a rate which will soon exclude the lengthy pre-
paration of mishsh. Therefore it may not be superfluous to record here once
more the ancient method which one day soon may be forgotten:
Egyptian white cheese, made from fresh buffalo milk, and salt added, is
treated with natural lactic ferment and submerged in fresh milk, either pure
or diluted with water. To the milk, also salt is added. This whole mass is left
to mature from six to twelve months. Then the mature white cheese is removed,
ready for consumption. The semi-liquid, or rather, creamy, oily mass which
remains is the mishsh. To the unaccustomed palate of the occidental, the flavor

is rather too sharp and pungent.
380. Sea green, transparent. 38.
381. Olive brown, translucent. 34.
Petrie 153 (did not read the substance, which is, nevertheless, clearly legible on his plate).
380-381. MIKYALA OF WOAD LEAVES. ir^JI
Ordered the servant of (Allah),
'Abd Allah, Commander
of the faithful, the manufacture
of a mikyala of woad
leaves, full
measure.
135
I fully agree with Miles (CAM I, p. 49) that the whole series of weights and
stamps, on which the caliph's name is not mentioned, only his protocol as
'"Abd Allah, 'Abd Allah, amir al Mu'minln," belongs to al-Mansur and not
to al-Mahdi. This becomes obvious whenever the above protocol is linked with
the name of an official reputedly belonging to al-Mansur's reign, for example
Salih b. 'Ali, 'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld or Muhammad b. Sa'ld. By deduction,
those weights and stamps, on which the same protocol stands alone, without an
official's name, should logically also be attributed to al-Mansur.
Moreover, al-Mahdl's protocol is different; it always contains his name, either
"al-Mahdl," or "al-Mahdl Muhammad."
MUSA B. KA'B
Governor and Finance Director: 141 H. / A.D. 758-9
Ring Weight
382. RATL, with MUHAMMAD B. SHURAHBlL. Fragment. Round impression, 37.
jj (*JUI (In the name of Allah). Ordered
(xut.=)) (j. is"{y* -^'|) (the amlr) Miisa b. Ka'b
the manufacture of a ratl,
tSJo J* (i-l) (full weight). At the hands of
yi i> (Muhamm)ad b. Shura-
Unpublished.
Miisa b. Ka'b b. 'Uylna b. 'Aysha b. 'Amr b. Sari b. 'Ayidha b. al-Harith
b. Umri al-Qays b. Zayd Mana b. Tamlm ibn Murr b. lidd b. Tanija b. llias b.
Mudar (al-Kindi p. 106) was governor and finance director of Egypt from Rabl'
II, 141 H. until Dhu'l-Qa'da of the same year. His glass weights and stamps

are very rare and in the literature I know of only two stamps (CAM I, 127 and
Launois, C.d.M. 15), and a disk weight, reported in Miles, "Coin Weights,"
p. 80.
The executive official on the Launois specimen is also Muhammad b. Shu-
rahbll. Engraver's error: Ka'b written with a ta marbuta instead of a ba.
136
MAYMUN B. KA'B
High executive: probably around 141 H./A.D. 758-9 or a little later.
Coin Weight
383. FALS OF 24 KHARRUBA.
L IIa This is one of those things
aj j*\ which ordered Maymun
i>. o b. Ka'b. Weight
j^.J j l J of twenty four
Cr, kharruba.
Yellowish green, transparent. 30, 4.83.
Unpublished.
Unknown official, who must have been, however, of high standing as he was
entitled to issue orders (ju ^,I), not only to execute orders given by his principals
(iSJb {[s.). He may have been a son of Ka'b b. 'Aylnah b. 'Aylshah and brother
of Musa b. Ka'b, governor and finance director in 141 H. The calligraphy would
be right for the middle of the second century H.
MUHAMMAD B. AL-ASH'ATH
Governor: 141-3 H./A.D. 759-60
Ring Weights
384. RATL, with 'ABD ALLAH B. RASHID. Fragment. Round impression, 40.
(^J) 40)I In the name of Allah. (Ordered)
(i> Ji_)-js the amlr Muhammad (b.)
) vijuiVI al-Ash'ath the manu(facture)
gjj, ^s. ijIj Jij of a ratl, full weight. At the hands of
j i>. jlUI 'Abd Allah b.

JuiI Rashid.
Unpublished.
137
385. ONE-HALF RATL, with THE AMlR 'ABD ALLAH B Well-preserved
but three chips missing.
Dark brown, almost black, opaque. Height 52; length 60; thickness 38; diam.
of round impression 32. Weight 188.60.
Loss of weight through chipping may not exceed 2-4 percent)
Unpublished.
The only prefect who appears on Muhammad b. al-Ash'ath's glass issues is
'Abd Allah b. Rashid. 'Abd Allah had not been appointed an amlr and his
protocol included only the executive formula (_Jb ^c. It is therefore, not
likely that the amlr 'Abd Allah on the present weight should be 'Abd Allah b.
Rashid. The only other 'Abd Allah of the period who might be considered in
this case is 'Abd Allah b. 'Abd al-Rahman, who was appointed prefect of police
by Humayd b. Qahtaba in 143 H. and who, in turn, became governor in 152 H.
All this is, of course, only hypothetical.
386. WUQlYYA, with 'ABD ALLAH B. RASHID. About half missing.
(i>. JL)-** jsÎ
JJLI Jj-
[...] 4U\ 1
[...]
Disk Weight
i*i*u l*.*>( if )
i-Ij (*aj)
jlUI Jl* (iSJb J&)
(In the name of) Allah.
(Ordered the) amlr Muhammad

(b. al-Ash)'ath the manufacture
(of a wuqiyya), full weight.
(At the hands of) 'Abd Allah
(b. R)ashid.
Blue green, translucent. Diam. 55.
Unpublished.
138
Coin Weights
387. FALS OF 27 KHARROBA, with 'ABD ALLAH B. RASH1D.
ja\ Ordered the amlr
i^VI i>. Muhammad b. al-Ashcath,
Jb* (^Ju Lc at the hands of 'Abd Allah
(sic) jiA JLiIj (> b. Rashid, the manufacture of a weight
j i* Ji I of fals of seven and
jLs. twenty kharruba.
Green, transparent. 32, 5.21
EAG I, 74; Fahmy 132-134; Launois, Cairo 181; Launois, Maspiro 11.
The last two have a different arrangement.
The word mithqal is mutilated.
388. DIRHAM OF 13 KHARROBA, with 'ABD ALLAH B. RASHID.
ajj\ In the name of Allah.
ij.-iVI (> Juj; Muhammad b. al-Ash'ath
fos JUir a dirham weight,
jLs.i ol? eiIj full weight, of thirteen
ijj î. kharruba.
JLiIj (> jlUI (Jus. ^Jj J*) (At the hands of 'Abd)Allah b. Rashid
Manufactured
Kayl.
Green, transparent. 24, 2.47.

Unpublished.
For the denomination "dirham of 13 kharruba" see above Miles, "Coin Weights,"
p. 84 and Introduction, p. 00 above.
139
Vessel Stamps
All with 'Abd Allah b. Rashid
(Juji) y>\ dO)I ^
Green, translucent, 43.
In the name of Allah. Ordered the amlr
(Muhammad)
b. al-Ash'ath the manufacture
(of one-) quarter qist, full measure.
At the hands of 'Abd Allah
b. Rashid.
EAG I, 75. First described as a qist; later, in CAM I, p. 53, corrected to one-quarter qist:
CAM I, 131-132.
Cat. 389 is in the collection of Veli al-Dln Sameh bey.
390-391. MIKYALA OF WHITE SESAME SEED. Î o}V*U
(jj) j0)I In the name of Allah. (Ordered)
i>.Juji the amlr Muhammad b.
iVI al-Ash'ath the manufacture
Jl.c iS^ ,J* ^fhi\ dlk*b- iLSC of a mikyala of white sesame seed. At
JLiIj i>. I the hands of 'Abd
Allah b. Rashid.
391. Green, translucent, 38. Chipped
CAM II.Ruthven 21.
392. MIKYALA OF BLACK LENTILS. j^VI j-J^

,Ui\ In the name of Allah.
juji ^-.VI Ordered the amlr Muhammad
ijjêu liûiVI i>. b. al-Ash'ath the manufacture
VI ^JuJI iLd of a mikyala of black
^Jb J* }y lentils. At the hands of
Ij i>. jU)I Juc 'Abd Allah b. Ra-
JUS shid.
140
Unpublished.
The substance is identified and briefly described under Cat. 106.
393-395. MIKYALA OF WHITE CUMIN. OyS
393. Emerald green, translucent. 35
395. Green, translucent. Broken.
EAG II, 23; Launois, Cairo. 176-178 (incomplete).
396. MIKYALA OF WASMA, WOAD LEAVES. Xr>JI
Ordered the amlr Muhammad
b. al-Ash'ath the manufacture
of a mikyala of white
cumin. At the hands of 'Abd
Allah b. Rashid.
*JJ\ Juc ($Jb (Js.)
dered the amir Muhammad b
al-Ash'ath the manufacture
of a mikyala of woad leaves.
(At the) hands of 'Abd Allah
b. Rashid.
Unpublished.
NAWFAL B. FURAT

Finance Director: 141-3 H./ A.D. 759-60
Ring Weights
397-399. RATL, with SALIH B. QUSTANTlN. Fragments of three ring weights,
each with two square impressions. The first fragment shows a large enough
141
portion of both imprints. The second and third fragments have most of the
stamp bearing the executive's protocol, but only traces of the principal im-
pression. The readings are reconstructed from the three fragments.
Principal stamp, square with rounded corners, 26 x 26; on all pieces at left:
Executive stamp, square with rounded corners, 33 x 33; on all pieces at
right:
357. Dark green, almost opaque.
395. Dark green, almost opaque.
399. Dark green, barely translucent.
Unpublished.
Nawfal b. Furat's weights and stamps are scarce in the literature. I could find
two vessel stamps in CAM I, 131-132, but there are no heavy weights at all,
and even of the coin weights only three records are available.
The executive Salih b. Qustantln is unknown. Cat. 407 proves that he issued
weights on his own, but were it not for the weights described here, it would not be
possible to fix the dates of his tenure of office. Because of the three heavy
weights just presented, we can now safely assume that Salih b. Qustantln was
in office during Nawfal b. Furat's finance directorship, between 141 and 143 H.
400. ONE-HALF RATL. This is a fairly complete ring weight, of which about 5 to 8
percent has been chipped away in recent times.
Square principal stamp, originally 24 x 24:
(cj\J Or.) Jy y\
(-mI)
[...] *j
In the name of (Allah).

Ordered Nawfal (b. Furat),
may (Allah) keep him straight
[?]
Stamped at the hands
of Salih b. Qustantln,
ratl, full weight.
(JUS 40)I) *^/I
Among those things which ordered the
amir Nawfal b. Furat,
may Allah be generous (to him. One-half)
(ratl, full weight).
142
Small oblong stamp on the right shoulder, 15 x 10):
jJI Al-wafa
**i lillahi (?).
Emerald green, with surface patina, translucent. Height 54; length 57; thickness
36; weight 180.0.
Unpublished.
401. ONE-HALF RAIL, with 'ABD AL-RAHMAN B. YAZlD. Small fragment of a
ring weight, on which most of the round principal stamp (ca. 35) and about half
the round executive stamp (24) are preserved.
Principal impression:
l_y.> ) ' mi /*
Executive stamp:
(Among those things which) ordered
Nawfal
(b.) Furat,
the manufacture of one-half
ratl, full weight.
(At the hands of)
('Abd )al-Rahman
b. Yazld.
Unpublished.
Petrie 154 is a whole pound, but with the same executive and the sameprotocol.
Disk Weight
402. ONE-HALF RATL. Oval disk weight with deeply impressed central oblong

stamp and, beside it, a round stamp.
Distal round stamp, 19:
Ordered
the amir
CiIji Cf Nawfal b. Furat.
143
Oblong central stamp, 17 x 22:
[...]
[...]
AW08
Length 82; width 73; thickness 18; weight 156.69.
Unpublished.
The executive's name, A9AY0X , is m neither Preisigke, nor Heuser.
Scaling (devitrification) of the whole surface, which makes the reading very
difficult and has caused considerable loss of weight. Otherwise intact.
403-404. ONE-HALF DINAR, with 'ABD AL-RAHMAN B. YAZlD.
Coin Weights
Ordered Nawfal
b. Furat
the manufacture
of a weight of one-half
dinar, full weight.
Reverse: counter-clockwise marginal legend:
At the hands of 'Abd al-Rahman b.
Yazld.
Center:
j-ir
Manufactured
Kamil.

BM 13; EAG I,70; Kmietowicz p. 136, the same protocol but a dinar weight.
144
Vessel Stamps
Jiî Ordered Nawfal
oI^ i> D- Furat
.JIj full measure.
405. Emerald green, translucent. 42. Portion of rim attached.
406. Emerald green, translucent, 40.
EAG I, 129-130.
SALIH B. QUSTANTIN
Prefect: ca. 141-3 H./A.D. 759-60
Disk Weight
407. WUQIYYA. Intact round disk weight.
^Jb J* pZi. Stamped at the hands of
Salih b. Qustantln.
vJIj *Jj Wuqiyya, full weight.
Green, translucent. Diam. 56, square impression 38 x 38; weight 36.82.
Unpublished.
The bottle stamps Cat. 397-399 are our only indication that Salih b. Qustantln
was in office between 141 and 143 H. during Nawfal b. Furat's finance director-
ship. Otherwise, he is unknown in the literature and no glass has hitherto been

found with his name.
145
HUMAYD B. QAHTABA
Governor: 143-4 H./ A.D. 760-2.
Ring Weights
408-409. RATL, with MUHAMMAD B. SHURAHBlL. Fragments of two ring
weights.
405. Dark emerald green, almost opaque.
405. Dark emerald green, almost opaque.
Launois, C.d.M. 18.
Launois published a unique intact specimen of the above ratl weight. Its
weight is 441.0 gm, the height 65 mm. length 55 and width 45. It is one of four
intact ratl weights of the Umayyad (and early 'Abbasid) weight system and is,
therefore, of the utmost importance for Arabic metrology.
the amir Humayd
b. Qahtaba,
may Allah keep him straight.
Round executive impression, 35:
At the hands of Muhammad.
b. Shurahbll.
Ratl, full weight.
Disk Weight
410. WUQIYYA.
Round principal stamp:

the amlr Humayd b. Qahtaba,
10
146
Traces of executive stamp:
i(Jb Ja) [. . .] (At the ha)nds
[."..] [...]
Green, translucent. Length of fragment: 48.
Unpublished.
Coin Weights
411. ONE-THIRD DINAR, with MUHAMMAD B. SHURAHBlL.
ja\ jUJ I i In the name of Allah. Ordered
i>, the amlr Humayd b.
Ui* i-ksJ Qahtaba the weight
j jij LlJo* J of one-third dinar, full
tiI weight.
(J^-yi i>.) iS.î J* At the hands of Muhammad (b. Shurah-
bll).
Manufactured
J-IT Kamil.
CAM II. Ruthven 22; Launois, Cairo 187; Fahmy 140.
Vessel Stamps
412.414. EXECUTIVE FORMULA.
j*\ 40lI

414. Green translucent. 34.
the amlr Humayd
b. Qahtaba,
may Allah keep him straight
Launois, Cairo 185.
147
YAZID B. HATIM
Governor; 144-52 H./ A.D. 762-9
Ring Weights
415-416. RATL, with 'ABD AL-RAHMANB. YAZlD. Two fragments, with principal
and executive stamp.
Principal stamp:
415. Dark green, almost opaque. Principal stamp 27; executive stamp 38.
416. Dark olive green, almost opaque. Principal stamp 28; executive stamp 40.
Casanova, p. 391, Nos. 48-49; Petrie 159; EAG I, 81.
417-419. RATL, with SALAMA. The three fragments of ring weights have only one
round stamp each.
(.0)I)
(44)I) 4^,I
Ordered the (amlr)
Yazld B. (Hatim).
(may Allah) keep him straight.
Executive stamp:
At the hands of 'Abd
al-Rahman b. Yazld.
Ratl, full weight.
Ordered the amlr
Yazld b. Hatim.
At the hands of Salama.

417. Dark green, almost opaque. 30.
418. Dark green, opaque. 30.
419. Dark green, almost opaque. 30.
Petrie 160; Miles, "Corning," 32.
148
Coin Weights
420. DINAR.
j^-u i>. J4OJ
Ordered the amlr
Yazld b. Hatim
a weight of di-
nar.
Light yellow green, translucent. 29, 4.19.
Rogers 16, EAG I, 16; Launois, Cairo 203; Fahmy 144-145.
421. DINAR, with MUHAMMAD B. SHURAHBlL.
Ordered the amlr
Yazld b. Hatim
a weight of dinar
full weight.
J~.j-i i>. (S-*i ,J* (i
Center:
j-tr
Light green, transparent, 29, 4.23.
Petrie 161.
(He did not read the reverse center).
422-423. DINAR, with SALAMA.
In the name of Allah, at the hands of

Muhammad b. Shurahbll.
Manufactured.
Kamil.
Ordered the amlr
Yazld b. Hatim
a weight of dinar,
full weight.
149
SJu. tSJb ^s. At the hands of Salama.
'ixî, Manufactured
ij-y Sawlris.
Unpublished variety. Fahmy 148-151 are differently arranged.
,JIj on the last line of the obverse written: ,J r\
424. ONE-HALF DINAR, with MUHAMMAD B. SHURAHBlL.
4jjI In the name of Allah.
Ordered the amir
pjL. t> Juj Yazld b. Hatim
îâj (Jl2i-i a weight of one-half,
,J|j full weight.
J-s**yi i> Jujt (^Jb At the hands of Muhammad b. Shurahbll.
ijc*> Manufactured
J-*IT Kamil.
Petrie 164, 168.
425-426. ONE-HALF DINAR, with 'ABD AL-RAHMAN B. YAZlD.
jj. Ordered the amlr

(> JbJ Yazld b. Hatim
u J12L, a weight of one-half,
j full weight.
150
At the hands of 'Abd al-Rahman b.
Yazld.
Center in circular line:
Manufactured
Kamil.
Casanova, p. 380, No. 33 (rev. Kamil written with the alif); Petrie 163; EAG I, 79;
CAM I, 141, Miles, "Muntaza" 37; Launois, Cairo 197-200; Fahmy 146.
Kamil, in rev. center, written without the alif. The rev. marginal legend has
been reconstructed from the two specimens.
427-428. ONE -HALF DINAR, with SALAMA.
Ordered the amlr
Yazld b. Hatim
a weight of one-half,
full weight.
iJu- tSJa J* jUJ| *~J
In the name of Allah. At the hands
of Salama.
Manufactured
Sawlris.

428. Pale honey, translucent. 23, 1.91. Scaling
Unpublished.
151
429. ONE-THIRD DINAR, with MUHAMMAD B. SHURAHBlL.
Ordered the amir
Yazld b. Hatim
a weight of one-third,
full weight.
Reverse, counter-clockwise marginal legend
>0
j-.tr
Unpublished.
(In the name of Allah. At) the hands of
Muhammad (b. Shurahbll).
Manufactured
Kamil.
430-431. ONE-THIRD DINAR, with 'ABD AL-RAHMAN B. YAZlD.
Ordered the amlr
lJU. t> JbJ> Yazld b. Hatim
iliJ JUt* a weight of one-third,
,J|j full weight.
Reverse, counter clockwise marginal legend:
t> jj^jJI) i^Jo ,J* At the hands of 'Abd (al-Rahman b.
Yazld).

aiy Manufactured
JT Kamil.
BM 16-17; EAG /, 80; Miles, "Muntaza" 38-39.
Kamil written without the alif. Flan of 431 too small for rev. marginal legend
152
432-433. ONE-THIRD DINAR, with SALAMA.
Ordered the amir
Yazld b. Hatim
full weight.
X*1m. iJi> ^s. At the hands of Salama.
Center. in circular line:
:*^ Manufactured
^y_y Sawlris.
432. Pale green, transparent. 19, 1.39.
Launois, Cairo 193-196; Fahmy 148-151.
434. DIRHAM OF TWO-THIRDS?
fji (sic) \Zu
vJIj ctr^
Mithqal written without the lam.
Rogers 12; Fahmy 152 (2.81 gin.)
This weight poses a problem. Were it simply a dirham weight, without the
specification &t\5, then there would be no difficulty, because 2.76 gm. is near
enough to the average weight of the dirham glass weight, as established in
Miles, "Coin Weights," p. 82. Miles found an average weight of 2.85; in the
present study, my average figure for the dirham weight is even less, 2.80.

Ordered the amlr
Yazld b. Hatim
a weight of dirham
of two thirds, full weight.
153
This piece is, however, not an ordinary dirham, but a dirham of ^du. The
word (y^S has been interpreted by Fahmy as thirty, which means, according
to Fahmy, that this is a dirham of thirty weight units. To my knowledge,
however, there is no unit of 0.93 (0.93 x 30 = 2.79) and the nearest, heav-
iest danaq weighs only 0.788 gm. (see Sauvaire, offprint, Vol.2, pt.2, p. 172).
I think that means thulthain, two thirds (of the mithqal of 4.25 = 2.83)
which is very near our figure of 2.76 and that of Fahmy, 2.81.
Vessel Stamps
jUJI pj
Casanova, p. 371, No 145; Petrie 169-170; EAG I, 83; CAM I, 144; CAM II. Benaki
39; Launois, Cairo 190-192.
438-439. ONE-QUARTER QIST, with SALAMA.
Ordered the a-
mlr Yazld b. Ha-
tim. At the hands of Salama.
One-quarter qist, full
measure.
Unpublished.

Ordered the amir
Yazld b. Hatim,
j Ja...J
154
'ABD AL-RAHMAN B. YAZID
Prefect: 141-52 H. / A.D. 759-69
Disk Weights
440. RATL. Intact disk weight.
Round disk with thick rim and a unique round impression:
al-Rahman b. Yazld.
Ratl, full weight.
Dark green, translucent. Diam. 113; diam. impression 39; weight 433.67.
Jungfleisch, "Ratls," pp. 61-72.
This is a very important document in itself, but has become even more val-
uable for Arabic metrology since there are, in this collection, three intact
wuqiyya disk weights of the same official. Another valuable addition to this
series was published by Miles in CAM I, 135.
441. ONE-QUARTER RATL. Fragment, more than one-half preserved. Round disk
weight with unique round impression:
Dark green, but completely covered by light yellowish grey patina. Diam. 72;
diam. impression 41.
Unpublished.
*J1\ (^)
(In the name of Allah)
al-Rahman b. Yazld.
One quarter ratl,

full weight.
155
442-444. WUQIYYA.
At the hands of 'Abd al-Ra-
hman b. Yazld,
wuqiyya, full weight.
442. Dark olive green, translucent. Diam. 53; diam. impression 39; Weight 37.50.
443. Emerald green, translucent. Diam. 58; diam. impression 40; weight 37.36.
444. Emerald green, translucent. diam. 54; diam. impression 40; weight 37.98.
Unpublished.
All three weights are in perfect condition, even the surface is almost brilliant.
Note that, although the weight of the three disks is remarkably accurate, taking
into consideration the primitive tools of the period, there is, nevertheless, a
difference of 60 cgm. between 443 and 444. Multiplying these two figures by 12,
the weight of the ratl would be: 448.32 for Cat. 443 and 455.76 for Cat. 444, and
the whole difference between weights would be 7.44, a negligible sum. Ratl 440
published by Jungfleisch, which is equally perfectly well preserved, weighs only
433.67. Thus the ratl, in the same series of disk weights, issued contempora-
neously by the same official is about 5 percent lighter than it should be, when cal-
culated from its wuqiyya. Or else the wuqiyya weights are a little heavier
than they should theoretically be.
The material in this collection as well as in the literature seems to indicate that
the ratl is nearer the correct weight than the wuqiyyas, and that we must allow
a certain latitude in the weight of intact heavy weights. Even so, the accuracy of
the sometimes considerable mass of the ratl and double ratl is astounding, though
we must never expect the same high precision as was attained in coin weights.

Vessel Stamps
445. QIST.
At the hands of
'Abd al-Rahman
b. Yazld. Qist,
full measure.
Unpublished.
156
*JUI j^-o In the name of Allah.
iSJb ^s. At the hands of
Xs. 'Abd al-Rahman
vJ'-r'- i'y i> b. Yazld. One-half
ijIj Ji~i qist, full measure.
446. Dark olive, translucent. 40.
Petrie 187; CAM I, 136; Launois, Cairo 319.
At the hands of
'Abd al-Rahman
b. Yazld. One quarter
qist, full measure.
EAG II, 22; CAM I, 137-139; Launois, C.d.M. 27, Miles, "Corning" 28.
'ABD ALLAH B. RASHID
Prefect: 141-3 H. / A.D. 759-60
Vessel Stamps
452-456. MIKYALA, SIX WUQIYYA OF WHEY. Î
Ju* j*\ Ordered 'Abd

JLiIj i>. jU)I Allah b. Rashid
iLSC a mikyala of whey,
JjIjI ku. of six wuqiyya.
157
456. Green, translucent. Broken.
When I published this stamp in 1963 I read the substance as sour milk, al-
mast, c UI. Since the publication of that paper I acquired four more specimens,
some of them more legible. The reading of the substance should now be corrected,
as I am convinced that it is not HI, but îlI, whey or fermented white buffalo
cheese. Therefore, the last three words are as follows: JIjI utl\, al-mishsh,
sitta awaq: whey, six wuqiyya. In this case the plural of wuqiyya is used,
ijIjI. There are also other instances in which the plural, JjIjI, has been used,
for instance, an anonymous 'Abbasid mikyala for rosemary of seven awaq
(Cat. 837-839): JIjI ^ J-ITÎ.
It was Miles who first draw attention to the use of the plural awaq, JjIjI, on
a three-wuqiyya weight (ANSMN 5 [1952], pp. 179-80. Miles, "Corning" 31.
queried my original reading of the substance as al-mast.
SALAMA
Prefect: ca. 144-7 H. / A.D. 762-74
Coin Weights
457. FALS OF 30 KHARROBA. With Coptic figure.
Square impression, 21 x 21; in a border of dots:
juL. Salama
Olive green, translucent. 31, 5.74.

Casanova, p. 383, No. 72; Petrie 189; EAG I, 99-100; CAM I,147-149; CAM II. Benaki
40; Miles, "Muntaza" 40-41; Fahmy 186-198; Launois, Cairo 372-380; Launois, C.d.M.
32; Miles, "Corning" 34.
458-459. FALS OF 26 KHARROBA. With Coptic Figure.
SJu.
o to;
Salama
458. Green, transparent. 30, 5.00.
454. Olive green, transparent. 29, 5.01.
Petrie 190; CAM I, 150; CAM II. Benaki 41 and Ruthven 23; Fahmy 199-201; Launois
Cairo 381; Launois, C.d.M. Suppt. 19.
Salama
weight of fals,
twenty four
kharruba.
Casanova, p. 383, No 61, CAM I, 151-152; CAM II Ruthven 24; Fahmy 203-208.
Vessel Stamps
SJL.
At the hands of
Salama
463.Green, translucent. 30.
464.01ive green, translucent. 30.

Casanova, p. 374, No 185, EAG I, 101; CAM I,153.
Catalogue: 'Abbasids 159
467. PURE, SHELLED CHICKLING VETCH. ^Jl îi, jU^
juL. Salama.
jLU. Chickling vetch,
. 1<, Shelled,
^^Ju pure.
Launois, Cairo 321.
468. PURE HIMMAS, CHICK PEAS. ^
Salama.
Chick peas,
t/^j Pure.
Olive green, transparent. 40.
Petrie 191.
IBRAHIM B. 'ABD ALLAH
High official: ca. 145 H. / A.D. 762?
Vessel Stamp
469. ONE-HALF QIST. Broken, about half preserved.
(In the) name of Allah.
(Ordered Ibr)ahlm ibn
('Abd) Allah, one-half
(qis)t, full measure.
Bottle green, translucent.
Unpublished.
Ibrahlm ibn 'Abd Allah is mentioned as the head of the predicators sent to
Egypt in 145 H. by the caliph al-Mansur, at the time of the suppression of the
'Alid movement. The present stamp is proof of his having some high official

status in the fiscal department in Cairo. There is some doubt, however, that
the official on the stamp is identical with the head of the predicators. Compare
al-Kindl, p. 114 and Fahmy, p. 113.
-U)I r(})
160
MUHAMMAD B. SA'ID
Governor: 152-7 H. / A.D. 769-73
Ring Weights
470-471 RATL, with SALAMA. Fragments of two ring weights. 470 is the larger
one, almost half the original weight, with the head portion and one lateral
branch preserved. 471 is only part of the head.
Round principal impression, at left, 33:
470. Very dark green, almost black. Nearly opaque.
471. Dark emerald green, almost black. Nearly opaque.
EAG I, 166; CAM II. Benaki 47.
On 470-475 the legend ends with an omega, probably the initial of an official
or artisan of Greek extraction.
472. RATL, with 'ABD AL-WAHHAB B. TAMlM. Fragment, the two stamps almost
entirely preserved.
Round principal stamp, at right, 32:
Ordered the amlr
Muhammad b. Sa'ld
a ratl, full weight.
Round executive stamp, at right, 20:
*Ju.
At the hands of
Salama.
Jkgiu. jr.

Ordered the amir
Muhammad b. Sa'id
161
Small square executive stamp, at left, 20 x 20:
At the hands of
'Abd al-
Wahhab (b.)
Tamlm.
ji\ xs.
Dark emerald green, translucent.
Petrie 182.
Petrie read "Ubaid al-Wahhab b. Tamym;" but there can be no doubt that
the prefect is identical with our 'Abd al-Wahhab b. Tamlm. Miles already
suspected this and tentatively identified Petrie's "Ubaid al-Wahhab" with
'Abd al-Wahhab b. Tamlm {EAG I, 118). Now we can be sure that 'Abd al-
Wahhab b. Tamlm was one of Muhammad b. Sa'ld's prefects. See also EAG II,
p. 48, reference to John Walker, NC 1949, p. 117.
473^474. RATL. Executive stamp broken off. Round principal impression, 33:
Ordered the amlr
Muhammad b. Sa'ld
473. Green, translucent.
474. Green, translucent.
Too incomplete for references.
The missing executive stamp may have carried the name of either Salama or
'Abd al-Wahhab.
Disk Weight

475. ONE-QUARTER RATL. Fragment of a round disk weight with round im-
pression (36), which is almost completely preserved. The small, round executive
stamp, impressed into the thick rim, has disappeared except for an insignifi-
cant trace.
162
40)I p-(-~>) (In the na)me of Allah.
* Ji"^| Cri0 (Ordered) the amlr
t> (Muhamm)ad b. Said
W Ij Ji,j ^(jj) (one-)quarter ratl, full
weight.
Green, translucent. Diam. ca. 75.
CAM I, 165.
Coin Weights
476-477. DINAR, with SALAMA.
j->\ Ordered the amlr
tV Juai Muhammad b. Sa'ld
joi JUi-. a dinar weight.
SJu, ^Ju jUJI In the name of Allah. At the hands of
Salama.
Manufactured
yyjy- Sawlris.
476. Olive green, translucent, 18, 4.22.
CAM I, 162; Fahmy 153-154; Launois, Cairo 207 (name of Salama missing); Launois,
Maspiro 12.
478. DINAR, with SA'ID B. AL-MUSAYYIB.
j0) I In the name of Allah.

JLju- i> Muhammad b. Sa'ld
Jl2U a dinar weight.
163
i_ _ U Jlju- (^Ju ^s. *M\ In the name of Allah. At the hands of
Sa'ld b. al-Musayyib
Manufactured
iXj y~ Sawlris.
Light green, translucent. 28, 4.18
CAM II. Ruthven 27; BM 19 (Sawlris misread); Launois, C.d.M. 21; Fahmy 155.
VI j*\ Ordered the a-
Jj**: j^, mlr Muhammad
Jljti. t> b. Sa'ld
>_i-^J J lit* a weight of one-half.
Fahmy 158.
480. ONE-HALF DINAR. Executive's name missing.
VI I Ordered the a-
Juj: mlr Muhammad
C x b. Sa'ld
j J tit, a weight of one-half.
([...] iS^) ,J* ^ p1 In the name of Allah. At the (hands
of [...])
iô Manufactured

Sawlris.
CAM I, 163; Launois, Cairo 208; Fahmy 157.
164
481. ONE-THIRD DINAR.
VI j-.I Ordered the a-
Ju*: mlr Muhammad
Jljw (> b. Sa'ld
Jii^ a weight.
Light green, translucent, 18, 1.38
CAM II. Benaki 44 (here the last line is complete: JS Jl21*).
Although not specified in the legend, this is obviously a one-third dinar.
482-485. ONE-THIRD DINAR, with SA'ID B. AL-MUSAYYIB.
Ordered the a-
mlr Muhammad
b. Sa'id
a weight of one-third.
,_~-~iI i>. J*) (At the hands) of Sa'ld b. al-Musayyib.
i*i*> Manufactured
Sawlris.
482. Pale green, transparent. 19,1.40.
485. Pale peridot green, transparent. 19, 1.40.
Probably Petrie 186; probably Casanova, p. 381 No 49.
VI jj
&iS J12U

The reverse marginal legend has been reconstructed from the four specimens
Although much was off flan on the individual weights, enough was present to
ensure the attribution of each piece.
Vessel Stamps
486, QIST.
Ordered the amlr
Muhammad b. Sa'ld
Peridot green, translucent. 33.
Unpublished.
487. ONE-HALF QIST.
Ordered the amir
Muhammad b. Sa'ld
one-half qist,
full measure.
CAM I, 167-169; Miles, "Muntaza" 46; Launois, Cairo 204; Miles, "Corning" 36.
488-494. ONE QUARTER QIST.
Casanova, p. 373, No. 169; CAM I, 170-171; Launois, Cairo 205-206.

Ordered the amlr
Muhammad b. Sa'ld
one-quarter qist, full
measure.
166
'UMAR B. YAHYA
Prefect: sometime between 152 and 157 H. / A.D. 769-74
Coin Weights
495. FALS OF 33 KHARROBA. With Coptic Figure.
In thin beaded circle:
'Umar.
Casanova, p. 383; No 73; Petrie 192; CAM 1,154; Fahmy 280-290; Launois, Cairo370-371;
Miles, "Corning" 37.
Notwithstanding the 33 kharruba denomination, this is only a 28 kharruba
weight.
496. FALS OF 32 KHARROBA. The legend is in a square impression 22 x 22:
Casanova, p. 382 Nos. 54-57; BM 31, 32; EAG I, 120-120a; CAM I, 155-159; CAM II.
Benaki 42-43; Launois, Cairo 363-367; Fahmy 264-279; Miles, "Corning" 38.
Peridot green, translucent. 32, 5.81.
Casanova, p. 383, No. 58-59; Rogers 6; Petrie 215; Launois, Cairo 362; Fahmy 291-294.
'Umar
thirty two
kharruba.
497. FALS OF 30 KHARRUBA.
'Umar, weight
of fals, thirty

kharruba.
167
Vessel Stamps
At the hands
of 'Umar b.
Yahya.
499. Similar. 24.
500. Similar. 25.
501. Similar. 21. Chipped.
CAM I, 162; Launois, Maspiro 25-25bis.
Miles was the first to identify this 'Umar b. Yahya with the official 'Umar on
the preceding coin weights and to assign him to the period of Muhammad
b. Sa'ld, governor from 152 to 157 H.
ABD AL-WAHHAB B. TAMIM
Vessel Stamps
At the hands
of 'Abd al-Wa-
hhab b.
Tamlm.
502. Bottle green, translucent. 27.
EAG II, 118.

The prefect 'Abd al-Wahhab b. Tamlm, see Cat. 472.
168
QUTAYBA B. ZIYAD
Prefect: sometime before 157 H. / A.D. 773 and 157-9 H. / A.D. 773-5
Sea green, translucent. 26
EAG 1,121.
Miles read the name correctly, though he did not connect this official with
the executive on the secondary stamp of EAG I, 94, a ratl ring weight of Matar.
The latter weight is, however, of importance, because it bears Qutayba's name
together with his father's name, Ziyad. The only other glass weight with
Qutayba b. Ziyad's full name is Petrie 183, issued by Muhammad b. Sa'ld.
It is proof that Qutayba was in office during the governorship of Muhammad
b. Sa'ld., before 157 H.
Although the official is not mentioned in the chronicles, we can safely assume
that he was prefect under two consecutive governors; first under Muhammad
b. Sa'ld (probably toward the end of his appointment) and then under Matar.
For the former, see Petrie 182, and for the latter, EAG, I 94, Cat. 529-530,
533-534. If I am not mistaken, one of the half dinars of the caliph al-Mahdl in
CAM II. Ruthven, p. 43, also contains the name of (Qutayba b.) Ziyad.
Vessel Stamp
At the hands
of Qutayba.
CALIPH AL-MAHDI
158-69 H. / A.D. 775-85
-mI ^

(J [lit * ^C-IÎI
Al-Mahdl, commander
of the faithful. Weight
of one-half, full
weight.
Caramel brown, translucent. 23, 2.12.
CAM II. Ruthven 28 (with illegible reverse legend).
169
dered al-Mahdl,
commander of the faithful
full weight.
Casanova p. 380, No. 35 (registered a half dinar, although the weight is 1.43 gm); Rogers 18;
EAG I, 85.
507-508. DINAR, with MUHAMMAD B. SULAYMAN and AL-MUHAJIR. 159-
61 H. / A.D. 775-7
jj jU)I jt-H In the name of Allah. Ordered
Juji eS.Î al-Mahdl Muhammad,
Cr^*jl\ commander of the faithful,
4J jU)I J may Allah give him long enjoyment.
JUi* a dinar weight.
oIj full weight.
j+A*. Juj: tgJu ^s. At the hands of Muhammad b. Sulayman.
Manufactured
al-Muhajir.
.*.

Casanova, p. 380, Nos 36-38 (rev. illegible, but probably the same); Petrie 196 (traces of
legend on rev.); CAM I, 172; Fahmy 165 (rev. with title "al-amlr," and he writes ^%A
with an atif).
509-511. ONE-HALF DINAR, with MUHAMMAD B. SULAYMAN and AL-MU-
HAJIR.
*JUI In the name of Allah.
i^Jt^lI Al-Mahdl, commander
J lit* o^*jl\ of the faithful. Weight
j uivii of one-half, full
.J I weight.
,y^L. i> _r~*y\ tS^j ^s. At the hands of the amlr Muhammad
b. Sulayman.
4jc*> Manufactured
ÎgiI al-Muhajir.
510. Similar. 22, 2.08.
511. Similar. 22, 2.08.
Petrie 198; BM 20; CAM I, 174 (slightly different arrangement); Launois, Cairo 215;
Fahmy 166.
512-513. ONE-THIRD DINAR, with MUHAMMAD B. SULAYMAN and AL-MU-
HAJIR.
I t^JLgiI ~*\ Ordered al-Mahdl,
i>i-ijiI commander of the faithful
JliL, a weight of one-third,
,JIj full weight.

1>SL. Cx. (iS.>i J*)
(At the hands of) Muhammad b. Sulay-
man.
171
512. Peridot green, translucent. 19,
513. Similar. 19, 1.38.
BM 21-22; Petrie 200-201; EAG 7,89;
Manufactured
al-Muhajir.
1.39.
:AM 1, 175; Fahmy 167; Launois, C.d.M. 26;
514. ONE-HALF DINAR, with 'ISA B. LUQMAN. 161-2 H. / A.D. 777-8.
jUJ| In the name of Allah.
Î t^JÎI Al-Mahdl, commander
12U x?-*yA ot the faithful, weight
j J of one-half, full
,J| weight.
Ol^ 0" (_j.*~rfi. iS.^ ((J*) C^t tne) nancls of 'Isa b. Luqman.
Centre, in beaded circle:
jl>J^>I May Allah keep him
*JU I straight.
Dark olive green, translucent. 23, 2.09.
Unpublished.
515. ONE-THIRD DINAR, with IBRAHIM B. SALIH. This weight between 165
and 767 H. / A.D. 781-4.

^Ji^lI j+\ Ordered al-Mahdl,
i>^.jAI commander of the faithful
liJJ Jlit, a weight of one-third,
full weight.
(0* *.*j\) iS^ (J* At the hands of (Ibrahim b.)
172
ly> Sa-
l lih.
BM 25; EAG I, 92-93; Fahmy 175 (rev. margin illegible).
Salih in the centre of the reverse written with alif.
This coin weight must have been issued between 165 and 167 H. because these
are the limits of Ibrahim b. Salih's first governorship and al-Mahdi died in 169 H.
516. ONE-HALF DINAR, with WADIH, his MAWLA. 162 H. / A.D. 778.
*OJ| In the name of Allah.
iJigiI al-Mahdl, commander
of the faithful. Weight
j ,~i.*j J of one-half, full
kJI weight.
w,Ij ^(-j.-iVI iSJU ^Lt) (At the hands of the a)mlr Wadih,
(j~>\ ^y.)-* mawla of the commander of
JJLi the faith-
ful.
Petrie 197; Fahmy 170; Launois, C.d.M. 214.
517-519. ONE-THIRD DINAR, with WADIH, his MAWLA. 162. H. / A.D. 778.
jUJ| In the name of Allah.
I t^JÎI ^-.I Ordered al-Mahdl, com-

t>ujlI j^* mander of the faithful
îJo Jlii-i a weight of one-third,
ijIj full weight.
173
(jr*\) dy* ^b...(t5"*i J*) (At the hands of) Wadih, mawla of
(the commander)
^1I of the faith-
ful.
Unpublished.
The reverse is similar to EAG I, 90
The presence of Wadih's name pinpoints the date of issue to 162 H.
520-521. ONE-THIRD DINAR, with IBRAHIM B. SALIH and 'ASIM B. HAFS.
Between 165 and 167 H. A.D. 781-4.
Ordered al-Mahdl,
commander of the faithful
full weight.
j^^jbj*I (iSM j-*) (At the hands of) the amlr Ibrahlm
(U i>.) (b. a1ih).
*>

Launois, Cairo 218; Fahmy 176 (Ibrahlm b. alih's name off flan).
Ibrahlm b. Salih served his first governorship between 165 and 167 H. and
was not nominated for his second term as finance director before 174 H.
On the other hand, 'Asim b. Hafs was not in office after 169 H. The presence of
both officials' names on the same weight indicates, therefore, that it must have
been issued between 165 and 167 H.
'Asim
b. Hafs
174
THE CALIPH WITH ISMA'IL B. IBRAHIM
164 H. / A.D. 780
522-523. DINAR, with ISMA'IL B. IBRAHIM. 164 H. / A.D. 780.
j*\ jlUI In the name of Allah. Ordered
-Uj iJL$1I al-Mahdl Muhammad,
t^j^jiI Î commander of the faithful,
*J 40)I J may Allah give him long enjoyment,
Jî Jl2U a dinar weight,
tjIj full weight.
Jc*^| iSAi pi In the name of Allah. At the hands of
the amlr Ismail.
b. Ibra-
hlm.
522. Light bottle green, translucent. 27, 4.17.
BM 23, 24, 24 g. Rogers 17
(Rogers does not mention the rev. legend, which is legible on his illustration).
524-526. ONE-HALF DINAR, with ISMA'IL B. IBRAHIM. 167 H. / A.D. 780.
(^JifllI al-Mahdl, commander
12U of the faithful. Weight
j <Jp-/*x J of one-half, full

,JI weight.
175
J-jcH t$Ju ,J* jUJI *-j In the name of Allah. At the hands of
the amlr Isma'll
j> \ C x b. Ibra-
hlm.
524. Pale green, translucent, 21, 2.10.
526. Olive green, translucent, 22. 2.00
Fahmy 162; Launois, Cairo 212-213.
527. ONE-THIRD DINAR, with ISMA'IL B. IBRAHIM. 162 H. / A.D. 780.
tSJigiI j^\ Ordered al-Mahdl,
&~*jL\ commander of the faithful
s^JS JlL, a weight of one-third,
j full weight.
J-jcH (t^Jy ^s. 40JI p-~>) (In the name of Allah. At the hands of)
the amlr Isma'll
b. Ibra-
hlm.

EAG II, 26, CAM I, 176 (slightly different arrangement); Fahmy 173;Launois, C.d.M25.
176
MATAR, MAWLA OF AL-MAHDI
Governor: 157-9 H. / A.D. 773-5
Ring Weights
528. ONE-HALF RATL. Fragment, head portion and part of the two legs.
Round impression, 36:
j*\ -UJI j In the name of Allah. Ordered
ijj^ Jh^ Matar, mawla of the commander
\ o^^lI of the faithful, may Allah be
ijLâJ jlU I generous to him, one-half ratl,
,J|j full weight.
Dark olive brown, almost black, opaque.
Unpublished.
529-530. RATL, with QUTAYBA B. ZIYAD Fragment, with two round impressions.
Principal stamp, at left, 32:
iJ>* J3-*
Executive stamp, at right 16:
Matar, mawla of the commander
of the faithful, may Allah be
generous to him, a ratl, full weight.
At the hands of
Qutayba.
529. Completely covered by light grey patina. The original green color and
transparency visible at a few newly chipped points. About half preserved.
530. Deep emerald green, translucent.

EAG 1, 94 publishes the prefect's complete name:
177
531. RATL, with 'ABD AL-RAHMAN B. TAMlM. Fragment of ring weight, with
round principal stamp at left and square executive stamp, with rounded corners,
at right.
Principal stamp, 44:
Very dark olive brown, almost black, opaque.
Unpublished.
I have not been able to find 'Abd al-Rahman b. Tamim's name on the glass
or in the literature. The present weight makes him a prefect under Matar,
between 157 and 159 H.
532. ONE QUARTER RATL, with 'ASIM B. HAFS. More than half a round disk
weight preserved. The round principal impression is surrounded by a thick
prominent rim. Below the principal stamp, a small square executive stamp has
been impressed into the rim itself, so that the originally round disk has an oval
protrusion at this point.
of the faithful, (may Allah)
be generous to him, a ratl, full (weight).
Executive stamp, 22 x 22:
At the hands of
'Abd al-Ra-
hman b. Tamlm.
Disk Weight
In the name of Allah. (Ordered)

Matar, mawla (of the commander)
of the faithful, may (Allah)
be generous to him, one-quarter (ratl),
full weight.
12
(i>. U
Dark olive green, barely translucent. Length 78
Unpublished.
(At the hands)
of 'A(sim b.)
Haf(s).
Coin Weights
533-534. FALS OF 36 KHARROBA, with QUTAYBA B. ZIYAD
Ordered Matar, mawla
of the commander of the faithful
a fals weight of six
and thirty kharruba. At the
hands of Qutayba.
Unpublished.
Concerning the prefect Qutayba b. Ziyad, see Cat. 504, from which it appears
that this official was in active service under Muhammad b. Sa'ld, before 157 H.
Vessel Stamp
535. ONE-HALF QIST.
j*\ 4JUI p~o
jyI Jj-.
-O)I
Unpublished.

of the faithful, may Allah be
generous to him, one-half qist,
full measure.
179
YAHYA, MAWLA OF AL-MAHDI
High official empowered to issue orders: Sometime between 158 and 169 H. / A.D. 775-85
during al-Mahdl's caliphate.
Ring Weights
536-537. RATL. Intact ring weight (small chip missing) with one round impression:
jj -mI In the name of Allah. Ordered
,Jj_ the amlr Yahya, mawla
Î of the commander of the faithful,
j jUJI 4-Î maY Allah be generous to him, a
oIj Jls ratl, full weight.
536. Black, opaque. Impression, diam. 31; height: 73; length at base 77; thick-
ness at base 47; weight: 435.07.
537. Very dark green, almost opaque. Fragment, only head portion with stamp
31.
Pelrie 211.
Petrie's weight has a second small executive stamp at the left side, on which
Petrie read: "At the hands of Ubayd Allah." If this Yahya is identical with
Abu Salih Yahya, then the dates of his office are: 162-3 H. / A.D. 778-9.
Disk Weight
538. WUQIYYA. Broken, about half preserved.
y\ -o)I In the name of Allah. Ordered.
the amlr Yahy, maw0a)
of the commander of the faith(ful),
(jj] I ju) J> I may Allah (be generous to him),
(ciIj Uj) (wuqiyya, full weight).

Dark olive, translucent, Diam. 53; round impression 32.
CAM I, 178.
180
Coin Weight
Ordered Yahya
a fals weight of
twenty kharru-
ba, full weight.
Light green, translucent, 30, 3.72+.
Launois, Cairo 358 (no weight given).
A small section of the rim is missing, probably around 20 cgm. According to
Miles, "Coin Weights," the theoretical weight of a 20 kharruba fals is 3.904,
therefore our weight, if it were intact, would be very near the theoretical weight.
The name of Yahya is not followed by mawla on this specimen. There is,
nevertheless, no doubt that he is our official.
Bottle green, translucent. 30
Grohmann 4.
Grohmann attributed his specimen, in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna,
to Harthama b. Nadr. I have examined the stamp in the Vienna Museum and
there seems to be no doubt that the name has been misread. The stamp is
identical with the one just described and belongs to Yahya.
Vessel Stamps
540. QIST.
[...]
[...]
Ordered Yahya, maw(la)

(of the commander) of the faithful,
(may Allah) be generous to him,
181
jj U)l p~i
the amlr Yahya, mawla of the
commander of the faithful,
may Allah be generous to him, one-half
qist, full measure.
543. Dark olive green, translucent. Chipped. 31.
Petrie 212.
Petrie misread Bagly for Yahya and one-quarter for one-half.
Olj
luJ
the amlr Yahya, maw(la)
of the commander of the faithful,
may Allah be generous to him, one-
quarter
qist, full measure.
Unpublished. A fragment of a disk weight was published by Miles, CAM 1,178,
The identification of this amir Yahya, mawla of al-Mahdi, poses something
of a problem. Abu Salih Yahya ibn Dawud al-Khursl, who was governor of
Egypt between 162 and 163 H., might qualify, but there is no indication in the

chronicles that he was a mawla. On the other hand, our Yahya was an amlr,
and I do not know of another amlr Yahya with extensive powers, under the
caliph al-Mahdl. There was, of course, the prefect Yahya b. Sa'ld in 164 H.,
but he was only an executive official (^ju At). So the identification with
Abu Salih Yahya remains a possibility.
182
MUHAMMAD B. SULAYMAN
Governor: 159-61 H. / A.D. 775-77
Vessel Stamps
545. ONE-HALF QIST.
-mI
i>. -Us:
Peridot green, translucent, 32.
Launois, C.d.M. Suppt. 8.
40)I ^
i>. -Us: jyVI
Ja*Ji p *JUI
Unpublished.
the amir Muhammad b.
Sulayman, may Allah be
generous to him, one-half
qist, full measure.
the amlr Muhammad b.
Sulayman, may Allah be
generous to him, one-quarter qist,

full measure.
AL-MUHAJIR
Prefect: 159-61 H. / A.D. 775-7, and probably later
Vessel Stamps
(Ju At the hands of
^LgiI al-Muhajir.
Casanova, p. 374, No 192; CAM I, 179; A. Launois, C.d.M. Suppl. 16.
183
549. TWO STAMPS ATTACHED TO A PORTION OF THE RIM OF A VESSEL:
Left: A.
A. Diam. 30:
Right: B.
Mikyala
of shelled chickling vetch.
At the hands of
al-Muhajir.
B. Diam. 25:
Olive green, transparent.
Unpublished.
Both stamps are well known; they have, as far as I know, not yet been ob-
served together, attached in their original position. Stamp A is identical with
Cat. 850-852, and B with the executive stamp Cat. 548.
Al-Muhajir served in a lesser capacity under Muhammad b. Sulayman from
159 to 161 H., as indicated by coin weights of the caliph al-Mahdl, with Muham-
mad b. Sulayman as governor; on these weights al-Muhajir must have been em-
ployed in the dar al-'iyar ( jc^>). His stamps show, however, that he was autho-
rized to issue glass stamps as an executive (^Ju ^s.) probably later.
AAU-BAKR B. TAMiM
Prefect: between 159 and 161 H. / A.D. 775-7
Ring Weights
550-551. UNCERTAIN WEIGHT. Two small fragments, only the round executive
stamp preserved.
(^Jb At the hands of

Î Abu Bakr
^> b. Tamlm.
184
EAG I, 97 is a ratl ring weight of Muhammad b. Sulayman, with the executive
Abu Bakr b. Tamlm, which fixes the latter's tenure of office between 159 and
161 H. Our fragments may have been portions of weights similar to that pub-
lished by Miles.
Vessel Stamp
Olive green, translucent. 25
Unpublished
The inscriptions of the bottle stamps of al-Muhajir and Abu Bakr b. Tamlm
were produced by the same calligrapher.
At the hands of
Abu Bakr
b. Tamlm.
'ISA B. LUQMAN
Governor: 161-2 H. / A.D. 777-8
Disk Weights
553. ONE-QUARTER RATL? Fragment of round weight.
j*\ jU)I ((}) (In *ne name) of Allah. Ordered
i>, (the amlr) fIsa b.
I *>Lfi\ (j|(2J) (Luqman), may Allah keep him straight.
[...](*) [-]
[...]
Dark brown, almost black, opaque.

Unpublished.
185
The thick rim and the size of the existing portion suggest that it is a quarter ratl.
Although the name of 'Isa's father is missing, there is little doubt that this is
'Isa b. Luqman. The two other amlrs 'Isa were 'Isa b. Abl 'Ata, Umayyad
finance director, and 'Isa b. Mansur, a late 'Abbasid governor. The style of
writing and the protocol of the present weight are too late for the former, and
too early for the latter. Of the three, only 'Isa b. Luqman has **eUJ in
his protocol.
554-555. WUQIYYA, with 'IMRAN B. 'UTBA. Two fragments of disk weights,
originally round, but with a semicircular, budlike extension through the applica-
tion of a second, executive stamp. The larger fragment is about three-quarters
preserved, and the other, smaller fragment complements the missing quarter.
Measurements of the larger piece: Length 60, width 50, diam. of principal
stamp 32, diam. executive stamp 18.
Principal stamp:
554. Large fragment: peridot green, translucent.
555. Small fragment: peridot green, translucent. (Executive stamp missing).
556. ONE-QUARTER RATL, with 'IMRAN B. 'UTBA. Fragment of an oval disk
weight, probably one-quarter ratl.
Round principal stamp:
Aj)I
the amlr 'Isa b.
(Lu)qman, may Allah
keep him straight, a wuqiyya, full

weight.
Executive stamp:
At the hands of
'Imran
b. 'Utba.
[...]
[...]
[...]
[. . .], may Allah
(keep him straight. One quarter)?
ratl, full
weight.
JI
186
Small round executive stamp:
At the hands of
'Imran b.
'Utba.
Very dark green, translucent.
Unpublished.
As will be seen below, 'Imran b. 'Utba issued vessel stamps on his own also.
But whenever his name appears in connection with a higher official, it is only with
'Isa b. Luqman. Therefore, the disk weight just described, on which the name
of the issuing authority is missing, can safely be attributed to 'Isa b. Luqman.
Unpublished.
To my knowledge no weights or vessel stamps of 'Isa b. Luqman have been
published to date. The executive 'Imran b. 'Utba, who otherwise would remain
an unknown official, of uncertain date, is herewith placed in the period between
161 and 162 H., when 'Isa b. Luqman was governor.
Vessel Stamps
(Ordered) the amlr 'Isa
(b.) Luqman, may Allah keep him straight,
one-quarter qist, full
measure.
'IMRAN B. 'UTBA

Prefect: 161-2 H. / A.D. 777-8
Vessel Slumps
'Lps. i>.
At the hands of
'Imran
b. 'Utba.
187
561. Similar. 16.
562. Similar. 16.
563. Similar. 16.
Unpublished.
WADIH, MAWLA OF AL-MAHDI
Prefect: before 162 H. / A.D. 778
Governor and Finance Director: 162 H. / A.D. 778.
Disk Weight
564. ONE-SIXTH WUQIYYA. Disk weight, about half preserved.
(tr)JL. One-six(th)
wuqiyy(a).
Jj_. (Îj .... iSî J*) (At the hands of Wadih), mawla of the
commander
_^LI of the faith-
ful.
Olive green, translucent. Diam. 30
Unpublished.
The name of Wadih is missing from this weight. However, I strongly believe
that he is the mawla who issued this piece. One-sixth-wuqiyya weights are far
from common. As weights issued by Wadih on his own authority are very rare,
it seems appropriate to mention here that Rice, p. 172, published an intact

wuqiyya weight, a dark green, translucent round disk, diam. 51, weighing
36.89 gm. Rice acquired it in Cairo; after his death it was sold at Christie's in
1966 and presented to the L.A. Mayer Memorial Institute in Jerusalem.
188
'ABD AL-RAHMAN B. MAYSARA
Deputy Prefect: 162 H. / A.D 778
Prefect: 167-8 H. / A.D. 784-5; 169-71 H. / A.D. 786-7
Coin Weights
<jâj (sic) Ji^, Weight of one-half
j Uj * dinar,
,J|j full weight.
j^^JI JL* tS-iu ^s. At the hands of 'Abd al-Rahman b.
eJtL, Maysara.
Unpublished.
Mithqal written without the alif, dinar, with alif.
566. FALS OF 35 KHARRCBA, with Coptic figure.
Clockwise marginal legend (retrograde):
t>j~~* i> l>"vJI iS-^ At the hands of 'Abd al-Rahman b.
Maysara.
Center:
^Jj JUi^ Weight of fals.
Olive green, translucent. 33, 6.91

Fahmy 258.
189
For the Coptic figure 35, Ji, see Miles, "Coin Weights," p. 83. The official
seems to be 'Abd al-Rahman b. Maysara al-Hadraml, born in 110H.?, who died
in 188 H. He is first mentioned in al-Kindl, p. 118, as having been appointed
deputy prefect in 162 H. and prefect between 167-168 and again between 169-
171 H. The coin weights issued by him in the names of Musa b. al-Mus'ab and
'All b. Sulayman leave no doubt about the dates of his official activity.
ISMA'IL B. IBRAHIM
Finance Director: 164 H. / A.D. 780.
Ring Weight
567. RATL, with YAHYA B. SA'lD. Fragment with two round impressions:
*^J\ ^J>\ (i>)
Executive stamp, 18:
the amlr Isma'll
(b.) Ibrahlm, may Allah be
generous to him, a ratl,
full weight.
At the hands of
Yahya b. Sa'ld.
Dark green, almost opaque. Head portion: 60 x 48.
Unpublished.
The executive Yahya b. Sa'ld is unknown.
Disk Weight

568. WUQIYYA, with YAHYA B.SA'lD. A little more than half preserved. Round
principal stamp, ca. 32, at the bottom of which a small, round executive stamp,
ca. 20, impressed partly in the rim, partly on the principal stamp itself.
190
Principal stamp:
(i )i
(J^rI)
(j J-)-ij -o)I
Executive stamp:
(.V-) Of.
Bright green, transparent. Length 57
Unpublished.
Ordered the amlr (Isma'll)
b. Ibrahlm, (may Allah be)
generous to him, a wuqiyy(a, full)
weight.
At the hands of
Yahya b. Sa'ld).
Vessel Stamps
569. QIST.
(jj) ti)I
kj> M)I (<*)
Peridot green, translucent. 36
In the name of Allah. (Ordered)
the amlr Isma'll
b. Ibrahlm, may Allah
(be) generous to him, a qist,

(full) measure.
/I \ Cf.
jUJI *-
the amlr Isma'll
b. Ibrahlm, may Allah
be generous to him, one-quarter
qist, full measure.
EAG I, 104 (slightly different legend); Launois, Cairo 208.
IBRAHIM B. SALIH
Governor: 165-7 H. / A.D. 781-4.
Finance Director: 174 H. / A.D. 790-1.
Governor and finance Director: 176 H./ A.D. 792
Ring Weight
572. INTACT RATL KABlR, with 'ASIM B. HAFS. A perfectly-preserved ring
weight with three rectangular impressions.
Right, 20 x 18:
Center 20 x 20:
y\ jj Ordered the a-
mlr Ibra-
hlm
b. Salih.
Jly Ratl
jS kablr,
Left, 20 x 18:
full weight.
^jjo Vs. At the hands of
U 'Asim
b. Hals.
Dark emerald green, barely translucent. Height 80; length at base 85, width at
base 54, weight 493.63.
CAM II. Ruthven 33, also intact; Casanova, p. 90, No 44 is a fragment and the executive
stamp on the left side is missing; Miles "Corning" 51 has the denomination and a small
portion at the executive stamp, but seems to belong here.
This intact ratl kablr is of the greatest importance for Arabic metrology.

It becomes even more valuable since there is a second specimen, also intact, in
the Ruthven collection. The piece in our collection weighs 493.63, that in the
Ruthven collection 492.60; the difference is only 0.2 percent, which is in-
credibly small. This is the more valuable as we can, for the first time, accurately
192
assess the correct gram weight of this hitherto mysterious weight system. The
exactness is striking, when we recall the relatively large differences between the
three intact wuqiyya disk weights of the prefect 'Abd al-Rahman b. Yazld:
Cat. 442-444.
Jungfleisch recognized that the ratl kablr was not simply a heavy or a double
ratl, but that the designation represented a separate and distinct weight system.
He had, however, no intact specimens to prove that he was right.
Disk Weights
573-574. ONE-QUARTER RATL KABlR. Fragments of two oval disk weights with
thick rim and two square impressions.
Principal stamp, 32 x 32:
One-quarter (ratl)
kablr,
full weight.
Ordered the a-
mlr Ibra-
hlm.
573. Emerald green, transparent. Length of fragment 86.
574. Emerald green, translucent. Length of fragment 56.
Petrie 208.
575. WUQIYYA. About half a round disk weight.
jj *J}\ In the name of Allah. Ordered
( y\ the amlr Ibrah(lm)
(I ju)Î i>. b. Salih, may All(ah be)

(Ij Vj) 4JJ generous to him, (wuqiyya, full)
,J weight.
Emerald green, transparent. Total diam. 51, diam. round impression 31.
Unpublished.
193
Coin Weight
576. FALS OF 36 KHARROBA. About half preserved
(tr^) The stamping of (fulus)?
j^, VI The amlr (Ibrahim)
( AO)I *jeL)-**I ^Jw i>. D- Salih, may Allah (keep him straight),
(hj)jd. ijîtt j c. thirty six kharr(uba).
iK
Launois, Catro 230; Fahmy 210.
Both authors published the same specimen.
The reading of fulus at the end of the first line has been adopted from
Launois and Fahmy. This would be an exceptional instance in which the plural
of fals is employed on the glass.
'ABD ALLAH B. YAZID
Prefect: 165-7 H. / A.D. 781-4; 174 H. / A.D. 790-1; and 176 H. / A.D. 791
Disk Weight
577. WUQIYYA. Slightly oval disk with round impression. Suspension hole near one
end of the disk. The writing is spidery elongated Kufic, the calligraphy poor.
J* At the
xs. (Ju hands of 'Abd
joj <y 40)I Allah b. Yazld.
Pale green, transparent. Diam. 50; diam. stamp 29; weight 25.82.
Unpublished.
The prefect 'Abd Allah b. Yazld is unknown in the literature, but his name
occurs on a ratl ring weight of the governor Ibrahlm b. alih, who was in of-

fice three times. The present wuqiyya may belong to either of his three periods.
(See Petrie 207.)
This is an unusual weight. All the other wuqiyya disk weights I know have no
suspension hole. In addition, the weight is highly deficient and suggests, together
with the poor execution of the writing, a possible (contemporary ?) forgery.
13
194
MUSA B. AL-MUS'AB
Governor and Finance Director: 167-8 H. / A.D. 784-5
Coin Weights
578. A, B. ONE-HALF DINAR, with 'ABD AL-RAHMAN B. MAYSARA.
The amlr
I Cx. (_5-_j-i Musa b.
lii^ l-^juJ al-Mus'ab. Weight
Ij uUai J of one-half, full
ij weight.
(j**^JI tS.î ii* At the hands of 'Abd al-Rahman b.
Center:
Maysara.
A. Light green, translucent. 22, 2.09.
B. Light olive green, translucent. 21, 2.08.
Unpublished.
579. ONE-HALF DINAR, with 'ASIM B. HAFS.
The amir
i> ijy* Musa b.
J121* II al-Mus'ab, Weight
Ij ._'--rx of one-half, full
,J weight.
pv>U t^Jb J* At the hands of 'Asim

Center:
i>, b. Hafs.
Peridot green, translucent. 21, 2.08
Unpublished.
The words mithqdl and waf faultily written.
580. ONE-THIRD DINAR, with 'ASIM B. HAFS.
j^VI The amlr
I Cx ,<~j- Musa b. al-
JUt< _- - ,| Mus'ab. Weight of
|j ^Jj one-third, full
weight.
l* iSJ*) (J* ^ ^ne (hands of 'A)sim
Center:
(^)i* i>. b. Haf(s).
Unpublished.
The present coin weight would indicate that 'Asim b. Hafs served a second
term in office after an interval of ca. 25 years, which would be a long time indeed.
AL-FADL B. SALIH
Governor and Finance Director: 168-9 H. / A.D. 785-6.
Disk Weight
581. Probably ONE-QUARTER RATL. Small fragment, with one square stamp
preserved:
\ the amlr, may
ajj I ju Allah be generous to him,
jJtv, Cr (J-*"JI al-Fadl b. Salih.
Emerald green, translucent. Diam. of stamp 21 x 21.
Unpublished.
The only published weights of al-Fadl b. Salih are coin weights: BM 26;

Petrie 206; CAM II Ruthven 35.
'ALI B. SULAYMAN
Governor: 169-71 H. / A.D. 786-7
Ring Weight
582. RATL KABlR, with MU'AWIYA B. MAWLA AL-MUHSIN. Fragment of a
ring weight, only the head portion preserved.
Three rectangular impressions:
Left, 20 x 20:
aj jm\ [* Among those things which ordered
L ^Vl the amlr 'Al
iîL. Cr. b. Sulayman,
jU)I <*\ may Allah be generous to him.
Center, 18 x 20:
Jy Ratl
jS kablr,
olj full weight.
Right, 20 x 20:
** iS.^ ii* At the hands of Mu'a-
pjll ^lyt j> ju wiya b. Mawla al-Muhsin,
jS$\ Ay* freedman of the amlr
Very dark green, almost black, nearly opaque.
Unpublished.
The executive is unknown and has a rather uncommon name. I can recognize,
I believe, the same name and protocol, similar to the present executive stamp
(at right), on CAM 1,187-188. OnMiles's specimens, the last line is missing, but it

should be, I am confident, the same as on our weight: 'All b. Sulayman.
197
Disk Weight
583. ONE-QUARTER RATL KARlR. Small fragment of an oval disk. Originally
there were three square impressions, of which part of the central stamp and more
than half the principal stamp (upside down) are preserved.
First stamp missing.
Central stamp:
Jly Ratl
kablr,
,JIj full weight.
Terminal stamp:
jlj jj [* Among those things which ordered
(J-)-ftjyVI the amlr'A(ll)
(^)-^L.i>. b. Sulayman,
jlU I jujS'I may Allah be generous to him.
Very dark olive brown, nearly opaque.
Unpublished.
Coin Weight
584. DINAR, with 'ABD AL-RAHMAN B. MAYSARA.
jUJ I jvj In the name of Allah.
I *j j*\ \^ Among those things which ordered
J* -fc*^ tne amlr
jyJu Sulayman, may Allah be
i Jl2Li jlUI generous to him, a weight of
Ij Jo dinar, full
0 weight.

(j^JI J-s. iS.î ,J* At tne hands of 'Abd al-Rahman b.
Ij^ff, Maysara.
Launois, C.d.M. Suppl. 10
Launois did not read the name of Maysara.
198
Vessel Stamps
585. QIST.
Pale green, translucent. 27.
Unpublished.
The word qist is not very clear.
/'
40)l 4_
the amlr 'AH
b. Sulayman, may Allah
be generous to him, qist.
Ordered the amlr
'All b. Sulayman,
may Allah be
generous to him.
Very dark olive green, almost opaque. Square stamp 21 x 21.
Unpublished
MUSA B. 'ISA
Governor: 171-2 H. / A.D. 787-8; 175-6 H. / A.D. 791-2; 179-80 H. / A.D. 795-6
Ring Weights
587. RATL KABlR, with SALIH B. MUSLIM. Fragment. Nearly half a ring weight
preserved, the head portion with the two lateral branches. Round impression, 30,
flanked by four prong marks.

U-VIaÎL.)
(In the name of Allah.)
(Among those things which ordered the
amlr)
Musa b. 'Isa, ratl
kablr. At the hands of
Salih b. Muslim.
199
Seems black, opaque, but at the edges shimmering green. Total length 60,
thickness 46.
Unpublished
The writing is shallow and difficult to reproduce in illustrations. The first two
lines are reconstructed by analogy with other weights.
588. RATL KABlR. Fragment of a ring weight. Only the top preserved, with three
rectangular impressions.
Left, 20 x 20:
H j*
IU
"ill
Center 20 x 18:
J*
Right 20 X?:
the amlr Musa
b. 'Isa.
Ratl.
kablr,
full weight.
. . . (b.) Salih
. . . (mawla of ?) al-Amln.
Very dark green, opaque. Fragment 55 x 37.
Unpublished.
This ratl kablr is closely connected with the quarter-ratl disk weight which

follows, Cat. 589. The legends of both weights seem to complement each other.
The entry for Cat. 589 contains a discussion of the names of the officials.
Disk Weight
589. ONE-QUARTER RATL KABlR. Intact oval disk weight with three square
impressions in one row. The central impression is upside down.
Top 20 x 20:
O^VI Jj-.
mawla of al-Amln.
200
Center, 20 x 20:
One-quarter
ratl
kablr.
Bottom, 20 x 20:
the amir Musa
Emerald green, translucent. Length 89, Width 73, Weight 123.35.
Unpublished.
This weight has several outstanding features. It is the only intact quarter-ratl
kablr disk weight published. It can be assigned to the governor Musa b. 'Isa
fairly accurately (although the father's name, 'Isa is missing), because the top
and bottom impressions of both Cat. 588 and 589 were made with the same dies.
Therefore, the Musa of 589 must be identical with Musa b. 'Isa of 588, whose
name is clearly legible on the left-hand stamp of the ring weight.
Of the executive's name, only that of the father, Salih, is left on 588, and it is
entirely missing on 589. But the last line of the executive stamp must logically
also be identical on both weights; On 589 it is iJj-<. On 588, therefore,
it can be completed to (ijj-*). It seems that the executive
b. Salih was a mawla of al-Amln. Muhammad al-Amin did not mount the throne
until 193 H., and the last governorship of Musa b. 'Isa lasted from 179 to 180 H.;
... b. Salih became, therefore, a mawla of al-Amin during the latter's vice-regency
over the western half of the caliphate.
I could not find any trace of a mawla ... b. Salih of this period in the literature.
He probably served during the last term of Musa b. 'Isa, between 179 and 180 H.

Coin Weight
amlr.
Musa b. 'Isa,
may Allah be generous to him,
a dinar weight,
full weight.
(_5Ju At At the hands of
Center, in double circular line, within circle of dots:
-iy, Salih
(> b. Muslim
Unpublished.
Launois, Cairo 235 and Fahmy 218-219 are different.
SALIH B. MUSLIM
Salih b. Muslim is not mentioned in the chronicles, but his name is well known from
the glass. His dates, based on then existing evidence.were established by Miles as some-
time between 171 and 180 H. The present collection contains some new material,
and we can therefore extend the limits of his activity as prefect to a later date, some-
time between 187-189 H. We now have glass issued by the following officials, all bearing
Salih b. Muslim's name: Musa b. 'Isa (171-2, 175-6, 179-80 H.), 'Umar b. Ghaylan
(173-4 H.) and Huwayy (176-9 H.), al-Laith b. al Fadl (182 and 187 H.) and Mahfuz b.
Sulayman (187-9 H.).
The evidence tends to confirm that Salih b. Muslim held office during 18 years, but it
is not known whether he was active without interruption, or was re-appointed one or
more times.
Although almost all glass with Salih b. Muslim presents him as a prefect or executive
of lesser importance, there are exceptions. On Cat. 599 he is empowered to order the
issuing of coin weights; on Fahmy's No. 224 he is even styled amlr. In consequence
he must have held, at least temporarily, or toward the end of his career, the rank

of amlr.
Ring Weight
591. RATL. Fragment. Only a small portion of the head, with the executive stamp,
and the right hand branch preserved.
tSjb ^s. At the hands of
tc1y Salih
i> b. Muslim.
Black, opaque. Stamp 17.
Unpublished.
Lump Weight, in the Form of a Stopper
592. "WUQIYYA." This weight roughly resembles a champagne-cork, with a broad
base and a drawn-in waist. The top of the cylindrical "stopper" is completely
covered by a round stamp, surrounded by a rim of about 3 mm.
A large splinter broke off at the base. Jungfleisch, who published the piece'
ingeniously calculated the weight of the missing portion and tried to reconstruct
the original weight of the specimen.
Uj Wuqiyya,
J* Jlj full weight. At the
TtL^ (^Jb hands of Salih
A~~* i>. b. Muslim.
Emerald green, translucent. Height 28, diam. top 30; waist 27, base 33. Actual
weight 37.16; weight calculated by Jungfleisch 47.50.
Jungfleisch, B1E 1955-6, p. 302.
Jungfleisch remodeled the missing portion from plasticine and bees wax and
calculated the mass of water which it displaced. He could work out, from the dis-
placed water and the specific weight of the glass, the real weight of the missing
glass fragment; the result was 10.66. This figure added to the actual weight of

the mutilated glass weight amounts to 47.82. A margin of error conceded,
Jungfleisch thought that about 47.50 would be the real figure.
From the unusual weight and shape of this "wuqiyya" Jungfleisch deduced
that it might be a wuqiyya kablr, although it was only a simple wuqiyya, ac-
203
cording to the inscription. We have now several intact weights of the kablr
series and know the precise value in grams of the ratl and, consequently, of its
wuqiyya. The wuqiyya kablr weighs, according to our tables, precisely 41 gm,
whereas Jungfleisch's wuqiyya is 47.50. I would suggest that the latter is, in spite
of the denomination of one wuqiyya, in reality one and one-half wuqiyya, of the
system of the 'Abbasid ratl. According to this system, which had been in use
since al-Mahdl's reign, the wuqiyya is roughly 32 gm. One and one half of this
wuqiyya weighs 48 gm. which is accurately enough the weight of Jungfleisch's
piece.
593-594. WUQIYYA. Fragments of two round disk weights, each fragment with two
round executive stamps of 17. Originally there were three stamps on each
weight. Both existing impressions contain the same legend:
Disk Weights
At the hands of
Salih
b. Muslim.
593. Grass green, translucent. Total length 47.
594. Caramel brown, translucent. Total length 45.
Petrie 250.
Coin Weights
595 A, B. ONE-HALF DINAR.
Circular line, in which is counter-clockwise marginal legend:
In the name of Allah. Weight of one-half
dinar.

204
Reverse,
iSJb (Ja) (At the) hands of
Salih
(?) p~ (>. b. Sim?
A. Light green, transparent. 23, 2.09.
B. Honey yellow, transparent. 23, 2.10
Launois, Maspiro 13 (did not read the reverse); BM 53 and Casanova, p. 377, Nos. 9-11 do
not mention a reverse legend.
596. A, B. ONE-THIRD DINAR.
Circular line, in which is counter-clockwise marginal legend:
juj kiJo Jlii* 4jjI In the name of Allah. Weight of one-
third dinar
Reverse
CO r- ex.
A. Light green, transparent. 20, 1.38.
B. Dark olive yellow, translucent. 21, 1.40.
Unpublished.
The two issues are tentatively attributed to Salih b. Muslim. The name of the
prefect's father, on the reverse, is probably bungled; I think only two letters,
are visible and they may be intended to represent [tt 1L..-
These two issues resemble only one other, that of 'Abd Allah b. 'Isa, who was
in office in 193-4 H., only about ten years later.
At the hands of
Salih

b. Sim?
jUJI In the name of Allah.
,iU jlii* Weight of one-third
,JIj Jj, i dinar, full weight.
Reverse, in circle of small dots:
^jb As. At the hands of
!> ~L Salih b.
^(Jux) (Musl)im.
Unpublished.
The one-third dinar of CAM II. Benaki 51 has different legends.
Counter-clockwise marginal legend:
Jj Jl2L. A . Cr ^Lfi (^Ju ^s. At the hands of Salih b. Muslim. Weight
of fals.
Center:
j I Four-
teen
ijj^. kharruba.
Pale green, Wranslucent. Surface patina. 25, 1.91.
Unpublished.
Theoretical weight: 2.735 (see Miles, "Coin Weights," p. 85). The shortage is
due to advanced devitrification.
599. FALS OF 11 KHARROBA, with Coptic figure.
Counter-clockwise marginal legend, in circle of dots:
Jj Jut* A,t (y pLs> *j jj Ordered Salih b. Muslim a fals weight of
hjjt. jJLs. j tSJU-l eleven kharruba.
Center, in circle of dots and linear circle:
I QJU
Dark brown, almost opaque. 22, 2.11.

Unpublished.
Mithqal written without alif. The formula amara bihi indicates that Salih
b. Muslim, at least temporarily, was in higher office than that of prefect. See
also Fahmy 224, where he is styled amlr.
206
Vessel Stamps
600. ONE-HALF THUMN OF AL-[
At the hands of
Salih b. Muslim.
One-half thumn of al-[. . .]
Unpublished.
Although the name of the substance is missing, the stamp is of great interest
because of the unusual measure of capacity, al-thumn, which appears on glass
for the first time. Al-thumn is listed in Sauvaire Vol. 2 Pt. 3 (p. 154 of the
original pagination or p. 31 of the offprint). It was used for liquid or vis-
cous substances and contained, depending on the specific weight of the matter,
either 50 dirhams of wine, or forty-five dirhams of olive oil, or sixty-seven and
one-half dirhams of honey. According to Sauvaire, 50 dirhams = 154.49 gm.,
45 dirhams = 139.041 and 67.5 dirhams = 207.7 gm. However, Miles in
"Byzantine Miliaresion" calculated from a very large body of material that the
theoretical weight of the dirham was 2.97 gm. and the average weight of well-
preserved silver dirhams was 2.93 gm. On this basis, 50 dirhams of wine =
145.0 gm., 45 dirhams of olive oil = 130.50 gm. and 67.5 dirhams of honey =
195.75 gm. Thus we can easily reconstruct the dimensions of the thumn.
Casanova, p. 374, Nos. 194-195; CAM II. Ruthven 36 (slightly differently arranged).
Unpublished.

Although the father's name is omitted, it is most probably an issue of Salih b.
At the hands of
Salih b.
Muslim.
Salih.
Muslim.
603. TWO STAMPS ON A SEGMENT OF RIM. WUQIYYA OF GREASE.
Left: Right:
iJj Wuqiyya ^Jb At the hands of
^yt,} of grease tzL* Salih
Jux ,> b. Muslim.
Both light green, translucent, 15 mm.
Unpublished in this combination.
This is one of the rare instances in which the executive stamp as well as the
anonymous stamp bearing the name of the substance are preserved in their
original position at the rim of the vessel.
MUSA B. SABIQ AND SALIH B. MUSLIM
Joint prefects: sometime between 171 and 80 H. / A.D. 787-96
Disk Weighls
604. ONE-HALF RATL. Fragment of a disk weight, which was probably oval. Origi-
nally there were three impressions in a row: a round executive stamp, a square
central stamp and another square impre ssion on which the governor's name is
now missing.
Executive stamp, 20:
j^Jo ^f. At the hands of
L. C x Musa b. Sa-
jtUo j ,jj biq and Salih
[tt in< (y b. Muslim.
Remains of the central square impression:
x_j-flS One-half
Jly ratl,

jIj full weight
208
Among those things which ordered . . .
Green, translucent.
Unpublished.
605-606. WUQIYYA. Two small fragments from two different weights. The weights
were originally stamped with six impressions, all identical, one centrally and five
peripherically disposed. All the stamps bear the same executive formula:
CAM I,183, seems to confirm that there were six impressions altogether.
Not only are all the stamps identical, they also seem to be identical with the
executive stamp of Cat. 604. A sketch of the reconstructed weight might give an
idea of what the intact weight might have looked like.
For Salih b. Muslim we have fixed the terminal date of 189 H. because of his
association with Mahfuz b. Sulayman. This date does not necessarily apply to
Musa b. Sabiq. For the joint activity of the prefects see CAM I, pp. 74-75.
607. WUQIYYA KABlR. Fragment of an oval disk weight, about half preserved.
Three square impressions in one row. Only the lower left corner of the first im-
pression is preserved, but from the last visible letter of the legend it seems that
the first stamp was identical with the last stamp, which is perfectly preserved.
(Top and) bottom stamp, 16 x 16:
At the hands of
Musa b. Sa-
biq and Salih
b. Muslim.
MUSA B. SABIQ

Prefect alone: sometime between 171 and 180 H. / A.D. 787-96
Disk Weight
At the hands of
Musa
b. Sabiq.
Central stamp (16 x 17):
ijj Wuqiyya
kablr.
oIj full weight.
Emerald green, transparent. Total length of fragment 56.
Unpublished.
'UMAR B. GHAYLAN
Governor and finance director:
173-4 H. / A.D. 789-90.
OR UMAR B. MIHRAN
Governor:
176 H. / A.D. 792.
Disk Weight
608. ONE-QUARTER RATL KABlR, with SALIH B. MUSLIM. Less than half a
round disk weight. Of the crosswise-placed round stamps only the one in the cen-
ter and two, at top and bottom, are preserved, all only partially. A executive
stamp, impressed right across the rim, is complete.
Top and bottom stamps, both the same. 20:
0Î *i Î) L,
Central stamp, 20:
>j e)-o
Executive stamp:
Among those things (ordered by the amlr)
'Uma(r[. . .]),
may (Allah) keep him stra(ight).
One-quar(ter ratl)

ka(blr),
(full weight).
Dark green, translucent. Total length 80.
Unpublished.
At the hands of
Salih
b. Muslim.
14
210
The name of the governor, 'Umar, is preserved, but his father's name is
missing. It remains open, therefore, whether the weight was issued in the name
of 'Umar b. Ghaylan or in that of 'Umar b. Mihran. Both are well within the
dates of Salih b. Muslim.
HILAL B. AL-HASAN
Prefect: 173-4 H. / A.D. 789-90.
Coin Weight
In the name of
Allah. Weight of
one-third dinar,
full weight.
i> iSA> (J* At the hands of Hilal b.
^J~\ al-Hasan.
Unpublished.
On a dinar of the Cairo Museum of Islamic Art (Fahmy 229), the name is
al-Husayn. On our specimen, it is, however, clearly al-Hasan. According to
Fahmy 229, Hilal b. al-Hasan (or al-Husayn) was in office between 173 and 174 H.
under the governorship of 'Umar b. Ghaylan.
J1TjU)I
Vessel Stamp

tSJb ^s. At the hands of
i>. JÛ Hilal b.
.j~J-\ al-Hasan.
Unpublished.
211
HUWAYY B. HUWAYY
Governor: probably 176-9 H. / A.D. 792-6
Ring Weight
611. RATL. Fragment. Head portion of a ring weight, covered by light grey patina
and peeling at several points.
Round impression at top, 20:
Sup Manufactured
jLj a ratl,
,JIj full weight.
Oval stamp, 16 x 22, on left shoulder: blank
Oval stamp, 16 x 22, on right shoulder:
j~>\ Ordered the amlr
iJ. (SJ*- Huwayy b. Huwayy,
jOJI may Allah be generous to him.
Green, translucent. Mostly covered by patina.
Unpublished.
Disk Weight
612. WUQIYYA, with SALIH B. MUSLIM. Fragment. About half preserved.
Counter-clockwise marginal legend, between two circular lines:
i> I*j j*\ [* *Ji\ (} In the name of Allah. Among those
((S)j* things which ordered the amlr Huwayy

b. Huwa(yy).
212
Center.
iSJb (^) (At the) hands of
i>. Salih b.
Muslim
Light green, translucent. Slight devitrification. Diam. 60; diam. impression 37.
Unpublished.
A good account was given in Miles, "Muntaza" 51, of the few references in the
literature. The published weights of Huwayy b. Huwayy are all coin weights.
Launois, Cairo 236 bis and ter does not mention the reverse legend, although
they are the same coin weights which Fahmy later published, and all have Salih
b. Muslim's name in the reverse legend.
HASHIM B. SALIM
Prefect: 171-2 H. / A.D. 787-8; or 175-6 H. / A.D. 791-2; or 179-80 H. / A.D. 795-6
Coin Weights
Jl-i Weight of one-half
j i dinar,
oIj full weight.
jLL. i>. (-U> tSJu J* At the hands of Hashim b. Salim.
Pale blue green, transparent. 22, 2.09.
Unpublished.
The name of this otherwise unknown official was recorded in Launois, Cairo

234, on a dinar weight of the governor Musa b. 'Isa. The same specimen figures
also in Fahmy 216. There is, however, no clue, as to during which term of
governorship of Musa b. 'Isa the prefect Hashim served.
213
JUlI
(sic) J2L
(?)
Pale green, transparent. 20, 1.37
Unpublished
Weight of one-third
dinar,
full weight.
At the hands of Hashim b. Salim
615. ONE-HALF DINAR, with NASIH.
Weight of one-half.
dinar,
full weight.
Reverse, counter-clockwise marginal legend, in circle:
1L. i> --il* Hashim b. Salim
Center:
and Nasih.
Unpublished.
CAM I, 180 may belong here. It is difficult to decide, because in Kufic script
the name Watjlih, as it has been read, does not differ from wa-Naih, except
for the initial hook of the alif: ~^lj or teÛj. But the alif at the beginning

of a word is also sometimes written with an initial hook: L
Against Wadih speaks the date of his death, 170 H., whereas Hashim b.
Salim was appointed by MQsa b. 'Isa in 171 H. at the earliest.
214
616. ONE-THIRD DINAR, with NASIH.
\j
In the name of
Jl2i- jtUI Allah. A weight of
jit ^ kiJu one-third dinar,
oIj full weight.
j.L. (> p-llA Hashim b. Salim
Center:
j and Nasih.
Unpublished.
ISHAQ B. SULAYMAN
Governor: 177-8 H. / A.D. 793-4.
Ring Weights
617. RATL, with SALIH B. MUSLIM. Small fragment of a ring weight, with part of
a square impression, 28 x ?; counter-clockwise marginal legend:
^yJu. i> (j^H ... ... the amir Ishaq b. Sulayman, may
(Allah be generous to him).
Center:
JMj) Watl

ci( Ij) (full) weight.
Left shoulder round impression, 18, of which little is preserved:
Û* Salih
-0 a 5J I
Emerald green, almost transparent.
Unpublished.
The small impression is difficult to decipher and too little of the legend is
preserved.
618. PROBABLY RATL. Fragment. 1
Clockwise legend: (retrograde).
Center in retrograde:
Blue green, translucent, 42 x 28
Unpublished.
of ring weight with round stamp, 26.
amlr Ishaq b.
Sulayman.
Disk Weight
619. ONE-HALF? WUQIYYA, with SALIH (B. MUSLIM).
About two thirds to three quarters of a flat oval disk. A rectangular principal
impression occupies the upper two thirds of the disk. Counter-clockwise marginal
legend along the sides of the stamp:
i> (3_j**'( j_(.j)[. . .] [. . .] (ord)ered the amlr Ishaq b. Sulay-
( jU)I *^jJ)S\ jj^-i man, may Allah be (generous to him).
Center:
U(j) (Wu)qiyya,

oIj full weight.
At the bottom of the disk, round executive stamp, 20.
216
At the hands of Salih.
Center:
Dark green, translucent. Total fragment: 44 x 25.
Principal impression: 29 x ? Weight of the fragment: 7.65.
Casanova published on p. 385, No. 1, a half-wuqiyya weight, completely
preserved, on which the marginal legend starts with ^ and ends with
The illustration is also clear. The executive stamp, on the other hand, is faded.
620. RATL, with SALIH B. MUSLIM. Upper half of a milk-bottle-shaped ring weight
with a small transversal hole in the body and round impression at the top, 35:
AL-LAYTH B. AL-FADL
Governor: 182 H. / A.D. 798; 187 H. / A.D. 802.
Ring Weight
the amir al-Layth b.
al-Fadl, a ratl, full
weight. At the hands of
Salih b. Muslim.
Green, translucent.
Unpublished.
Weight in the Shape of a Stopper
621. ONE-QUARTER RATL, with SALIH B. MUSLIM. Cylinder-shaped solid
block with a narrow neck, resembling a champagne cork. About one-quarter

broken off. One round impression at the top.
217
Center:
Blue green, translucent. Height
base 54.
Unpublished.
(Among those things) which ordered the
amir al-Layth b. al-Fadl, (one)quarter
ratl,
full weight. At the
hands of Salih
b. Muslim.
; impression 33; diam. top 51, neck 44,
Disk Weight
622. ONE-HALF RATL KABlR. Fragment of a large disk weight. Only the last two
lines of the square or rectangular principal impression are preserved. Below it,
impressed in the thick rim, a round impression.
Rectangular stamp, width 55:
[...]
(-|->) jn Jkj
10)
Round stamp, 24:
iiI jyI
Black, opaque. Total diam. 95 x 54.
Unpublished.
The Greek official or artisan 10) is unknown.

One half ratl kablr, (full weight).
Ordered the amlr
al-Layth, mawla
of the commander of the faith-
ful.
623. WUQIYYA, with SALIH B. MUSLIM. Round disk weight, with counter-
clockwise marginal legend between two circular lines:
SJj *JU(I ^ JîJI i>.) (sic) oJ jyVI j*\ \f
Among those things which ordered the amir Layth (b. al-Fadl) (in the name
of Al)Iah, a wuqiyya,
Center:
J*ui(Ij) (full) weight. At the
(S(.*i) (han)ds of Salih
Jux (i> ) (b.) Muslim.
Light green, translucent. Diam. fragment 59; impression 37.
Unpublished.
The name of the governor is written without the article; ,^J, instead of
the usual: i~.l)I.
Coin Weights
624. DINAR, with SALIH B. MUSLIM.
j*\ jil) I In the name of Allah. Ordered
I t> i_~0)I the amlr al-Layth b.
3^| ./-i| ^>y* J^;l al-Fadl, mawla of the commander of the
faith-
Jl2Li (sic) juÎ ful, may (Allah) be generous to him.
Weight
wrs.5 of a dinar, full weight.
pLî Cx cSJu J* At the hands of Salih b. Muslim.
Center:
JJjJI Justice

Pale honey yellow, translucent. 30, 4.14.
Unpublished.
Allah omitted in the fourth line.
219
625. DINAR, with 'ABD AL-'AZlZ B. HUMAYD.
j*\ jU|I In the name of Allah. Ordered
J^kiJI i> ii~0JI al-Layth b. al-Fadl
J lit* a weight of a dinar. At the
y,..j*l\ juc hands of 'Abd al-'Aziz
Jl;** Cx b. Humayd.
***
Pale honey yellow, transparent. 30, 4.12.
Unpublished.
The prefect 'Abd al-'Azlz b. Humayd is unknown in the literature.
This weight belongs to the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna
(Inventory No. 6354, 1925). I extend my warmest appreciation to Hofrat
Dr. Egon Komorzynski, director of the Museum, for kind permission to include
this rare document.
The governor al-Layth b. al-Fadl is well known from the chronicles, however
Cat. 620-625 are the first glass weights or stamps with his name to be published
MAHFUZ B. SULAYMAN
Ring Weight
626. RATL KABlR. Fragment. Two square impressions at the top, both 22 x 22.
Left:
J.L, Ratl kablr,
,JIj full weight.
Right, counter-clockwise marginal legend:

(*JUI frJu. i>. 40)I
(In the name of Allah. Ordered) the amir Mahfuz b. Sulayman, may Allah
pre(serve him).
Sea green, translucent. Total diam. 80 x 43.
Unpublished.
220
A large blister has been detached from the stamp. The marginal legend was
easily reconstructed, but only the last line of the center is preserved. It is very
much effaced, but I believe it is: o^J^. H so, it mav be the end of: (mawla
amlr) al-mu'minin: (ûjiI Î Jj-i.
Disk Weight
627. WUQIYYA KABlR, with 'ABD ALLAH B. 'IRBAD. About half an oval
disk weight. Square principal impression, 22 x 22. Counter-clockwise marginal
legend:
M)I ^Jl. i>. (^VI *j \f*)
(Among those things which ordered the amlr) Mahfuz b. Sulayman, may Allah
preserve him.
Center:
(5Jij ^s. At the hands of
40JI xs. 'Abd Allah
o^^j* i>. b. 'Irbftd.
Two round impressions, (each 18), with identical legends; one on the left side,
the other at the bottom, and both in the rim of the weight:
SJj Wuqiyya
j^S kablr,
,JIj full weight.
Light grass green, nearly transparent.
Unpublished.
The prefect 'Abd Allah b. 'Irbad is unknown in the chronicles. His name has
been recorded on two dinar weights (EAG I, 128 and Launois, Maspero 15).
Moreover, a one-third-dinar weight was issued in his name alone (see Cat. 629)

and the vessel stamp Cat. 629A).
221
Coin Weight
628. DINAR, with SALIH B. MUSLIM. Broken, part missing.
Counter-clockwise marginal legend in dotted circle:
In the name of (Allah. Ordered the amlr) Mahfuz b. Sulayman a dinar, full
weight.
Center, in double circular line:
Unpublished.
This weight proves that Salih b. Muslim was still prefect under Mahfuz b.
Sulayman, sometime between 187 and 189 H. It was formerly thought that
the final date of Salih b. Muslim's activity was in 180 H.
At the hands of
Salih b.
Muslim.
ABD ALLAH B. IRBAD
Prefect: ca. 187-9 H. / A.D. 802-4
Coin Weight
*-L> ^J* J121-i
In the name of Allah. Weight of one-third
dinar, full weight. At the hands of
Center:
4A)I JL*
'Abd Allah

b. 'Irbad.
222
Reverse:
J^. At the hands (of)
(i>. 40J)I JLfi 'Abd A(llah b.)
(J> l). ^ 'lrb(ad).
Unpublished.
Vessel Stamp
629A. Fragment of the handle of a vessel, with the executive stamp stil attached:
(1 iS.î , (At the hands ?)
& M)I (of 'A)bd Allah b.
^(*) ('l)rbad.
Unpublished.
ABD ALLAH or UBAYD ALLAH B. MUHAMMAD
Governor: 189-90 H. / A.D. 804-5.
Disk Weight
630. ONE-HALF RATL. Fragment of an oval disk weight. An executive stamp is
preserved and traces of another, similar stamp are visible. Although in the legend
the weight is termed one-half ratl, from the size and shape of the fragment it is
evident, that it was only a wuqiyya.
i>. M)I
Green, translucent. Stamp 21.
Unpublished.
This official may be identical with the 'Abd Allah or 'Ubayd Allah mentioned
in Wiet, Maqrlzi, p. 124, who was governor from 15 Shawwal 189 H. until

10 Ramadan 190 H. and is also recorded in Zambaur, p. 27, as 'Ubayd Allah
b. Muhammad. Of course, at the date this weight was issued, he must have
held some executive post only, as indicated by ^Ju J*.
At the hands of
'Abd Allah b.
Muhammad. One-half
ratl, full weight.
223
631. ONE-HALF DIRHAM.
amlr 'Ubayd Allah
b. Muhammad, the weight of
one-half dirham,
full weight.
Brown, translucent. 20, 1.35.
Unpublished.
The amlr 'Ubayd Allah b. Muhammad al-'Abbasi, also known as Ibn-Zaynab,
was governor of Egypt between 189 and 190 H. and is well known from the chron-
icles. Al-Kindl (p. 1411) and others call him 'Abd Allah, but in Zambaur his
name is 'Ubayd Allah and so is it in Wustenfeld Vol. 2, p. 24. It may be deduced
from the above that 'Abd Allah b. Muhammad and 'Ubayd Allah b. Muhammad
are the same person and identical with the above mentioned governor.
Another problem arises from a dinar weight published in Launois, Cairo
(No. 243), and re-published as Fahmy 120, of an amlr 'Abd Allah b. Muhammad,
with the joint prefects 'Asim b. Hafs and 'Abd Allah b. 'Irbad. 'Asim b. Hafs is
the best known of the three officials; he was in office from 133 to 141 H. and also
from 165 to 169 H. If the amlr 'Abd Allah b. Muhammad and the prefect
'Abd Allah b. 'Irbad of Launois and Fahmy's weight are the same persons who
were in office between 187 and 189 H., then it is difficult to accept that 'Asim
b. Hafs was still active and held an appointment in 187 H., 54 years after he
began his career. The only possible explanation may be that Launois' and Fah-
my's 'Abd Allah b. Muhammad is an earlier amlr of the same name. On the
other hand, 'Abd Allah b. 'Irbad's dates are fixed between 187 and 189 H. by

his association with Mahfuz b. Sulayman.
Vessel Stamps
At the hands of
('Ab)d Allah b. (or 'Ubay)d Allah
Muhammad.
Light yellow green, transparent. 22.
224
AL-KHASIB B. 'ABD AL-HAMID
Finance Director: 190-1 H. / A.D. 805-6.
Ring Weight
633. RATL KABlR, with MUKARRAM B. KHALID. Fragment. Less than one half
preserved. Round impression at top, 29:
*j j-. ^ Among those things which ordered the
amlr
x*J~\ xs. l_ . rî al-Khaslb b. 'Abd al-Hamld,
^s. -OJI may Allah preserve him. At the
mJ^* (^Ju hands of Mukarram
C b. Khalid.
Second round stamp, 18, on the right shoulder:
Jij full weight.
,JIj Ratl kablr
Dull green, translucent, but mostly covered by drab patina. 69 x 48.
Unpublished.
Disk Weight
634. UNCERTAIN WEIGHT, probably ONE AND ONE-HALF WUQIYYA, with
MUKARRAM B. KHALID. Round disk weight with thick rim, about one-third
missing.
(Î *j [* Among those (things which ordered the
a)mlr
x*J-\ xs. Cx. al-Khaslb b. 'Abd al-Hamld,
J* 40)I May Allah be generous to him. At the
Ai. Cx. (J*-* hands of Mukarram b. Khalid.

Light green, translucent. Total diam. 51; stamp 28. Actual weight 29.75
Unpublished.
Although there is no denomination on the weight, it seems to be a one and one-
half wuqiyya piece. As around a third of the weight is missing, the reconstructed
piece would weigh 45 to 47 gm. As the wuqiyya of this period (starting with the
caliph al-Mahdl) weighs ca. 31 gm, our specimen should be a one and one-half
wuqiyya weight.
The finance director al-Khaslb b. 'Abd al-Hamld, though not in al-Kindl, is
noted in Wiet, p. 312, in Wiet, Maqrlzl, p. 124 and also in Weil, p. 167.
AL-HUSAYN B. JAMIL
Governor: 190-2 H. / A.D. 805-7
Coin Weight
635. DINAR, with 'ABD ALLAH B. ABl BAKR? and 'ALl B. AL-SAFRADl.
Among those things which ordered the amlr al-Husayn b. Jamll 'Abd (Allah b.
A)bl Bakr.
Circular line, in which a counter-clockwise legend:
At the hands of 'All b. al-Safradl.
Inner dotted circle, in which eight pointed star: #
Reverse, counter-clockwise legend, between two circular lines:
At the hands of 'Al l b. al-Safradl
Center: O
Unpublished.
Only the beginning and end of the name of al-Husayn b. Jamll's lieutenant is
legible, so that the reading, although probable, is subject to caution. I could
find no official responding to this or to a similar name in the literature, nor is
there any indication as to the prefect.

15
226
The governor al-Husayn b. Jamll entered office on 10 Ramadan 190 H. and
was recalled on 12Rabl'II 192H. He is in al-Kindl, pp. 142-144, Zambaurp.27,
Wiistenfeld, pp. 24-25, and Wiet, Maqrlzi, pp. 124-125. For the interpretation
of the prefect's name I am indebted to Prof. S. D. Goitein.
MALIK B. DALHAM
Governor and Finance Director:
22 Rabl' II 192-4 Safar 193 H. / Feb. 24-Nov. 27, A.D. 808
Disk Weight
636. WUQIYYA, with 'ABD ALLAH B. 'ISA.
About half of an oval disk weight.
Principal impression, 25:
(ju)Î ^ Among those things which or(dered)
(d50L)_^*V I the amlr (Malik)
b. Dal(ham),
(jlu)I oli may Allah preser(ve him).
AA AA
Executive stamp, impressed into the rim, 20:
(_Jl> J* At the hands of
jOJI JL* 'Abd Allah
i>. b. 'Isa.
Light green, barely translucent 37 x 49. Actual weight 17.90
Unpublished.
For the prefect 'Abd Allah b. 'Isa see also Cat. 643-645. According to the
documents in this collection, he was prefect under Malik b. Dalham and al-

Hasan b. al-Bahbah, i.e. between 192 and 194 H.
227
The two figures in the last line of the principal stamp look like the Arabic
numerals 58 (Q A) but at this period there is no example of figures written in
Arabic numerals on the glass. I believe them to be rather the Greek letters
delta and lambda (A A), standing for the initials of some unknown official or
artisan in the dar al-'iydr.
637-638. DINAR.
-mI .fcbI pis i>. li50U jJi\ jj \.
Among those things which ordered the amlr Malik b. Dalham, may Allah pre-
serve him.
Counter-clockwise internal legend:
(jIj J^s JUl*
Weight of dinar, full weight.
Center (eight pointed star): %
637. Pale honey yellow, translucent. 28, 4.27.
638. Pale honey yellow, translucent. 25, broken.
Casanova, p. 381, No 43; Petrie 214; Launois, Cairo 244-246; Launois, C.d.M. 28-29;
Fahmy 230-234; EAG. I. 106; Miles, "Corning" 44.
639. DINAR, with AL-HUSAYN B. JAMlL and 'ALl B. AL-SAFRADl.
*A)I aUbI pis Cr dSCJL j*\ \*
Among those things which ordered the amlr Malik b. Dalham, may Allah preser-
ve him.
oIj Jl2i-i Weight of dinar, full weight.

Center: (eight pointed star):
Reverse, counter-clockwise marginal legend in circular line:
J^* Cf. js-J-I r*\ Ordered the amlr al-Husayn b. Jamll.
228
Counter-clockwise internal legend in double circular line:
At the hands of 'All b. Safradl.
Internal circular line. Center: :-
Unpublished.
According to this document, the outgoing governor, al-Husayn b. Jamll,
collaborated for a certain time with the newly appointed governor, Malik b.
Dalham. The prefect 'AH b. Safradl is the same official as on Cat. 635; therefore,
he must have been in office between 190 and 193 H.
640. RATL. Intact, but worn and a few small chips missing. Two identical oblong,
25 x 22, impressions, overlapping. The stamps may have been square, original-
ly; the overlapping could easily cancel a narrow strip at the junction of the two
stamps.
Identical legend on both stamps:
Emerald green, translucent. Height 73; length at base 74; thickness 36; weight
385.25.
Unpublished.
To my knowledge no weight or stamp withal-Amln's name has hitherto been
published. Although a little worn and a few small chips missing, the weight is
still fairly well preserved, to be used, with some caution, in the evaluation of the
value in grams of the rati.
CALIPH AL-AMIN MUHAMMAD
193-8 H. / A.D. 808-13
Ring Weight

al-Amln.
229
AL-HASAN B. AL-BAHBAH
Governor: 193-4 H. / A.D. 808-10.
Disk Weight
641. WUQIYYA KABlR. Broken.
Part of the round principal stamp, 30:
(j~J-\ _-iVI the amlr al-Hasan
^LstJI i>. b. al-Bahbah,
-U)I oliI may Allah preserve him.
Part of the round second stamp, 16:
LSj Wuqiyya
kablr,
(oIj) (full weight).
Pale green, translucent.
Unpublished.
The name 'All, written vertically at the end of the second line of the prin-
cipal stamp, must be that of an employee of the dar al-'iyar.
Coin Weights
642. DINAR.
(For. -O)I *JI ^lotJI Cr. o-Î -fc^" ^ V
Among those things which ordered the amlr al-Hasan b. al-Bahbah, may Allah

preserve him.
230
Center:
Weight of
a dinar,
full weight.
Cobalt blue, translucent. 29, 3.31.
Casanova, p. 377, No 7 and probably p. 382, No. 50; EAG I, 108-109, 131; CAM I, 189;
CAM II. Benaki 52; Fahmy 236-238; Launois; C.d.M. Suppl. 11-12.
The greatly-reduced weight of this dinar is probably due to advanced devitri-
fication. The reading of *JI at the end of the marginal legend as an abreviation
for *UtI is by Fahmy.
643-644. DINAR, with 'ABD ALLAH B. 'ISA.
(For: jUJI .UI) *JI _L*JI (>J-I ^ rI ^
Among those things which ordered the amlr al-Hasan b. al-Bahbah, may Allah
preserve him.
Launois, C.d.M. 30
Miles published a ring weight (a ratl kablr) of al-Hasan b. al-Bahbah in CAM I,
190, on which he read the executive's name as 'Abd Allah b. 'Uthman. On this
weight, the legend was badly worn. I wonder if his official could not have been
our 'Abd Allah b. 'Isa?
Center:
Weight of
dinar,

full weight.
Reverse, in circular line:
J*
At the hands of
'Abd Allah
b. 'Isa.
231
ABD ALLAH B. 'ISA
Prefect: between 192 and 194 H. / A.D. 807-810
Coin Weight
Joi liAJ Jl2U
In the name of Allah. Weight of one-third dinar.
Center: (eight pointed star): @ in double circular line.
Reverse:
(Jb (At the) hands of
*JUI ('Ab)d Allah
^jv^s. i>. b. 'Isa
Unpublished.
For the prefect 'Abd Allah b. 'Isa, see Cat. 635.
JABIR B. AL-ASH'ATH
Governor: 195-6 H. / A.D. 811-12
646. WUQIYYA KARlR, with MUHAMMAD B. MUHAMMAD. Fragment of oval
disk weight; more than half preserved.
[Among] those things which ordered the amlr Jabir b. al-Ash'ath, may (Allah be)

generous to him.
232
Center: in an area between four large hemispheric pellets, located at the four
cardinal points:
SJ(j) (W)uqiyya
o j^S kablr,
kjI(j) (full) weight.
Round executive stamp (22):
(^Ju At the hands of
Ju^t (y Juji Muhammad b. Muhammad
jîiI) [...] [. . .] (al-Man)sur.
Light green, transparent. Total length 65; width 35.
Unpublished.
No glass weights or vessel stamps with the name of the governor Jabir b. al-
Ash'ath b. Yahya al-Ta'l have hitherto been published. He is well known in the
chronicles (see al-Kindl pp. 147-149, Zambaur p. 27, Wiet, Maqrizi, pp. 126-
127, Wustenfeld, p. 27). He started in office on 26 Jumada II, 195 H. and
lasted until Jumada II, 196 H. The prefect Muhammad b. Muhammad is not
known. As only the last three letters of the last line on the executive stamp are
legible, it cannot be determined whether Muhammad b. Muhammad was grandson
to a certain al-Mansur, or whether he was a mawla of the caliph al-Mansur.
As the caliph al-Mansur died in 158 H., i.e. 37 years earlier, the interval seems too
long for a mawla of his still to be in office.
AL-'ABBAS B. MUSA
Governor: 198-9 H. / A.D. 813-4

Vessel Stamp
[...]
[...]
Green, with beige patina. 27.
Unpublished.
(the am)lr al-'Abbas
b. Musa, may Allah (pre)-
serve him. At the hands of
233
The governor al-'Abbas b. Musa b. 'Isa b. Musa b. 'Ali took office between 27
and 29 Shawwal, 198 H. and died in Bilbays on 16 Jumada II, 199 H. During
most of the time he was represented by his son 'Abd Allah who greatly mis-
managed the government.
CALIPH AL-MAMUN, AS HEIR APPARENT
198-218 H. / A.D. 813-33
Ring Weight
648. RATL KABlH.
VI *j y*\ {* Among those things which ordered the
i> UJI J^c. ^ amlr 'Abd Allah, son of the
(-UjTI) (>^.3lI commander of the faithful, (may Allah be)
i$Ju ^ jlU I generous to him. At the hands of
i>. *JUI J^* 'Abd Allah b. . . .
Second impression, square (21 x 21), on the left shoulder:
jO)I f~j In the name of Allah.
jLj Ratl kablr,
,JIj full weight.
10) *
Dark green, opaque. Height 88; length 96; thickness at base 45; weight 790.94.
Unpublished.
The weight is intact, though there may be some little loss through scaling.
To my knowledge, no weight or stamp with the name of al-Ma'mun has heretofore
been published. Notwithstanding the denomination ratl kablr, this weight is only
a normal double ratl, issued before 198 H. when Abu Ja'far 'Abd Allah al-Ma'-
mun was still heir apparent. lb) are the initials of a Greek official, probably

Yohannes.
234
AL-MUTTALIB B. 'ABD ALLAH
Governor: 198 H. / A.D. 813-4; 199-200 H. / A.D. 814-5.
Vessel Stamps
649. EXECUTIVE STAMP, with ABU-BAKR B. JUNADA.
.1)1I 40JI JL* (i>.)
Has been ordered by
(the) amlr al-Muttalib
(b.) 'Abd Allah, may pre(serve him)
Allah. At the hands of Abu
(Ba)kr b. Juna(da).
Green, with light beige patina, opaque. 34.
Unpublished.
The governor al-Muttalib b. 'Abd Allah b. Malik al-Khuza'T is well known
from the chronicles and also from Egyptian coins. On glass, he appears here the
first time.
The deputy prefect Abu Bakr b. Junada b. 'Isa al-Mu'afirl is mentioned in
al-Kindl, pp. 158, 167, where his name is given as Aba Bakr. He is also listed
in Wiet, p. 315. According to Wiet, Abu Bakr b. Junada held office twice:
once under al-Muttalib and a second time under al-Sarl b. al-Hakam.
650. EXECUTIVE STAMP, with HARITH B. ZUR'A and SULAYMAN B. AFLAH.
Unpublished.
The prefect Harith b. Zur'a b. Mu'awiya b. Qahzam al-Khulanl is listed in
al-Kindl, p. 167, as deputy prefect for Muhammad b. Usama in 191 H. I can find

no trace of the second executive, Sulayman b. Aflah.
(al-Muttalib) b. 'Abd Allah.
(At the) hands of Harith, maw(la)
(of the commander of) the faithful (and)
(S)ulayman b. Aflah.
235
ABUX-NASR MUHAMMAD B. AL-SARI
Governor: 205-6 H. / A.D. 820-1
Ring Weight
651. ONE-HALF RATL KABlR. Intact ring weight with two overlapping square
impressions.
Principal stamp, 25 x 25, on left side:
([...]y.\ tS>JI .U* ...
[. . .] Muhammad b. al-Sarl Abu ('1-Nasr [. . .]).
Emerald green, almost opaque. Somewhat worn. Height 77; length 72; thick-
ness at base 40; weight 382. 67.
Unpublished.
On the coinage of Egypt a well-known personality, Abu'1-Nasr Muhammad
b. al-Sarl b. al-Hakam became governor on 29 Jumada II, 205 H. and died on
8 Sha'ban, 206 H. His name has not hitherto been seen on the glass. The prefect
is not identified with certainty because of the poor state of the legend. I could
read: Ma'dd b. who may be Ma'dd b. 'Azlz, mentioned in Wiet, p. 315.
Notwithstanding the denomination, this is a normal one-ratl weight.
[...] Cr J~ [...]
[...] Ma'dd b. [...]
Second impression, 20 x 25, on right side:
* iJIj
One-half
ratl kablr,

full weight.
236
ABDAWAYH B. JAB ALA
Prefect: ca. 211-3 H. / A.D. 826-8
Governor: 215-6 H. / A.D. 830-1
Disk Weight
652. UNCERTAIN WEIGHT. Only the executive stamp of this disk weight is pre-
served. This weight may have been issued by 'Abd Allah b. Tahir, the governor.
Round executive stamp, 19.
Xs.
Olive green, translucent.
Unpublished.
'Abdawayh b. Jabala had been chosen to replace the prefect Ma'dd b. 'Azlz by
'Abd Allah b. Tahir, soon after his installation on Rabl' I, 211 H. 'Abdawayh's
second term started at the beginning of Muharram 215 H. and finished at the end
of that year (al-Kindl, pp. 181-190). According to Zambaur it started on the
1st Muharram 215 H. and ended on the 1st Muharram 216 H. This time 'Abda-
wayh served as governor. See also Wiet, p. 315, Wiet, Maqrizl, pp. 132-133,
Wiistenfeld, pp. 39-40 and Weil, p. 245.
ISA B. MANSUR
Prefect: Sha'ban 215-6 H. / A.D. 830-1.
Governor: 216-7 H. / A.D. 831-2; 229-3 H. / A.D. 843-7
As Prefect (^Ju ^c), Without Title of Amir
Disk Weights
653. UNCERTAIN WEIGHT, probably ONE-QUARTER RATL. Only the small
round executive stamp preserved, 20, with a 70 x 34 mm. chunk of the rim.

[...] ~ [... or ...] J [...] [...] nine (or) seven [...]
At the hands of
Abd A-
wayh
237
j^Jb J* At the hands of
j j y: t Mansur.
Green, transparent.
Unpublished.
If the figure in the circular legend is the digit of a date, then the piece is from
the governorship of 'Isa. However, there is no title of amlr on this fragment.
654. WUQIYYA, with title of MAWLA. Intact round disk weight.
j^Jo ^s. At the hands of
jjyi;< i>. ly.s* 'Isa b. Mansur,
jiI j j-. mawla of the commander of the faith-
Oii* ful.
Green, translucent, with some devitrification.
Total diam. 47; impression 21; weight 31.50.
Unpublished.
CojTj Weight
655. UNCERTAIN COIN WEIGHT.
i> 'Isa b.
jjyi: Mansur.
'JU.UI al-Nahid.
Unpublished.
It is not possible to say whether this weight is a 20-kharruba fals or a deficient

dinar weight. The official, al-Nahid, is unknown.
238
Vessel Stamp
iS-^d J^) (At the ha)nds of the amlr
0*.... [. . .] D- Mansur
Unpublished.
The attribution to 'Isa b. Mansur is tentative.
As Prefect (^Ju J*), with title of Amlr
Ring Weights
657-60. ONE-QUARTER RATL, with title of MAWLA. Two intact ring weights and
two fragments, each with one oval impression at the top, 20 x 18:
tSJl> J* At the hands of the amlr
jj.yajL* Cx. f~* '^s& b. Mansur,
}1\ jj-. mawla of the commander of the faith-
O.j-. ful.
657. Intact, one small chip missing. Light grey patina. Height 44; length 47;
thickness at base 26, weight 93.45.
658. Intact. Green, translucent. Height41; length 49, thickness 28; weight 93.74.
659. Fragment. Emerald green, translucent.
660. Fragment. Blue green, translucent.
Unpublished.
Disk Weight
661. ONE-HALF WUQIYYA, with title of MAWLA. Intact round disk weight.
.A*^ I iSJi ,J* At the hands of the amlr
jy^* i>. 'Isa b. Mansur,
ful.

tiI ijj., mawla of the commander of the faith-
Bottle green, translucent. Total diam. 35, diam. of stamp 25; weight 16.03.
Unpublished.
Weights 657-661 were issued by 'Isa b. Mansur when he was already dubbed
amlr, yet the protocol ^jo Vs. indicates that he was still a prefect. Nevertheless
he held the honorific title of mawla before he became an amlr. On Petrie 218,
'Isa has the same protocol, but it is preceded by the protocol of a senior official
whose name is missing, but who can confidently be identified as 'Abdawayh b.
Jabala who, as governor, appointed 'Isa b. Mansur in Sha'ban 215 H. to the
command of the shurta and sent him on a police expedition against the Lakhm
inhabitants of the Hauf (al-Kindl, p. 189). As commander of an expeditionary
force, 'Isa b. Mansur was in a high enough position to be appointed an amlr, yet
he was only a prefect and as such he was entitled only to the formula ^ju As..
CAM I, 191 bears a similar protocol.
It is to be noted that all glass of 'Isa b. Mansur in this collection presents
the lesser formula of emission ^jy Vs., and not that of the supreme authority
CALIPH AL-MU'TASIM BILLAH
218-27 H. / A.D. 833-42
Ring Weights
662-663. RATL, with ABO JA'FAR ASHINAS and MALIK B. KAYDUR. Two
fragments of this remarkable issue. Each fragment has two square impressions at
the top. The legends are easily reconstructed from two fragments.
Principal stamp, 28 x 28, on the right:
jOJ I j*\ *s*^' Cr.3*^' *AlI (*~j) (In the name) of Allah, the compassionate
the merciful. Commanded Allah
-.l aJ J-uJIj U^JL honesty and justice. In this way ordered
jj^l _jjl JOJl JL* 'Abd Allah Abu Ishaq
aJUb ..,~--li jL(Vl) (the) imam al-Mu'tasim billah,
Oi-.3& _^-.' commander of the faithful,

Uj JUil JQI may Allah prolong his life.
210
(Among those things which ordered)
the amir
Ashinas, mawla of the commander of
the faith-
ful, may be gene)rous to him Allah.
The amir Malik
(b.) Kaydur, mawla of the (commander
of the faithful,
may Allah preserve him.
40)I e\2>\
662. Emerald green, nearly transparent. The principal stamp almost completely
preserved. Only a small part of the second stamp remains.
663. Blue green, nearly transparent. Principal stamp almost entirely preserved.
The second stamp is sufficiently well preserved for an accurate reconstruc-
tion.
Unpublished.
The viceroy Abu Ja'far Ashinas was in office between 219 and 230 H. and his
governor, Malik b. Kaydur al-Safadl served from 224 until 226 H. The present
weights were issued, therefore, between 224 and 226 H.
664. ONE-QUARTER RATL. Intact ring weight, slightly devitrified but well preser-
ved. There is no denomination but the weight is that of a quarter ratl or three
wuqiyya. One square impression at the top; the beginning and the end of the
legend is off flan.
Black, opaque. Height 45; length 48, thickness at the base 25; weight 93.37.
Unpublished.

The wuqiyya of this one-quarter ratl = 31.12. The only published glass with
Miisa b. Abi'l-'Abbas is a vessel stamp in EAG II, 30 and a half-wuqiyya disk
weight in CAM I, 193.
MUSA B. ABI'L-'ABBAS
Governor: 219-24 H. / A.D. 834-8
Ring Weight
Miisa b.
Abi'l-'Abbas
241
ABU JA'FAR ASHINAS
Viceroy: 219-30 H. / A.D. 834-44
Ring Weight
665. RATL, with 'ALl B. YAHYA AL-ARMANl. Originally with two square im-
pressions, the fragment has only the principal stamp, 30 x 30, preserved. A nar-
row strip is all that is left of the second stamp on the right side.
^jI *j jJ ]f* Among those things which ordered the
Jy* ^b-iI jk*>. amlr Abu Ja'far Ashinas, mawla
S\ jûjiI of the commander of the faithful, may
(J* *JUi Allah be generous to him, and the amir
jiI Cy. 'All b. Yahya, mawla of the commander
of the faithful, may Allah preserve him.
Pale green, translucent. Devitrification.
Unpublished.
666-668. ONE-HALF RATL, with 'ALl B. YAHYA AL-ARMANl. Three frag-
ments, with one square impression, 25 x 25, each:
Î *j j*\ ^* Among those things which ordered the
amlr abu
^b-iI jk*>. Ja'far Ashinas, maw-
\ o^jiI J la of tne commander of the faithful, may
be
J* |J *JU I *- generous to him Allah, and the amlr 'All
y\\ o.. b. Yahya, mawla of the commander of
the faith-
jlU I oli I cx~* iul, may Allah prolong his life.

666. a) Bluish emerald green, translucent.
667. b) Bluish emerald green, translucent.
668. c) Bluish emerald green, translucent.
Unpublished.
1C
242
'All b. Yahya held the office of governor twice: once between 226 and 229 H.
and again from 234 until 235. As Abu Ja'far Ashinas died in 230, the three
weights must have been issued during 'All b. Yahya's first governorship.
The only weights of Ashinas published to date are a nearly intact ratl and a
fragment of one-third ratl, both with the name of an unknown executive, Muham-
mad b. Bistam. (EAG I, 110; CAM II. Ruthven 38).
669-670. ONE-QUARTER RATL, with HARTHAMA B. NADR JABALl. One of
the two ring weights is intact, about one-fourth of the other is missing. There
is one square impression at the top of each weight.
Square impression, 20 x 20:
L-SI -o [* Among those things which ordered the
amlr Ashinas,
I oûjiI J>* a- mawla of the commander of the faithful,
40)I jujT may Allah be generous to him, and the
amlr
j^*\ J^* jjti t> **(j*>) (Har)thama b. Nadr Jaball, mawla of
the commander
MiI eliI o^JÎ of the faithful, may Allah preserve him
669. Light green, translucent. Some devitrification, but intact. Height 43;
length 40; thickness at bottom 29; weight 94.08.
670. Tobacco brown, translucent. About one quarter missing from the bottom
portion.
Unpublished.
This weight is an important document. All the historians relate that Hartha-
ma b. al-Nadr al-Jaball was appointed governor by Itakh al-Turkl in 233 H.

(Note that on these weights, as well as on those issued together with Itakh
al-Turkl, Harthama's name is written without the definite article: Harthama b.
Nadr Jaball, and not: Harthama b. Nadr al-Jaball. According to al-Kindl
(pp. 196-7), he started in office on 15 Rabl' I, 233 H. Oct. 29, 874) but he did not
arrive in Fustat until6Rajab 233 H., when he took over from his deputy, 'Ali b.
Mahrawayh. His office was terminated in Jumada II, 234 H. (after Jan. 29,
849). Zambaur and Wiet, Maqrlzi give slightly different dates.
According to the present weights, which as official documents must take prece-
dent over the chronicles, not only was Harthama already in office before the
death of Ashinas in 230 H., but he was, at that time, a full-fledged amlr, endowed
with the same protocol as his superior commander the viceroy. Yet his first
tenure of office is not mentioned in the literature.
243
Vessel Stamp
[...]
Ordered the amlr Ashina(s),
mawla of the commander of the faithful,
may Allah be (generous to him).
ALi B. YAHYA AL-ARMANI
Governor: 226-9 H. / A.D. 840-3; 234-5 H. / A.D. 848-9
Ring Weights
672-673. RATL. One fragment and one complete ring weight. The latter must have
been used as a hammer in modern times because the head portion, with the im-
pression, is badly damaged. Enough of the inscription is present on this weight,
however, to recognize that both specimens are identical. In fact, the two im-
pressions were made with the same die, there is therefore no doubt that both
bear the protocol of 'All b. Yahya, although the name of the governor has been
broken off on the complete weight. The legend has been reconstructed from the
two pieces.
Commanded Allah justice. The amir 'AH b. Yahya
Center:
mawla of the commander
of the faithful,

may Allah exalt him.
244
672. Blue green, translucent. Fragment. Impression 36.
673. Green, almost opaque. Complete but head badly damaged. Height 77,
length 75; thickness at base 58; weight: 385.90, impression 36.
Unpublished.
The invocation ty.\ may Allah exalt him, is unusual on the glass. To my
knowledge it only occurs on 'All b. Yahya's heavy weights just described, and on
a vessel stamp (Cat. 677). See the section on honorary titles in the introduction
(pp. 0000 above).
674. ONE-QUARTER RATL. Complete but worn and chipped. One oblong impres-
sion 25 x 15:
J* j-I) (Ordered the) amir 'All
((js* C/.) (*>. Yahya), mawla
( Î) (of the commander of the faithful).
Slighty bluish, luminous green, height 47; length 40; thickness at base 24;
weight 85.55.
Unpublished.
675. WUQIYYA. Square impression,
JJJ\ oliI
Green, translucent. Diam. 47,
Unpublished.
Weights
x 20; four prong marks in the rim.
The amlr 'All
b. Yahya, mawla

weight 31.45.
676. ONE-HALF WUQIYYA. Square impression, 20 x 20; no prong marks in the
rim.
J* The amlr 'All
Jy âft Cx. b. Yahya, mawla
jUJ I aUj I may Allah preserve him.
Green, transparent. Diam. 32; weight 15.73.
CAM I, 195.
245
Vessel Stamp
677. EXECUTIVE STAMP. Counter-clockwise marginal legend:
>. J-)-* j-0
(Commanded Allah) justice. The amlr 'A(1l b. Yahya)
Center:
Unpublished.
The legend of this stamp is identical with that of the ring weights Cat. 672-
673. About the invocation -mI ay.\, may Allah exalt him, see the note there.
mawla (of the commander)
of the faithful,
may Allah exalt him.
CALIPH AL-WATHIQ BILLAH
227-32 H. / A.D. 841-6
Ring Weights
678. RATL. No denomination, but from the size of the fragment, obviously a ratl piece.
(jfIjÎ rLÎ djj*
( o^)- JJ.I -O)l
(o)Ub jOJ| JU,|
Brown, opaque.
This specimen published by Jungfleisch, B/E 1948, pp. 1-2; CAM 1,196; Casanova, "Poids"
p. Ill (with a second stamp bearing the date).
In the name of Allah, the compassionate,

the merciful.
Commanded Allah justice and honesty,
and the same ordered 'Abd Allah
Harun, the Imam al-Wa(thiq)
billah, commander of the faith(ful),
may Allah prolong his li(fe).
246
679. RATL, with ITAKH AL-TURKl and 'ISA B. MANSOR. Small fragment
of a ring weight, probably a ratl. Originally, there were two impressions, of
which the right hand stamp is, to a great extent, broken off. There remains,
however, enough of the legend to indicate that it is identical with the stamp of
Cat. 678. It has, therefore, been reconstructed after careful comparison with
Cat. 678.
Stamp at the right hand (largely reconstructed):
pe^l (^.pi aAil ^h)
\iji\j (Jo*JL *JUl jj)
(jU))I jl*(aj jj ,i531j)
^\ji\ (rLVl ovO
(oli Mil JU.I)
(In the name of Allah, the compassionate,
the merciful).
(Commanded Allah justice) and honesty,
(and the same ordered 'Abd)AIIah
(HarQn the Imam) al-Wathiq
(billah, commander of the faith)ful,
(may Allah prolong his life).
Round stamp at the left hand, 35:
(Jb J* Mil k*\
&l
the amlr Itakh,

may Allah be generous to him! At the
hands of
the amlr 'Isa b. Mansur,
mawla of the commander of the faithful.
Dark brown, opaque.
Unpublished
This important document is, unfortunately, reduced to a small fragment,
but it still contains the names of the caliph al-Wathiq billah (227-32 H.), of
the viceroy Itakh al-Turkl (230-5 H.) and that of the governor, 'Isa b. Mansur
(for the second time: 229-33 H.). The presence of the caliph and the viceroy
dates the piece between 230 and 232. Note that the protocol of the governor,
when following those of the caliph and the viceroy, is not *j Jr,\, but only
247
ITAKH AL-TURKI
Viceroy: 230-5 H. / A.D. 844-9
Coin Weight
680. DIRHAM KAYL. Intact coin weight, with square impression, 15 x 15:
Very pale honey yellow, translucent. 29, 2.95.
Unpublished.
Although the denomination is only an (ordinary) dirham, this weight is,
without doubt, a dirham kayl. The ordinary dirham glass weight has, according
to Miles, "Coin Weights," p. 82, an average weight of 2.84-2.85 gm., but the full-
weight silver dirham of the Ummayad and very early 'Abbasid period weighs an
average of 2.95 gm., which is very near the legal or theoretical dirham. See Miles,
"Byzantine Miliaresion," pp. 214-6. Therefore, our dirham weight of 2.95 is a
dirham kayl. See the paragraph on the dirham kayl in the introduction, p. 000
above.
681-684. ONE-HALF WUQIYYA, with HARTHAMA B. NADR JABALl (Gov-
ernor 230-4 H. / A.D. 847-9).
Three beautiful small ring weights; the fourth is damaged but the stamp is also
intact. It is not possible to determine the shape of the impression, because the
borders of the stamp are off flan on all four specimens. The inscriptions are in
very neat, but exceedingly small Kufic characters. The legends are recon-
structed from the four specimens.
The amlr Ita-
kh. Dirham,
full weight.

Ring Weights
248
^LjI -j j*\ \* Among those things which ordered the
amlr Itakh,
_fr>\ (J>< mawla of the commander of the faithful,
jUJI *^jTI may Allah be generous to him, and
the amlr
(jâ. jju Cx. */y> Harthama b. Nadr Jaball, mawla of
the commander
40)I olibI (>ujiI of the faithful, may Allah preserve him.
681. Blue green translucent. Intact. Height 20; length 23; thickness at base 17
weight 15.90.
682. Blue green, translucent. Slightly devitrified. Intact. Height 21; length 24
thickness at base 21; weight 15.63.
683. Blue green, translucent. Intact. Height 21; length 24; thickness at base 17
weight 15.60 (presented by Veli al-Din Sameh Bey).
684. Blue green, translucent. Part of the base broken off. Height 24; length 28
thickness at base 25.
Unpublished.
Vessel Stamps
685. EXECUTIVE STAMP, with HARTHAMA B. NADR JABALl.
^^(^ (Among those things) which ordered
^ the amlr Ita(kh),
i>ujlI Jmawla of the commander of the faithful,
jUJI (may be gene)rous to him Allah, and
the amlr
(J>*) (Jc* j.^ (o* (Harthama b.) Nadr Jaball, (mawla of

the commander)
(jOJI U>I (jûjiI) (of the faithful, may Allah preserve him.
Unpublished.
Weights 681-684 and vessel stamp 685 are the first published glass issues of
the governor Harthama b. Nadr Jaball, under the supreme authority of the
viceroy Itakh al-Turkl. Harthama's tenure of office limits the date of these
weights and the vessel stamp to the two year period between 233 and 234 H.
It is also fortunate that we have three intact weights of the same emission, a
useful addition to the study of the weight system.
Grohmann (No. 4) published a vessel stamp, which he attributed to Harthama.
I have seen the piece in the Vienna Museum and the name seems to be not Hartha-
ma, but Yahya, mawla amlr al-mu'minln, i.e. mawla of al-Mahdl.
249
CALIPH AL-MUTAWAKKIL ALA ALLAH
232-47 H. / A.D. 847-61.
Ring Weight
686. ONE-QUARTER RATL.
(In the name of Allah ?)
Commanded Allah and his lieutenant
A(bu)
(.H)
Ja'far, the imam al-Mutawak-
kil 'ala Allah, commander of the faith-
ful, may Allah prolong
(his life).
Green, translucent. Fragment 36 x 25.
Unpublished.
The stamp is somewhat larger than the head surface and the first and last
lines are off flan.
Although there is no denomination, the size of the existing fragment is that of
the quarter ratl.
The reading of *Jjj is subject to caution. It is unusual that the caliph should
be called the lieutenant of Allah. Also the word is not well preserved and not easy
to read.
Vessel Stamp
Ordered 'A(bd Allah)
(the ima)m al-Mutawa(kkil[. . .])

(Commander) of the faith(ful).
Light blue green, translucent. 23.
Casanova, p. 732, No. 161, protocol slightly different.
250
Ring Weight
RATL KABlR, with SULAYMAN B. WAHB (?). Fragment. Originally there
were two round impressions, but only the principal stamp, at the right side, is
complete. The second stamp, at left, has largely disappeared, but there remains
a narrow strip, bordering the principal stamp.
Principal impression, at right, 38:
j**^| *JUI } 1n the name of Allah, the compassionate,
the merciful.
lijJI j JJbJL jlUI Commanded Allah justice and honesty,
4-UI Jl* *j j*\ ii5C)jbj and with these ordered 'Abd Allah
(J*) JO*^ j***- Ja'far, the imam al-Mutawakkil ('ala)
i^jujiI jj\ *jj I Allah, commander of the faithful,
(.)li jU)I (JlkI) (may Allah) prolong his li(fe).
Remains of the second impression, at left:
(*j [a Among those (things which ordered)
( the am(lr[...])
(jiI (Jj-.) ^,.J.r Sulayman, (mawla of the commander of
... tne faith-)
...j ful[...]
This specimen was published by Jungfleisch, BIE 1948, pp. 1-9.
Jungfleisch's reading of the end of the second and the beginning of the third
lines of the principal stamp does not seem to be quite correct and he did not read
the name of the official on the second stamp. EAG II, 31 is, as far as I can see it,
similar to the present weight, but the legends on Miles's specimen are blurred.

Sulayman b.Wahb.who was finance director in 247 H., is the more likely can-
didate for this weight (see Wiet, p. 316). The other official under al-Mutawakkil
whose name also contained "Sulayman" was Muhammad b. Sulayman, prefect in
236 H. (Wiet, p. 317). Our official has the honorific title of mawla, therefore the
finance director may be the better choice for this weight.
251
Ring Weight
689. RATL, with 'ALl B. MUHAMMAD. Fragment. No denomination, but the size
of the stamp indicates a ratl weight.
(jL)VI Among those things which ordered the
I (mam)
^s. JS'jdI al-Mutawakkil 'ala Allah.
lT. ,J* iS.Aj J* (At the) hands of 'All b. Muhamma(d).
Blue green, almost opaque. Round impression 35.
Unpublished.
The prefect 'Ali b. Muhammad is unknown.
HATIM B. HARTHAMA
Governor: Ramadan to Shawwal 234 H. / A.D. 849
Disk Weight
689A. ONE AND ONE-HALF WUQIYYA. Intact oval disk weight with square
principal impression, 36 x 36 slightly off center, and a round, 22, second blank im-
pression between it and the tip of the oval. The color does not show through the
oxidized patina (irisation) of the surface of the glass; a little scaled and the legend
on the square impression is only clearly legible on the cast.
Square impression: counter-clockwise marginal legend, following the edges of
the imprint along four straight lines:
JlI Î I Jy* 'icy* I i>. I *j jj L,
Among those things which ordered the amir / Hatim b. / Harthama, mawla /

of the commander of the /
252
Center, on three horizontal lines:
believers. May Allah be
generous to him! At the hands of
'Al l b. al-'Ushsh (?)
55 x 65, 47.67.
Launois, Bulletin d'Etudes Orientates (Beirut 1969, publ. 1970).
When the manuscript of this catalogue was already with the ANS, Launois
published this weight, which is in the Paris collection. She attributes the weight
to Hatim b. Harthama b. 'Ayan, rather than to Hatim b. Harthama b. Nadr
al-Jaball on the grounds that Harthama b. 'Ayan had a long and distinguished
career in the eastern provinces, where Harthama b. Nadr al-Jaball had none.
In Egypt, however, both held office more or less during a year, the former in
178 H., and the latter in 233 H. Whereas there is no glass with the name of
Harthama b. 'Ayan, we have some of Harthama b. Nadr. Also, Hatim b.
Harthama b. Nadr al-Jaball became governor immediately after his father in
234 H.
Vessel Stamp
(H)atim b. Harthama,
(may) Allah be generous to him. At the
hands of
[...]
-Oil (JL./I)
[...]

Unpublished.
Both 689 A and 690 have been listed under the governor Hatim b. Harthama
b. Nadr Jaball, who held office for just one month, immediately after his father,
of whom we have weights, (see al-Kindl p. 197, Zambaur p. 37, Wustenfeld p. 48
and Wiet p. 316).
There is, however, nothing in the legends to exclude the possibility that they
may have been issued by the other, earlier governor of the same name. Hatim b.
Harthama b. 'Ayan, who was in office between 194 and 195 H. (see al-Kindl,
p. 147, Zambaur p. 37 and Wiet p. 365 of the index). Nor is there any indication
of one or the other governor in the style of the impression and the writing.
253
ISHAQ B. YAHYA
Governor: 235-6 H. / A.D. 849-50.
Ring Weights
691. ONE-HALF RATL. Intact ring weight, with the impression covering the whole
Light green, translucent. Height 53; length 52; thickness at base 35; weight
190.68.
Unpublished.
The governor Ishaq b. Yahya b.Mu'adh al-Khuttalanl was active from 11th
Dhu 'l-Qa'da, 235 until 22th Dhu 'l-Qa'da, 236 H. See Zambaur p. 27. Al-
Kindl, pp. 198-9, and Wiistenfeld, p. 49, do not give the day of his deposition.
The piece is perfectly preserved so that it should weigh about as much as it
did on the day of its emission.
692. ONE-QUARTER RATL. The impression occupies the whole top of the weight.
It is an intact ring weight. Inscribed surface, 21 x 17.
Blue green, translucent. Height 43; length 45; thickness at bottom 29; weight
top.
[...]
the amlr Ishaq,
may Allah be generous to him.
(Ordered) the am(ir)
(I)shaq b. (Yahya)
b. Mu'adh,
92.32.

Unpublished.
254
Disk Weights
693-694. ONE-HALF WUQ1YYA.
The amlr
Ishaq b. Yahya,
693. Light green, translucent. Intact. Diam. 37; weight 15.51.
694. Green, translucent. Fragment.
Unpublished.
Vessel Stamps
JU)l olil
(The amlr)
Ishaq b. Yahya
b. Mu'adh,
Launois, Cairo 249.
In Launois' stamp the first line is also present and allows for reconstruction of
the reading on our specimen, although there was not much doubt about the first

line in any case.
255
KHUT ABD AL-WAHID B. YAHYA
Governor: 236-8 H. / A.D. 850-2
Vessel Stamp
(Ordered) the amlr
'Abd al-Wahid
(b.) Yahya, mawla of (the commander)
of the faithful.
U-0 J>, (Cx.)
Unpublished.
Khut 'Abd al-Wahid b. Yahya b.Mansur started in office on 21 Dhu'l-Qa'da
236 and was recalled at the end of Safar 238 H. (Wiistenfeld, p. 50, al-Kindl,
pp. 199-200 and Zambaur, p. 27).
Al-Kindl, pp. 199-200 mentions that Zakariyya, for the year 237 H. / A.D. 851 as
"Katib al-'Umri", was implicated in the law suit of the Banl 'Abd al-Hakam.
According to the coin weight to be described, Zakariyya and his brother 'Isa seem
to have held government posts together. Though al-Kindl writes the name with a
final alif, I think there is not much doubt about the identity of the persons on the
weight: the attribution remains, however, conjectural.
Petrie 249 (misread and the weight of Petrie's specimen is heavier, 10.57 gm.); CAM
II. RuOwen 42 lacks a small fraction of the rim, but even so weighs 7.10 gm.
Our specimen and the weight described by Miles tally exactly with the
weight of the complete fals of 36 kharruba. Petrie's No. 249, on the other
698.

ZAKARIYYA AND ISA, SONS OF YAHYA
Zikri (or Zakariyya) and 'Isa
the two sons of Yahya.
256
hand, is equal to 54 kharruba which is exactly one and one-half complete
fulus (36 + 18). If we are right, Petrie's weight would be the first instance
of a one-and-one-half complete fals of 36 kharruba per fals.
HAMZA B. AL-MUGHIRA
Scribe of the government office: 237 h. / A.D. 851.
Coin Weights
699. FALS OF 17 KHARROBA. Very slightly chipped.
jUJ For God,
iy**. Hamza
S^îiI 0. b. al-Mughlra
"*
This specimen was published in CAM II, p. 27. note.
The weight was presented to me by the owner, the late Kamel Osman Ghaleb
Pasha of Cairo, in whose collection Miles had seen it. Miles also published a
similar coin weight (CAM II. Benaki 78) with jlU in the exergue, weighing 2.81,
and another, similar, in the Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis, weighing 5.79.
According to the weight table worked out by Miles in his "Coin Weights" our
piece is a 17-kharruba weight, the CAM II. Benaki 78 piece a 16 kharruba weight
and the one in the Walker Museum a 30-kharruba fals weight. The fact that none
of these coin weights has a denomination, does not exclude that they are fals
weights of different values.
j. iy^. Hamza b.

al-Mughlra,
ajj for God.
Yellowish green, translucent. 20, 2.16.
CAM II. Benaki 78 has the same inscriptions, but weighs 2.81, and is, therefore, a 16
kharruba weight.
Miles expressed some doubt whether the official Hamza b.Mughlra who issued
weights 699-700 is the same person described in al-Kindi, pp. 199-200, 463-4.
Al-Kindl relates that Hamza al-Mughlra was Katib al-'Umri, i.e. scribe of the
257
government office, until he was implicated in the law suit of the Ban! 'Abd al-
Hakam together with the brothers Zakariyya and 'Isa, the sons of Yahya.
We now have coin weights of Zakariyya and 'Isa, sons of Yahya, as well as
of Hamza b. al-Mughlra. Not only are they the protagonists of a common his-
torical event, but the style of writing is also of the same period. And, last but
not least, the lack of any denomination is also common to all. With certain re-
serves of prudence, I am inclined to consider them to be identical with the
persons listed in al-Kindi.
ANBASA B. ISHAQ
Governor: 238-42 H. / A.D. 852-6.
Ring Weight
701. RATL with EXECUTIVE HASHIM B. ... Fragment. Two square impressions,
each 25 x 25, placed one beside the other. Both have identical legends, engraved
in handsome Kufic, with vertically elongated alifs and lams, similar to the in-
scriptions on the tiraz of the period.
ju jj ^ jUJI In the name of Allah. Among those
things which ordered
t> k~s. the amlr 'Anbasa b. Ishaq.
ij ^-iU> (^Ju ^s. At the hands of Hashim b.
(i#u>iI J>(-) [...] [. . -], (mawla of the commander of the
faithful).
Very dark green, almost black, opaque.
Unpublished.
Disk Weight
702. ONE-HALF WUQIYYA, with AL-HUSAYN B. AL-ZAFAR AL-MUTAQANNIT.

*j j*\ L, *M\ In the name of Allah. Among those
things which ordered
^\ i>. i~~s. j^VI the amlr 'Anbasa b. Ishaq.
s. ~J-\ (Jj J* At the hands of al-Husayn
cuidI jikDI J" b. al-Zafar al-Mutaqannit.
Unpublished.
i7
258
Vessel Stamp
703. EXECUTIVE STAMP, with AL-HUSAYN B. AL-ZAFAR AL-MUTAQANNIT.
(ju L, jU)I pj In the name of Allah. Among those
things which (ordered)
(j^.J i> i~~js. the amlr 'Anbasa b. Is(haq).
((j)-J-I iS.>i J* At the hands of al-Husayn
(c~u 1I ^ i> ) (b. Zafar al-Mutaqannit).
Launois, Cairo 250 (misread).
'Anbasa b. Ishaq b. Shamir al-Dabbl became governor on 1 Rabl' II, 238 H.
but arrived in Fustat only on the 5th. According to al-Kindi p. 202, Wiet,
Maqrlzi, pp. 138-140 and Wustenfeld, p. 55, he was recalled on 1 Rajab, 242 H.
Zambaur puts the date of his deposition on 5 Rajab. The prefect al-Husayn
b. al-Zafar al-Mutaqannit seems to be unrecorded. Al-Mutaqannit = the true
worshipper of God.
YAZtD B. ABD ALLAH AL-TURKI
Governor: 242-53 H. / A.D. 856-67
Ring Weight
704. ONE-HALF RATL, with prefect AL-HASAN B. ABU L-MAHASIN. Light grey
patina. Scaling at top, otherwise well preserved. One oblong impression, 27 x 24:
(jj ^ *5y jUJI (In the name of Allah, blessing. Among
those things which ordered)
-O)I (Jl^ i> Mj_ *j) (the amir Yazld b. 'Abd)Allah,
(>LjiI Jy mawla of the commander of the faithful,
l^li jU) I JU>I may Allah prolong their lives l

,y~J-\ (Ju ,1* At the hands of al-Hasan
Ûi| Î i>. D- Abi* 1-Mahasin.
Height 51; length 55; thickness at base 37; weight 179.98. Loss of weight
through chipping and sealing ca. 10 gm.
Unpublished.
259
Inscriptions difficult to read owing to scaling. It was not possible to take a
direct photograph and I did not dare prepare a plasticine impression for casting.
A fragment of a similar ring weight is in the T. Horovitz collection in Geneva.
705. EXECUTIVE STAMP, with PREFECT AL-HASAN B. ABI'L-MAHASIN.
Unpublished.
A similar vessel stamp is in the T. Horovitz collection in Geneva.
The first two lines of Cat. 704-705 have been reconstructed from the weights
706-715, which have identical legends, except for the last two lines bearing the
protocol of the prefect.
706. DOUBLE RATL. Complete, but badly chipped and two larger fragments broken
off. The loss may be, at a rough estimate, around 100 gm. or even a little more.
Two square impressions at the top, both with identical legends and dimensions,
26 x 26. The inscriptions are placed in four horizontal lines, but a blank oblong
space has been left at the bottom of the impression which indica tes that there may
have been two more lines on the die, subsequently erased. We shall turn our
attention to this problem after the description of Cat. 706-715.
Vessel Stamp
(In the name of Alla(h), blessing. Among
those things which (ordered)
(the a)mlr Yazld b. 'Abd (Allah),
(maw)la of the commander of the faithful,
may Allah prolong their lives.
At the hands of al-Hasan
b. Abi'l-Mahasin.

(40JI)Jl^C i>. Jo}__fr*(y\ 4j)
Âli 40)I J 11,(I)
CrJ-\ ^ J*
Ring Weights
f \ [* ^ 40)I p~i
In the name of Allah, blessing. Among
those things which ordered
the amlr Yazld b. 'Abd Allah,
may Allah prolong their lives I
l^li 4jjI JUI
Black, opaque. Height 75; length 85; thickness at base 55; weight 643.48.
Unpublished.
Casanova, p. 392, No 56 (with denomination ratlayn,) but in conjunction
with another official.
Although there is no denomination, this is without doubt a double ratl.
707-713. RATL. The ratl weights are similar to the double ratl only smaller. The
twin impressions are identical with those of the double ratl, with the same legends,
and the empty oblong below the inscription. The impressions, 26 x 26 or
28 x 28, sometimes overlap a little.
707. Black, opaque. Intact, a little worn. Height 63; length 75; thickness at
base 46; weight 375.00.
708. Emerald green, translucent. Fragment.
709. Blue green, translucent. Fragment.
710. Dark olive opaque. Fragment.
711. Dark brown, opaque. Fragment.
712. Blue green, translucent. Fragment.
713. Emerald green, translucent. Small fragment.
Petrie 238-239; CAM I, 197.
714-715. ONE-HALF RATL. Similar to the ratl but smaller, and only one square im-
pression, 26 x 26:
Legends as on 706-713.
714. Light grey patina, opaque. Intact. Height 50; length 50; thickness at base
33; weight 183.43.
715. Emerald green, translucent. Well preserved, except for a large chip which
may weigh around 20 gm. Height 47; length 51; thickness at base 39;
weight 161.43.
Unpublished.
There can be no doubt that 704-705 and CAM II Ruthven 39 constitute the

first emission of a series of dies for the heavy weights and also for vessel stamps,
on which not only the protocol of Yazld b. *Abd Allah, but also that of his prefect,
al-Hasan b. Abi'l-Mahasin, was inscribed. On the second emission, on which
Yazld b. "Abd Allah is represented alone, the prefect's protocol has willfully been
erased; the last two lines of the legend have been chiseled out on the die. There
can be no doubt that it is the former prefect's name which has been got rid of,
because the die which served for the first emission, was, after retooling, employed
in continuation also for the second emission.
Such a procedure is quite unusual on the glass and may have been adopted as
an exceptionally severe punitive measure. Misuse of power, appropriation of
261
public funds and other misdemeanors were common enough among those officials
who had access to the treasury or the taxation monies. There are many cases in
which the culprits were summarily dismissed or even heavily punished, but this is
the first time that on a die which was to continue in service, the protocol has
been purged of the memory of the culprit, probably ousted ignominiously.
Jungfleisch was the first to notice that Yazld b. 'Abd Allah's dies were retooled
after a first emission, but he suspected that the missing last two lines contained
some Quranic admonition condemning heretics (see BIE 1948, p. 3, footnote and a
personal communication mentioned by Miles in CAM I, p. 84), rejected by
Yazld b. 'Abd Allah.
We now know that the two missing lines did not contain some politico-reli-
gious text, but the protocol of the prefect al-Hasan b. Abi'l-Mahasin, who for-
feited his post in a quite unusually disgraceful way.
The erased legend on Cat. 706-715 reads:
On all cat. 704-715 the pious invocation is in the dual, for Yazld b. 'Abd Allah
and the commander of the faithful: may Allah prolong their lives, l^li ajj I JlbI.
716. ONE-QUARTER RATL. Intact. except for a small chip. Round impression. 23:
Blue green, translucent. Height40; length 42; thickness at base 27; weight 90.66.
Unpublished.
amlr Yazld
b. 'Abd Allah, mawla of the commander
of the faithful.
Disk Weights

717-719. ONE-HALF WUQIYYA.
In the name of Allah. Among those
things
which ordered the amlr Yazld b.
'Abd Allah, mawla of the commander
of the faithful.
262
717. Emerald green, translucent. 38, 16.08.
718. Emerald green, translucent. 38, 15.95.
719. Light green, translucent. Devitrification. 37, 15.54.
Grohmann, Chrestomathie, p. 145 (16.12 gm).
Vessel Stamps
720-723. EXECUTIVE STAMP. The legends are the same as on Cat. 704-715. The
pious invocations are also in the plural. They are most probably the same dies.
722. Light green, translucent. Devitrification. 20.
Unpublished.
MUZAHIM B. KHAQAN
Governor: 253-4 H. / A.D. 867-8
Ring Weights
724-725. DOUBLE RATL. DATED 253 H.
4-UI iSj aM\ In the name of Allah, blessing from God.
> [* Among those things which ordered the
amlr Muzahim
(Jy* i>. b. Khaqan, mawla of the commander of
the faith-
Ii 40J| JlLI c&~* ^, may Allah prolong his life l
Qru^ j tiJo ii- Year fifty three
t>ijL j and two hundred.
724. Black, opaque. Complete but chipped. Height 73; length 84; thickness at

base 57; weight 753.53.
725. Emerald green, translucent. Fragment.
Unpublished.
726. ONE-QUARTER RATL. Intact except for two small chips.
Single round impression, 20:
VI \f* Among those things which ordered the
pa>\y* _t-* amlr Muzahim
oU) jU)I JliI may Allah prolong his life,
jUU. i> b. Khaqan.
Black, opaque. Height 40; length 44; thickness at base 27; weight 87.76.
Unpublished.
Disk Weights
727-729. ONE-HALF WUQIYYA.
VI *j Î ^ Among those things which ordered the
pjjj^ amlr Muzahim
Uu -mI JU,I may Allah prolong his life,
jUU. b. Khaqan.
727. Green, transparent. 38, 15.77.
729. Light blue, translucent. 37, 15.58.
Unpublished.
Petrie 203, but misread and not attributed to Muzahim b. Khaqan. CAM I,
245, is worn and the legend much effaced; unidentified.
Cat. 726 and 727-729 come from the same die. The last line of the legend is in
small script.
Muzahim b. Khaqan became governor of Egypt on 3rd Rabl' I, 253 H. (ac-
cording to Zambaur. Wiistenfeld, p. 54 gives the date as the 13th) and died

on 5th Muharram, 254 H., after continuous fighting with rebels.
3. TULUNIDS
AHMAD B. TULUN
Deputy Governor: 254-8 H. / A.D. 868-71 Governor: 258-66 H. / A.D. 872-9
Ruler: 266-70 H. / A.D. 879-83
Ring Weights
730-732. DOUBLE RATL. Dated 259 H. Three fragments.
Twin square impressions, 26 x 26:
*JUI ?&j> jlU I In the name of Allah, blessing from God.
_jJs i>. Ordered the amlr Ahmad b. Tu-
_jJLI Jjjj lun, mawla of the commander of the
faith-
(_5 CXr* ^n tne year
j fifty nine
,^CjL j and two hundred.
730. Black, opaque. Length 55; height 72; thickness at base 52.
731. Black, opaque. Only the top portion preserved. 73 x 56.
732. Light green, translucent. Only one stamp preserved.
Unpublished.
733. RATL. Dated 259 H. Complete, but devitrified and some of the original weight
lost, perhaps 10-15 gm. Twin square impressions, 25 x 25. The inscriptions are
identical to those on Cat. 730-732.
Black, opaque, extensively covered by light grey patina. Height 55; length 73;
This specimen was published by Jungfleisch, BIE 1948, pp. 6-8, reading SS^/JI in the first
line, but Miles (CAM /, 200) also published a similar weight and found no definite article
before 'ij>. Careful examination of the present piece confirms Miles's reading.

264
Catalogue: TOlunids
265
734. WUQIYYA. Dated 234 H. More than half a wuqiyya ring weight preserved.
Among those things
which ordered the amlr
djljb Cr Ju*J Ahmad b. Tulun,
O^jlI _r-*\ iJj-i mawla of the commander of the faithful.
Year fifty four
(joLj and two hundred.
Dark brown, almost black, opaque. Height 47; thickness at base 29.
Unpublished.
735. WUQIYYA. Undated. Fragment. The round impression, 21, well preserved.
VI j*\ ^ Among those things which ordered the
i> ^ amir Ahmad b. Tu-
OjJ lun. mawla of the commander
t^jujiI of the faithful.
Grass green, translucent.
Unpublished.
Disk Weights
736. WUQIYYA. Dated 259 H. Intact. Twelve prong marks in rim.
1^ Among those things.
j>jy\ *j j*\ which ordered the amlr
jjJjk Cr Ahmad b. Tulun,
i^juîI (J^.i mawla of the commander of the faithful.
!y ,.^ jLu. Year fifty nine
(jo'Lj and two hundred.

Bottle green, translucent. Diam. 46; diam. impression 29; weight 33.22.
Unpublished.
266
737. WUQIYYA. Undated. Intact, Four thumb-nail like proof marks in rim
Blue green, transparent. Diam. 47; diam. impression 22; weight 32.13.
Unpublished.
Two half-wuqiyya pieces published by Miles; CAM I, 198-199.
amlr Ahmad b. Tu-
lun, mawla of the commander
of the faithful.
Vessel Stamps
738. EXECUTIVE STAMP. Dated 254 H.
Unpublished.
In the name of Allah, blessing from God.
Ordered the amlr Ahmad b. Tu-
lun, mawla of the commander of the
faith-
ful, may Allah be generous to him.
Year fifty four
and two hundred.
739. EXECUTIVE STAMP. Dated 259 H.
Unpublished.
(In the name) of Allah, blessing.
(Among those things)
which ordered the amlr Ahmad (b.)

(Tu)lun, mawla of the commander
(of the faith)ful. In the year
fifty nine
and two hundred.
Catalogue: Tulunids
267
From the day of his appointment as deputy governor in 254 until 258 H., when
he became governor with full powers, Ahmad b. Tulun had no authority over
finances. Nevertheless, he issued weights and vessel stamps dated 254 H. It can
be concluded therefore, that the dar al-'iyar, and depending from it, the issuing of
weights and the pharmaceutical vessels and the supervision of the markets, were
under control of the governor and not of the finance director. In fact, the last
finance director to issue weights or vessel stamps, was al-Kha lb b. 'Abd al-
Hamld in 190-191 H. After this date, the issuing authority was either the gover-
nor (who may have been, although not necessarily, at the same time the finance
director), or the prefect, who was directly responsible to the governor.
Under the Umayyads the finance directors were as frequently responsible for
the issues of glass weights and vessel stamps as the governors and prefects.
Under the early 'Abbasids, up to 190 H., the glass was gradually more frequently
issued by the governor or the prefect, and after 191 H. the names of finance direc-
tors disappear completely from the glass.
KHUMARAWAYH B. AHMAD
Ruler: 270-82 H. / A.D. 883-95
Vessel Stamp
(jj nlI ^)
lijJL (mi)
(Jj-)*iJjl*. trW-I (_*|)
Unpublished.
The only published glass weight of Khumarawayh until now was CAM I, 201.

No stamps are known.
Although born a free member of a distinguished family, Khumarawayh, when
on the throne, styled himself mawla amir al-mu'minin, freedman of the caliph.
(In the name of Allah. Commanded)
Allah honesty.
amlr
(Abu) al-Jaysh Khumarawayh, (mawla
of the)
commander of the faithful.
Even if Ahmed b. Tulun, whose father was a slave at the Baghdad court, had
been a mawla himself, his son Khumarawayh was most certainly born a free
citizen. Therefore the title he adopted on the glass, could not be anything but an
honorary title and not a statement of fact.
Grabar (p. 39, footnote, and p. 40) wrote on the subject of the title mawla amir
al-mu'minln. With reference to several works by Max vanBerchem, he raised the
question whether this formula, used in the protocol of officials, was a title of office,
an honorific title, or rather a real personal relationship with the caliph. Van
Berchem was inclined to consider it an official title. Grabar, however, believes,
that in the third century H. "most titles were not yet formalized and that, in the
case of Ahmad b. Tulun one should still consider the formula as the expression of
a personal relationship between the caliph and his subordinate, perhaps a delega-
tion of authority ..."
Relying on the material of the present collection, I incline to van Berchem's
opinion rather than Grabar's. Until ca. 200 H. very few officials present the title
mawla amir al-mu'minln on the glass. In our collection the first governor to use
this title is Matar (157-159 H.) and next follows Yahya, who may not be Abu
Salih Yahya (162-163 H.) The third mawla, at the same period (162 H.), is
Wadih, also governor and at the same time finance director. Then until 199 no
mawla appears on the glass, and with Harith b. Zur'a begins the series of high
officials bearing the title mawla. After 216 H. twelve governors in this collection
are mawlas, against only three without this title. This fact points to the prob-
ability that beginning with the third century H., the title mawla amlr al-mu'mi-
nln was an honorary title attached to the post of governor and not an affidavit of
manumission.
HARUN B. KHUMARAWAYH

Ruler: 283-92 H. / A.D. 896-904
Vessel Stamp
741. EXECUTIVE STAMP. Anonymous, but dated 291/2 H.
{y*^Ji\ *JUI (rtj) (In the name) of Allah, the compassionate,
4-Ul j^\ ffr=a.(^JI) (the mer)ciful. Commanded Allah
3Lu, li^Jlj JjluJL justice and honesty. Year
( o\*)^j'j .... (one or two) and nine(ty)
0oLj and two hundred.
Unpublished.
Catalogue: Tulunids 269
It is true that Jungfleisch published this specimen, BIE, 1948, p. 4. See another
reference to this specimen in CAM I, p. 85, note 64. Jungfleisch, however, read
the date as (2)60 H. .(^^j'L j)^^, and consequently attributed the piece to
Ahmad b. Tulun. I studied the stamp carefully and came to the conclusion that
Jungfleisch's reading of the date is not correct. The first two letters of the decade
are not z~, but ^j', and so the decade is ninety and not sixty: ^,.,?, and not
0w. The word starts with a solitary tooth, ta, and afterwards follow the
three teeth of the letter sln. This fact changes the whole attribution of the
stamp, which was issued by Harun b. Khumarawayh and not by Ahmad b. Tulun.
Incidentally, the vessel stamps indisputedly issued by Ahmad b. Tulun pre-

sent his protocol in full, besides the dates 254 and 259 H.
4. UNIDENTIFIED ABBASID OFFICIALS
ABBAN B. IBRAHIM*
742. OVAL DISK WEIGHT, PROBABLY ONE-QUARTER RATL. Fragment.
Only most of the round executive stamp, 22, and an illegible trace of another
impresssion present:
(iS).^ ,J* At the hands (of)
(i>.) jljI Abban (b.)
^jby I Ibrahlm.
Brown, almost opaque.
742A-747. EXECUTIVE STAMP.
^Jb At the hands of
,> jU Abban b.
y I Ibrahlm.
742A.01ive brown, translucent. 32.
743. Olive brown, almost opaque. 30.
744. Olive brown, almost opaque. 30.
Casanova, p. 374, No 191; EAG. I, 111; EAG. II, 33; CAM. I, 102; Launois, Cairo 317-318.
All the stamps are from the same die. The style of writing is identical with that
of al-Muhajir, who should, therefore, be his contemporary. The latter was active
under the caliph al-Mahdl. Abban b. Ibrahlm may have been an executive under
the caliph al-Mansur (See Cat., 352, where only the father's name, Ibrahlm, is
preserved) towards this caliph's later years, and also at the beginning of the
reign of al-Mahdl.
270

* These officials are arranged according to the Arabic alphabet.
Catalogue: Unidentified 'Abbasid Officials
271
ABU BAKR B. ABI BAKR
AM)
(Abu) Bakr b.
(A)bl Bakr.
IBRAHIM B. ISMAIL
749. WUQIYYA DISK WEIGHT. Oval disk weight, broken lengthwise, three square
stamps.
First impression:
tS.** J*
Second impression:
(Vj)
At the hands of
(Ibra)hlm
(b. I)sma'll
(Wuqiyya),
full weight.
Third impression missing.
Smoky olive, partly emerald green, translucent.
Unpublished.
According to the style of writing, Ibrahlm might be a son of Isma'll b. Ibrahim,

finance director in 164 H., but there is no record of him.
272
ISMA IL B. JATAR
At the hands of
Isma 'lI
(b.) Ja'far.
Light green translucent. 23.
Unpublished.
May be the last quarter of the second century H.
JATAR
751-752. COIN WEIGHT. 35 OR 36 KHARROBA?
Ja'far
751. Light caramel brown, translucent. 29, 6.75.
752. Caramel brown, translucent. 29, 6.75
Unpublished.
The Kufic, which has lost some of its angularity, indicates a later date.
The weight is between 35 and 36 kharruba.
AL-HASAN B. MU'ADH (?)
752A. COIN WEIGHT. DOUBLE DIRHAM KAYL. Square impression, 16 x 16,
with three lines of legends, crossing each other like the spokes of a wheel. First
line: from right upper to left lower corner. Second line: from right lower to
left upper corner and third line: from left to right, therefore upside down.

A solitary name (that of the amlr's father) in the lower quadrant.
273
Cr. jr-J-I
Jjf (? or f) j j
In the name of Allah, the King.
The amir al-Hasan b.
Dir(ham or two dirham ?) kayl.
Mu'adh (?).
Lower quadrant: ?SU.,
Unpublished.
Well preserved dirham kayl glass weights are very rare, and the present weight
is the only double dirham kayl hitherto observed.
Although the official has the rank of an amlr, he seems to be unknown in the
literature.
Light brown, translucent. 32, 8.80.
Unpublished.
This Dawud has nothing in common with Dawud b. al-Murr, an executive of al-
Qasim b. 'Ubayd Allah (see Cat. 204-205). The present coin weight belongs to
the end of the second century H. or maybe even later.
DAWUD
753. COIN WEIGHT?
Dawud
SALAMA AHMAD
754. COIN WEIGHT.
JUa.
Salama

Ahmad.
Unpublished.
18
Thick rim, 6 mm., and simple elongated late Kufic. Very difficult to fix a date
but the thickness of the rim and the general appearance of the writing would
suggest a very late period, probably near Fatimid times. Maybe 28 or 29 khar-
ruba?
SULAYMAN
755. DISK WEIGHT. Probably WUQIYYA. About two-thirds of a round disk
weight. Originally there were five round impressions, 17 mm. diam. each, one in
the center and four at the periphery. The application of the four stamps into the
still red-hot glass caused the originally round disk to extend into a shape like a
four-leaved shamrock.
All the stamps bear an identical legend:
(^ju At At the hands of
j^Ju. Sulayman.
Light green, almost transparent. Length 55.
Unpublished.
Probably second century H.
SULAYMAN B. DAWUD
756. COIN WEIGHT. FALS OF 29 KHARRUBA. Thick rim and square impression,
11 x 11:
^%\, Sulayman
i b.
.sjb Dawud.
Reddish brown opaque glass paste. 25, 5.65.
Unpublished.
It is difficult to attribute a date to this unusual weight. The color, square im-

pression and thick rim, are exceptional.
275
SAMAND
757-758. COIN WEIGHT, with Coptic figure for 31 kharruba.
Obverse:
Samand.
iJIj ^Ji Fals, full weight,
_J-X kharruba 31
Reverse, linear square in circular line. In it:
Manufactured
jJ Farruh
Coin weights with Coptic figures would indicate the middle of the second cen-
tury H.
ABD AL-JABBAR B. NUSAYR
759.A, B, COIN WEIGHT. FALS OF 30 KHARRUBA with Coptic figure for 30.
jlp ^Jij J* At the hands of 'Abd.
JS*** J W-| al-Jabbar b. Nusayr.
J121* Weight of fals,
kharruba 30.
(*)
A. Yellowish green, translucent. 30, 5.72.
B. Light green, translucent. 31. Broken.
Casanova, p. 383, Nos. 68-69; Petrie 143; EAG I, 114-115; CAM J, 205; Virt 31; Fahmy

251-257; Launois, Cairo 359-361.
276
ABD AL-MALIK B. ISA
At the hands of
'Abd al-Malik
b. 'Isa.
Unpublished.
In EAG I, 117 Miles published an uncertain ring weight with the same legend.
The impression was on the shoulder of a fragment and the name of the issuing
high official was missing.
Grass green, translucent. 31, .
Casanova, p. 383, No. 71; Launois, Maspiro 18; Fahmy 260.
The style of writing is similar to the calligraphy on the coin weights of Salama
and 'Umar.
ABD AL-WAHHAB
761. COIN WEIGHT. Fragment.
['...]
'Abd al-
Wahhab
ISA B. JUNADA
762. COIN WEIGHT. (27 kharruba?).
In beaded border:
;*
Light green, translucent, 26, 5.21.

EAG I, 209; Fahmy 296.
277
763. DISK WEIGHT. Fragment of wuqiyya. A little more than half preserved.
Square impression:
Yellowish green, translucent. 44, .
Unpublished.
The rim is thick and on both sides there is a prong mark. One of these has been
pushed through and forms a suspension hole.
A ring weight of this official was published in EAG I, 210.
ATA B. NASHID
764. COIN WEIGHT. 22 KHARRUBA. Broken and mended, a small chip missing.
Unpublished.
Loss of ca. 8 cgm. because of slight chipping, Theoretical weight according to
Miles "Coin Weights," p. 85 = 4.294 gm. Official unknown. Very early 'Ab-
basid.
('l)sa
b. Junada.
o 3fC
'Ata b. Nashid,
two and twenty.
QARNCRIS
765. RING WEIGHT. RATL. Intact, less a few chips.

Principal round impression, 23.
278
Second round impression, 23, on left shoulder:
Emerald green, translucent. Height 78; length 72; thickness at base 38; weight
383.46.
Unpublished.
Qarnuris is an unknown official, although he was empowered to issue weights
in his own name j*\ [*). His name suggests Byzantine or Coptic descent
and may originate from the Latin Coronarius. Late 'Abbasid, probably third
century H.
766. Light green, translucent. Total diam. 28; diam. impression 16; weight 5.80.
767. Light green, translucent. Total diam. 25; diam. impression 12; weight4.82.
Unpublished.
The calligraphy shows a beginning of "floral Kufic." The rim is thick, and the
impression proportionally smaller. The general impression is that of a late issue,
maybe early fourth century H. If these jetons are to be considered coin weights,
then they are nearly all different: 766 and 769 should be fuliis of 30 kharruba,
768 of 28 kharruba and 767 of 25 kharruba.
I am not sure what to think of them.
AL-QASIM B. AL-HAYTHAM
766-769. COIN WEIGHT.
piJI
Al-Qasim

b. al-Haytham.
279
MALIK B. SABUKTAKIN
770. RING WEIGHT. Probably ONE-QUARTER RATL. About three-quarters of
the ring weight preserved. Square impression, 17 x 17:
^Jb ^s. At the hands of
i>. ii)L Malik b.
iyS^SL* Sabuktakln.
Light green, translucent.
Unpublished.
Unknown 'Abbasid official of the second half of the second century H.
MALIK B. MANSUR
771. VESSEL STAMP. Attached to the side fragment of an ample, wide mouthed
receptacle near its bottom:
^Jb ^s. At the hands of
0* iJOL Malik b.
jj .n . i Mansur.
Unpublished.
Probably second century H. Unknown official.
MUHAMMAD B. ABD AL-JABBAR
j^Jl> At the hands of
(> y.jf Muhammad b.

jlJ-I Xs. 'Abd al-Jabbar.
280
Unpublished.
Probably second half of 2nd century H. May be a son of 'Abd al-Jabbar b.
773. COIN WEIGHT. FALS OF 29 KHARROBA. Chipped, but little loss of weight
Light green, translucent. 24, actual weight 5.60.
Unpublished.
Launois, Maspero 16 is a dirham weight with a similar legend but dif'erent,
much earlier calligraphy and no ornaments. The two homonymous officials must
belong to different periods.
Nusayr?
MUHAMMAD B. UBAYD ALLAH
jU)I X~s. i>.
Muhammad
b. 'Ubayd Allah.
MUHAMMAD B. AMR
774. COIN WEIGHT. FALS OF 23 KHARROBA.
Square impression with rounded corners, 20 x 20:
Muhammad b. 'Amr,
a fa Is weight of
twenty three
kharruba.

Petrie 148; Fahmy 300-302.
281
775. COIN WEIGHT. FALS OF 20 KHARRUBA. Broken.
4j
jr>
I \f
Among those things which ordered.
Muhammad b. 'Amr,
a fals weight, weighing
twenty kharruba.
Light green, translucent. 28, .
Casanova, p. 381, No 45-47; Fahmy 303-308.
I could not find Muhammad b. 'Aim's name in the literature, except in Petrie,
Casanova and Fahmy, although he must have served in a high post, as he was
entitled to issue glass in his own name: aj jj ^,. Al-Kindl lists two officials of
the same name, Muhammad b. 'Amr, but the first was in office in 86 H., which is
far too early, and the other, who served in 196 H., seems to be too late.
The calligraphy and the impression, which is square with rounded corners,
place these coin weights in the initial period of the 'Abbasid rule. Coin weights
with similar semi-archaic characters and the square impression with rounded
corners are to be found with "Al-Muhammad," and the names of Salih b. 'All,
'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld, 'Asim b. Hafs. 'Abd al-Rahman b. Yazld, Wadih,
'Umar, Salama and Nawfal b. Furat, but not after them. There are a few later
issues of coin weights (Salih b. Muslim, Malik b. Dalham, Musa b. 'Isa and maybe
a few more), but there is a marked difference in calligraphy and legend arrange-
ment and they are easy to differentiate. There is, of course, no relationship

between the square impressions of the coin weights, with rounded corners, and the
square impressions of the late 'Abbasid or Tulunid heavy ring weights.
According to the stylistic characteristics, Muhammad b. 'Amr should have held
office between 133 and ca. 165 H. Although he must have held quite an important
post, there are no indications on the glass which would link him with another,
well-known official. Therefore, he must, for the time being, remain in the series
of unknown officials.
MU'AWIYA B. RASHID
776. VESSEL STAMP. QIST.
Ordered Mu'awiya
b. Rashid a qist,
(full) measure.
Pale blue green, transparent. 33.
Unpublished.
Probably second half of the second century H. Miles published a 30-kharruba
fals coin weight (CAM II. Ruthven 40) which seems to have been engraved by
the same calligrapher.
MUZAHIM B. MUHAMMAD
Ring Weights
777. RATL. Intact ring weight, with twin square impressions, 37 x 37.
Both impressions have the same legend:
jUi UjJI Honesty to Allah.
*j j*\ \m Among those things which ordered
Muzahim b. Muhammad.
njuJ-I Al-Hasanayn.
Light grey patina. Almost opaque. Height 60; length 70; thickness at base 45;
weight 394.51.
Unpublished.
778. Probably ONE-HALF RATL. Fragment. Only one square impression, 36 x 36
Legend the same as Cat. 773.
Sapphire blue, nearly transparent.
Unpublished.
Muzahim b. Muhammad is not in the chronicles. The calligraphy and general
style of the two ring weights just described are, however, quite similar to that of
Muzahim b. Khaqan's weights. Therefore they more than probably belong to
Muzahim b. Khaqan's time. Actually, were it not for the father's name, Muham-

mad, one would be inclined to attribute them to Muzahim b. Khaqan himself.
283
MUSA
^Ju J* At the hands of
Musa.
Pale honey yellow, translucent. 16.
Unpublished.
NASHID
780-783. JETONS. In a thick rim, deep triangular impression. The long letters have
split heads.
*zs. I recommend it to
jU|I God,
JulU Nashid.
780. Pale honey yellow, translucent 28, 6.50.
781. Ultramarine blue, translucent. 25, 4.98.
782. Ultramarine blue, translucent. 28, 5.63.
783. Pale honey yellow, translucent. 31, 9.85.
Casanova, p. 394, Nos. 5-7; Petrie 282-285; Launois, C.d.M. 112; Launois, Masptro 24.
Each piece has a different weight, and 783 exceeds by far all the known fals
weights. I am not sure whether one should consider these jetons as coin weights.
The thick rim, the calligraphy and the triangular impression point to a late
date, maybe the fourth century H.

The name of the official, Nashid, has been misread by all three authors.
284
NASIB
784. VESSEL STAMP WITH EXHORTATION.
-mI Jtg-iI Witnessl In the name of Allah.
;I Drink in good health l
Manufactured by
,-^J Naslb
This specimen published by Jungfleisch, BIE 1946-7, pp. 294-5.
Jungfleisch read correctly the first two lines, but not the remaining two.
NASR B. SA ID, MAWLA
785. RING WEIGHT. FRAGMENT OF RATL.
Oblong impression, 20 x 24:
Light olive green.
Unpublished.
At the hands of
Nasr b. Sa'ld,
mawla of the commander
of the faithful. Perfect.

Unknown official, active during the second century.
285
YUHANNIS
786-790. EXECUTIVE VESSEL STAMP.
Manufactured by
Yuhannis.
All emerald green, transparent. Diam. each 32.
Launois, C.d.M. Suppt. 18.
Unknown low-grade official of Greek extraction. Second century H.
791. INTACT RING WEIGHT. Notwithstanding the denomination, this is a one-half
Emerald green, translucent. Height 50; length 63; thickness at base 40; weight
237.02.
Unpublished.
There is some similarity in calligraphy to the fragment of a ring weight pub-
lished by Miles in CAM I, 210. Both Miles's weight and mine seem to be late
emissions.
The denomination on the present ring weight is one-quarter ratl (ordinary ratl).
It is, however, certainly not a quarter ratl, because, according to our weight
tables in the introduction, the normal quarter ratl weighs ca. 95 gm. Even the
half ratl weighs only about 195 gm. This weight seems to be a half ratl kablr.
It is true that the average half ratl kablr should weigh around 245 gm., but some
loss of weight taken into consideration, this is the only weight unit which corres-
ponds fairly well to our present specimen. The wrong denomination on the
weight is a frequent enough occurence.
YAHYA
ratl kablr.
One-quarter ratl,

full weight.
Ordered by Yahya.
5. ANONYMOUS WEIGHTS
Ring Weights
792. DOUBLE RATL. Intact ring weight. Square impression at the top, 22 x 22,
flanked by three small prong marks on each side.
j^JJ>j Two ratl.
Dark green, translucent. Height 88; length 85; thickness at base 53; weight
756.69.
BM 34q.
793. RATL. Fragment. Oblong impression, 34 x 31, surrounded on all sides by
oblique prong marks.
^ or ^ Kaf or dal?
*JU lijJI Honesty to Allah.
Slightly blueish, luminous green, translucent.
Unpublished.
Elegant angular Kufic with ornate heads of the vertical letters. Ca. 200 H.
or later.
794. RATL. Nearly intact, only a few chips missing. Also a few gm. of glass ground out
of the bottom with a sharp instrument, obviously for illegal gain.
Oblong impression, 29 x 32:
jji lijJI Honesty to Allah.
>\>j?
Blue green, translucent. Height 60; length 72; thickness at base 45; weight
392.83.
Unpublished.

286
Catalogue: Anonymous Weights
287
795-796. RATL. Intact ring weight. In the center of the top, umbilical wart, beside it
an oblong impression with rounded corners 20 x 24:
W Ji* Thiql.
j 0^> iijLt standard of the year eight and
* eighty.
795. Badly fused glass, heavily striated, of dirty beige color and nearly opaque.
Very inferior glass, rather glass paste. Intact. Height 65; length 66;
796. Only the head portion preserved. Better fusion, pale dirty honey color,
translucent.
BIE 1956, pp. 25-30; CAM I, 260-261.
When I originally published these weights I was convinced that they actually
were issued in 88 H. Miles, in CAM I, 260-261 expressed the opinion that they
cannot possibly have been issued at such an early date and that the epigraphy
(and the oblong impression, which came into fashion only in the third century H.)
indicates the end of the third century H., and that 88 is really meant as 288,
the century being omitted. I now wholeheartedly agree with Miles that the two
pieces (and those published by Miles) must have been issued during the second
half of the third century H.
See the paragraph on exceptional weights in the introduction, p. 22 above.
797. ONE-QUARTER RATL. Intact ring weight. Square impression, 21 x 21:
jOJ lijJI Honesty to God.
...J?
Blue green, translucent. Height 39; length 40; thickness at base 27; weight 97.67.
Unpublished.

798. ONE-QUARTER RATL. Intact ring weight.
j One-quarter,
jjIj full weight.
Dark green, opaque. Height 40; length 40; thickness at base 33; weight 96.21.
Unpublished.
799-800. WUQIYYA KABlR. Actually a later 'Abbasid double wuqiyya.
Uj Wuqiyya
j*S kablr,
.JIj full weight
799. Emerald green, translucent. Height 40; length 37; thickness at base 23;
weight 62.14.
800. Emerald green, translucent. Height 36; length 35; thickness at base 23;
weight 59.60.
Petrie 252; CAM I, 258-259; CAM II. Benaki 66-67; CAM II. Ruthven 47.
The two specimens are evidently not wuqiyya kablr, despite the denomination.
The wuqiyya kablr weighs, according to our weight tables, ca. 41 gm. The
present weights correspond to the double normal wuqiyya of the later 'Abbasid
issues; the latter is roughly 31 gm.; the double wuqiyya, therefore, 62 gm.
801. WUQIYYA. Intact ring weight.
Oval impression, 10 x 13:
Uj Wuqiyya.
[... ] [...] (Perhaps In the name of Allah.)
Dark green, translucent. Height 29; length 35; thickness at base 17; weight
33.49.
Unpublished.
Disk Weights
802. THREE DAHMAS, (of three dirakhmy each). Flat oval disk, stamped with three
identical round impressions, diam. 16 each. Two small chips missing. A prong
mark in the rim on both long sides. The same legend in all three impressions:
y^L? Jl2u Weight of three,

,J|j full weight.
Light green, translucent. 58 x 47; weight 28.18.
Unpublished.
289
If I am correct in my attribution of the denomination, this is the only example
of a weight based on the dahmas or dahmasas (see Sauvaire pt. 2, pp. 58, 201).
The dahmas weighs 9.9315, which is three dirakhmy of 3.3105 (see also Sauvaire,
or above). Therefore, the theoretical weight of three dahmas would be 29.79.
Notwithstanding the two small missing chips, the total loss of weight is only 1.81
gram and the actual weight of the piece is still quite accurately that of three
dahmas. Late Umayyad or early 'Abbasid. See the introduction, p. 000 above.
This is a medical weight.
803. WUQIYYA. Intact disk weight with square impression 16 x 16, in which linear
square. Thick rim with four prong marks.
3Lj Wuqiyya.
Green, transparent. 45, 31.92.
Petrie 254-256.
The thick rim with four prong marks and the square impression suggest a late
date, probably 'All b. Yahya or Tulunid.
804. WUQIYYA (Marked one-half wuqiyya). Thick disk with small deep square
impression, 10 x 10, and four marginal prong marks. A chip missing.
One-half
SJj wuqiyya
j full weight.
Unpublished.
Probably end of second century H.
805. ONE-HALF WUQIYYA (Marked one-quarter).
Round stamp, 22:

j One-quarter,
,J|j full weight.
Blue green, translucent. Badly fused. 37, 16.63.
Unpublished.
Probably second half of second century H.
19
290
806. ONE-HALF WUQIYYA (Marked wuqiyya). Intact disk weight.
ijj Wuqiyya.
Dirty pale yellow, translucent. 34, 15.67.
Same die as Cat. 799. 'Ali b. Yahya or Tulunid period.
Unpublished.
807. ONE-HALF WUQIYYA. Marked three times: one-quarter dirham kayl).
Intact oval disk weight with thick rim. Oblong impression, 26 x 13, with the
same legend three times repeated:
j j ^jj One-quarter dir-
jjf * ham kayl.
jlUI p~>> In the name of Allah.
ji j One quarter dir-
* ham kayl.
One-quarter dir-
ham kayl.
Light blue green, transparent. Length 41; width 33; thickness at rim 10; weight
16.64.
Unpublished.
Probably second half of second century H. The denomination is a puzzle.
As far as we know, the dirham kayl weighs ca. 2.95 gm. and this figure has no
relation to the weight of the present piece. On the contrary, the piece seems to
fit as a half wuqiyya of the later 'Abbasid ratl.
Coin Weights

808. FALS OF 28 KHARRUBA. With Coptic figure for 26.
Square impression, 22 x 22:
J lit. Weight of
^jjj fals
,Lo ~ ,
Unpublished.
291
The 28 kharruba fals weight is very rare indeed. In fact, I only know of three
specimens, all of them anonymous: one, mentioned to me by Miles, weighs 5.53
and has the number of kharriibas inscribed in Arabic. The other, Cat. 835, is
also written in Arabic and weighs 5.49. The third is the present fals of 5.50, the
number of kharriibas indicated in Coptic numerals. There was no doubt about the
first numeral, a kappa = 20. Not being familiar with Coptic, I could not make up
my mind about the second figure and so I asked Grohmann for his opinion and
sent him a plaster cast. He very kindly replied that the number is wonderfully
clear and that there is no shadow of a doubt that it is kappa sigma, xg, there-
fore: 26. As there is no doubt either that our fals weight contains exactly 28
kharriibas, the only explanation can be an engraver's error.
l2U lit
j>
* is
This weight
is a fals of seven
and twenty
kharru-
ba
Casanova, p. 378, No. 14, 14bis; EAG II, 37, CAM I, 218; Fahmy 317-318.
Early 'Abbasid.
*2j

This weight
is a fals, five
and twenty
kharru-
ba.
Green, translucent, 28, 5.24.
EAG II, 39; CAM I, 224-225; Launois, Cairo 326; Fahmy 335-336.
292
811-813. FALS OF 25 QIrAT.
In circular line:
^ Jl2u Weight of fals,
Ojj JIj full weight, weighing
sfc jLs. j five and twen-
\>i>. tyqirat.
811. Peridot green, transparent. 31, 4.83.
BM 41-42; EAG I, 138; Launois, Cairo 324-325; Fahmy 337-338.
According to Miles, "Coin Weights," pp. 83-4, the denomination qlrat is an
indication of Umayyad or early 'Abbasid fals coin weights.
Fals of
j IJ**S. five and
twenty
kharruba.
815. Green, nearly transparent. 32, 5.13.
Petrie 171; Casanova, p. 377 No. 13; EAG I, 134-137; EAG II, 38; CAM I, 221; CAM
II. Benaki 58-60; CAM II. Ruthven 43; Launois, C.d.M. 334-342; Launois; C.d.M. Suppl.
22, 23bis; Fahmy 323-324.
816-818. FALS OF 23 KHARRUBA. Square of dotted lines, in which circular line.
^jjj Jlau Weight of fals,
jjis. j id? three and twen-

hjji. i> ty kharruba.
816. Black, opaque. 27, 4.13.
817. Black, opaque. 27, 4.14.
818. Black, opaque. 27, 4.13.
Unpublished.
293
The calligraphy, general appearance and the material, namely the exceptional
black, opaque, glass paste (instead of translucent or transparent glass) are strong
indications that they belong to the issues of the caliph al-Mansur. In fact, the
only black, opaque, glass paste coin weights are those of the caliph al-Mansur, as
can be ascertained from the dinar and dirham coin weights, Cat. 535-537. Also,
while Fahmy 349 and Launois, Cairo 322 are not identical with the present
weights there is strong similarity in the style and legend arrangement, although
the Fahmy and Launois weights are of green translucent glass.
Note that all our specimens are underweight; the 23 kharruba piece should
weight 4.49.
819-820. FALS OF 20 QlRAT Circle of very small dots.
Launois, Cairo 325bis; Fahmy 369-370.
Umayyad or early 'Abbasid.
CI,
Weight of fals,
full weight, weighing
twenty qlr-
at> .
Fals of
twenty
kharruba.

822. As above. 28, 4.05.
823. As above. 28, 4.06.
824. As above. 28, 4.06.
BM 44; EAG I, 144-146; CAM /, 230; CAM II. Benaki 64; Launois, Cairo 343-347;
Fahmy 359-365.
294
825. ONE-HALF FALS OF 18 QIrAT.
Weight of one-half
fals, eigh-
teen qlrat.
Dirty pale honey yellow, translucent. 27, 3.48.
Unpublished.
Besides the calligraphy, which is archaic, there are two other indications that
these weights are very early, probably Umayyad. First, the weight is given in
qlrat, which according to Miles (see note to Cat. 807-809) occurs only on early coin
weights. Second, the first word, mlzan, jIjr^, also occurs only on early weights.
This piece is important in that it definitely corroborates our opinion that the
complete fals is composed of 36 qlrat or kharruba. It is plainly stated on the
present coin weight, that it is a one-half fals of 18 qlrat. If the one-half fals con-
tains 18 qlrat, then the complete fals must be composed of 36 qlrat (kharruba)
The last letter of nisf, ^J^l, is written with an error.
827. Green, translucent. 26. 2.88. This second specimen, although marked 18
qlrat, weighs only 15.
EAG I, 148; CAM I, 234-235; Casanova, p. 377, No. 10; Fahmy 371-372.
828. PART OF FALS OF 18 KHARROBA.
826-827. FALS OF 18 QlRAT.
40)I ~j
Ojj iJIj
hj.3

Weight of fals,
full weight, weighing
eighteen
qlrat.
This is a partial
weight of eigh-
teen
kharruba.
Unpublished.
295
For the word JaJi, see EAG I, 15-16, CAM I, 31 and Fahmy 36-40. Shatr
means part or a portion of something. It is applied to the 18 kharruba as well
as to the 12 kharruba weight. Naturally, 12 or 8 kharruba is only a portion of
the 36 kharruba complete fals.
Ji J12L, Weight of fals of
jLs. Lj fifteen
o kharruba
831. As above. 26, 3.00.
832. As above. Broken.
CAM I, 236; Launois, Cairo 328-329; Fahmy 373-376.
The letter mlm in mithqal defectively written.
833. ONE-HALF FALS OF 9 QlRAT.
JUi, Weight of
iJSs one-half fals,
@ jjj weighing nine
Jhjjji qlrat.
BM 55, 55g; EAG I, 150; CAM I, 238; Launois, C.d.M. Suppl. 26; Fahmy 388-389.
The weight of this specimen is of course, not half of a complete 36 kharruba
or qlrat fals, as marked in the second line, but only a quarter. Note that qararl-
tan is used instead of qlrat. (^kjjy and not 1,
834. DIRHAM KAYL.

jO) I In the name of Allah.
ft* (jj-> Weight of dirham
J/ kayl.
***
EAG I, 132.
To my knowledge, besides this dirham kayl, there are only three more intact
specimens in existence: Cat. 680, issued by Itakh al-Turki (2.95), B.M. 51 (2.92)
and Cat. 791.a, a double dirham kayl of an official, al-Hasan b. Mu'adh, un-
known to the literature; the latter coin weight weighs 5.89, which, divided by
two, gives 2.945. These figures correspond exactly with Miles's findings, which
established that the average weight of the Umayyad and early 'Abbasid silver
dirham was 2.95. (See Miles, "Byzantine Miliaresion").
835. NO DENOMINATION. PIOUS LEGEND.
aJUI *~j In the name of Allah.
* *
Muhammad.
Unpublished.
The weight is that of the 28 kharruba. May or may not be a coin weight. Pro-
bably second half of second century H. or later.
836. NO DENOMINATION. PIOUS LEGEND.
Muhammad is
jlUI y& a pledge for God.
Golden yellow, transparent, devitrified rim, center covered by light grey patina.
27, 4.03.
Unpublished.

May be 20 kharruba.
6. ANONYMOUS VESSEL STAMPS
With the Names of Drugs
837-839. MIKYALA OF AL-IKLlL (J-fc'VI), MELILOT OR ROSEMARY.
837. Blue green, translucent, 33.
Unpublished.
Casanova, p. 366, Pieces supplementaires 2, is evidently similar, but went un-
recognized. Besides, on all our specimens the word mikyala is clear, and not
mikyal, as read by Casanova. For the plural of wuqiyya, awaq, see the three-
wuqiyya weight published by Miles in ANSMN 5 (1952), p. 179.
The reading of the word al-iklll was difficult, because the alifs, lams and yds
are all written with vertical strokes of the same length. I do not think, however,
that there is much doubt about the correctness of the identification of the drug.
Al-iklll is to be found in several works, either alone, or with a qualitative
adjective: in Ahmed Issa, p. 157 No. 12, iklll or iklll al-jabal is Rosmarinus offici-
nalis. Maimonides calls it iklll al-malik, melitot, (Melilotus officinalis) and says
that the roots, imported from Syria, were used as an antidote against the bite of
venimous animals. IB cites both ikUl al-malik (melilot 128) and iklll al-jabal
(rosemary.). In Ducros 87, iklll or iklll al-jabal also means rosemary. Finally the
Tuhfa knows iklll al-malik as rosemary and divers (?), and Bedevian lists iklll
al-malik as melilot and iklll al-jabal as rosemary.
Mikyala
al-iklll,
seven wuqiyya.
840-841. MIKYALA OF SHELLED PEAS.
5L5C

Mikyala of
shelled peas.
Casanova, p. 365, Nos. 73-74; Launois, Cairo 294-295.
297
298
842-843 A-D. MIKYALA OF BOX TREE.
Mikyala
al-baqs
843. A. Olive green, translucent. 32.
CAM I, 85, 117-119, and 273 seems to me to be al-mishsh, as Miles read it originally.
Published but misread: Casanova, p. 366, No 93, 93bis; Petrie 224; Vire 34;
Launois, Cairo 271.
Full discussion of al-baqs in Balog, "Estampilles," No. 9, p. 324; Miles,
"Pharm.," p. 386;
Since the catalogue was numbered, three more specimens with al-baqs have
turned up:
B. Emerald green, 27.
C. Emerald green, 27.
D. Emerald green, 27.
844. MIKYALA OF TURMUS, LUPIN.
Mikyala of
turmus.
Casanova, p. 365, No. 77; EAG I, 182; CAM I, 268.
845-846. MIKYALA OF PURE LUPIN.
iLC
Mikyala of
turmus,
pure.

CAM II. Benaki 70; Launois, Cairo 308 (adjective misread).
Catalogue: Anonymous Vessel Stamps
299
847. MIKYALA OF JULUBBAN, OR JULLANAR. Chickling vetch, or petals of
the wild pomegranate).
iLSC. Mikyala of
j LL>. or jUta. julubban or jullanar.
Light green, translucent 19.
Unpublished.
As Miles has already pointed out, the substance can be read either as julubban,
jLLfc, chickling vetch, or as jullanar, jUL*., (petals of the) wild pomegranate
(which bears no fruit). See EAG II, p. 49. In CAM I, 269 Miles thought
jullanar more likely than julubban (Lathyrus sativus) which, consumed conti-
nuously, is apt to cause paralysis of the lower extremities. He therefore suggests
that the drug should be identified with jullanar. There are, however, vessel
stamps with the drug jjju c\A>., i.e. shelled oUl . As jullanar is the wild
pomegranate, which bears no fruit, and of which only the dried petals can
be used, jLjl* jLU. can only mean the shelled seeds of the chickling vetch.
Besides, the chickling vetch is consumed as a foodstuff by the population of
Egypt, and lathyrismus, the paralysis of the limbs through poisoning with the
seeds of Lathyrus sativus, is completely unknown in that country.
I suggest, therefore, that without an adjective, may well be the petals
of the wild pomegranate, but when in connection with the adjective "shelled"
Cat. 850-852) or "black" Cat. 849), it must mean the plant chickling vetch or
a variety of it.
848. MIKYALA OF ROAST CHICKLING VETCH, OR ROAST POMEGRANATE
PETALS (?)
Uu. or jUa. iLC Mikyala of julubban or jullanar,

(ji^jt j desiccated or toasted.
Light blue green, nearly transparent. 36.
Grohmann 1; CAM I, 269 (The nun at the end of the first line).
According to the archaic writing, this must be an early issue. Here again we
have the dilemma of whether the substance is julubban or jullanar. The ad-
jective dried or toasted, may apply to both the petals of the wild
pomegranate or the seeds of the chickling vetch, or pease.
300
849. MIKYALA OF BLACK VETCH.
iLCi Mikyala of
oLla. julubban,
black.
Unpublished.
Only in al-Ghafiqi did I find mention of the black variety of the chickling
vetch, Lathyrus niger (p. 437). The reference is to Dawud b. 'Umar al-Antakl,
whose book appeared in the Bulaq edition of 1282 H. in two volumes. There
were many other editions. The title is: Tadhkirat ull'l-albab wa'l-jami 'IVl-
'ajab al-'ujab.
Dawud describes five different varieties of Lathyrus, among them Lathyrus
niger, which is on the present stamp. Its name in Flore de France (Aisnieres/Paris
1899) by G. Rouy and J. Foucaud is Lathyrus niger Barnh. The seed is ovoid and
brown. Habitat: nearly the whole of Europe, except the northern parts, the
Caucasus and Algeria.
850-852. MIKYALA OF SHELLED VETCH.
iLC Mikyala of
jZJu jU* shelled vetch
Casanova, p. 365, Nos 72, 72bis; Launois, Cairo 305; CAM II. Ruthven 49.
853-854. MIKYALA OF WHITE SESAME SEED.
2LLC Mikyala of

sesame seed,
î.o I white.
854. Emerald green, translucent. 30. Broken.
Casanova, p. 364, Nos 53-56; EAG I, 180; CAM I, 270; CAM II. Benaki 71; Launois,
Cairo 307; Miles, "Corning" 59.
301
855-857. MIKYALA OF CORIANDER SEED.
iLC Mikyala of
j^JCJI i_~. coriander seed.
Casanova, p. 369, No. 131; EAG I, 183.
In this case, the substance is written instead of the usual 1 ^jCI.
858. MIKYALA OF WATERCRESS.
iLSC
Mikyala of
watercress.
Grass green, translucent. 29.
Unpublished.
Watercress, under its Arabic synonym al-tuffa (liJI) was described in Balog,
"Estampilles," p. 221. Maimonides 167 gives al-hurf as the principal name and
here Meyerhof lists most of the literature. Hurf (or al-tuffa) may be either
garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) or watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.).
See also Tuhfa 167.
Casanova, p. 365, No. 84 (Casanova misread hulba as gubna, cheese); Launois, Cairo
148bis, but on a stamp of the caliph al-Mansur.
859. MIKYALA OF GREEK FENNEL.
Mikyala of
hulba.

860-862. MIKYALA OF FRIED OR ROAST CHICK PEAS
Mikyala of
fried (or roast) chick peas.
Casanova, p. 365, No. 75; Launois, Cairo 306.
302
863-864. MIKYALA OF DRIED CHICK PEAS.
Mikyala of
dried chick peas.
Casanova, p. 365 No. 76, misread; Launois, Cairo 304, adjective misread; CAM I, 271;
Miles, "Muntaza" 32, on a stamp of the Caliph al-Mansur.
Himmas al-yabis, dried chick peas, is an everyday commodity in Egypt.
Peridot green, translucent. 30,
Casanova, p. 365, Nos. 85-86.
IB 830 mentions the peach as a pharmaceutical substance. Apparently,
besides the fruit (it is not clear whether dried and/or fresh, or even preserved),
the flower and the leaves of the peach tree were used internally and externally.
According to Maimonides 397, the peach was employed as a refreshing drug
during ailments accompanied by fever, and the flower used for frictions.
865. MIKYALA OF PEACH (PRESERVE)
iL5C
Mikyala of
peach.
866. MIKYALA OF KHIYAR AL-GHANAM, PURE.
Miky(ala)
of khiyar al-gha(nam)
two and one-half ratl,
pure.
Bottle green, translucent. Broken.

Unpublished.
Note that the quantity in this mikyala is given in ratl, and not in a unit of
measure of capacity. The substance is partially off flan, but there is enough of
its name in the glass to enable us within reason to identify it with khiyar al-gha-
303
nam, Smilax nigra W., or its synonym Smilax aspera L. in P. Fournier, Le Livre
des Plantes Medicinales et Veneneuses de France, ed. P. Lechevalier, Vol. 3,
(Paris, 1948), p. 432. Fam. Liliacaea (French: Salsepareille de l'Europe ou du
Midi). The roots were employed as a diaphoretic, diuretic, or depurative, and
against skin diseases, rheumatism, gout, and syphilis
867-869. MIKYALA OF DOM (OR DAWM).
iLC Mikyala of
pjJJI al-dum.
Unpublished.
Miles, "Pharm.," p. 386 mentions a stamp or stamps with this substance in the
Cairo Museum of Islamic Art, as unpublished. 867: Mikyala written: J_SC. 869:
Mikyala written: SJC.
870-873. QIST OF HEMP OIL.
Ja-i Qist of
^.jj hemp oil.
871. Sea green, transparent. 20. Piece of rim attached.
See Balog, "Estampilles," Nos. 5-6 for a full discussion.
874-875. QIST OF PURE OLIVE OIL.
iuJ Qist of

c-jj olive oil,
(_r=ii pure.
Casanova, p. 364, No. 50; CAM I, 264-265.
Stamps of small size and small, neat script.
304
876-877. MIKYALA OF PURE OLIVE OIL.
Mikyala of
olive oil.
pure.
877. Green, translucent 19.
Unpublished.
Small size stamps and small, neat script.
878-880. ONE AND ONE-HALF WUQIYYA OF PURE OLIVE OIL.
j l&J Contains one wu-
âjj jLj qiyya and one-half
^^Jl of pure olive oil.
881. MIKYALA OF AL-SUKK.
iLC Mikyala of
ilSwJ I al-sukk.
Discussed in Balog, "Estampilles," No. 8; Casanova, p. 366, No. 91; EAG II, 41; Miles,
"Pharm.," p. 386; Launois, Cairo 296-300 (misread as wine); Miles, "Corning" 60.
882-884. MIKYALA OF SHAYYAN (OR SIYAB ?).
iLC Mikyala of
oL. or oL*S shayyan or siyab?

305
Casanova read the substance as siyab, which he translated with "dattes non
mures," unripe dates. I think that I have correctly identified the drug with
shayyan, which is the resin of the palm tree Calamus draco Wildd, and origi-
nates on the Island of Socotra, in Somalia, the Malabars, etc. See Balog,
"Estampilles." I do not eliminate Casanova's reading definitely, because the
last letter of the name of the substance can easily be read as aba. However,
shayyan is a well known drug in the mediaeval pharmaceutical works, and
siyab is not. On the other hand, I found siyab in Ahmed Issa, p. 79, No. 16,
where it is identified with Euphorbia inarticulata Schweinfurth.
Green, translucent. 30
Casanova, p. 364, Nos. 62-64; EAG I, 179; CAM I, 272; Vire 32.
Probably Egyptian lentils, which, when shelled, are of a vivid orange-red color.
886-887. MIKYALA OF SHELLED LENTILS.
885. MIKYALA OF RED LENTILS.
Mikyala of
red lentils.
Mikyala of
shelled lentils.
Casanova, p. 365, Nos. 65-71; CAM II. Benaki 72; Launois, Cairo 272.
888-889. SHELLED PURE LENTILS.
Lentils,
shelled,
pure.

Unpublished.
20
306
890. MIKYAL OF MUSTARD AND WATERCRESS.
UJI
Mikyal of
mustard and
watercress.
Full discussion in Balog, "Estampilles," No. 3.
891. MIKYALA OF AL-TABlKH.
Mikyala of
al-tablkh.
Unpublished.
This is a problematic substance. In Reinhart Dozy, Supplment aux diction-
naires arabes (Leiden, 1927), p. 20 it is translated with "lait cuit" or cooked
milk, whatever that means. Kazimirsky 1860, II, p. 52, describes it as a kind
of syrup, thickened by prolonged boiling.
892. MIKYALA OF FUL (EGYPTIAN BROAD BEANS).
SJuSC
Mikyala of
ful.
Rainbow colored, devitrified. 21.
893. MIKYALA OF AL-FOL (EGYPTIAN BROAD BEANS).
Mikyala of

al-ful.
Casanova, p. 366, No. 90; CAM II. Benaki 74.
307
894. MIKYALA OF LUBIYA (KIDNEY BEANS).
iLC Mikyala of
LjjJ lubiya.
Casanova, p. 366, No. 92; Balog, "Estampilles," No. 7.
iLC Mikyala of
lJ^st\ Oy white cumin.
Casanova, p. 364, Nos. 57-59: Miles, "Cumin," p. 23; Launois, Cairo 293.
896. MIKYALOFAL-MIZR.
JLd Mikyal of
jjiI al-mizr.
Balog, "Estampilles," No. 4.
I thought previously that the substance was either al-mizr, a kind of beer, or
al-qarn, animal horn. Now I believe that al-mizr is the correct reading.
897. MIKYALA FOR WHEY, ONE-HALF RATL.
iLC Mikyala
uii for mishsh,
Jij tJâJ one-half ratl,
ijIj full weight.
Balog, "Estampilles," No. 13; CAM I, 85, 117-119, 273; Miles, "Corning" 63.
I am convinced that Miles's original reading of the substance as al-mishsh is

correct. The substance al-baqs, box tree, also occurs on several other stamps
and is not to be confounded with al-mishsh.
The substance on this stamp, although dispensed in a container was sold by
weight (one-half ratl).
898. MIKYALA OF SPURGE FLAX OR GNIDIUM.
iLSCi Mikyala of
^cJu spurge flax,
olj full measure.
Unpublished.
This plant is called in Egypt mithnan or mithnln, and is spelled on the present
stamp j>*. It is identified in IB 2087, Maimonides 222, Ahmed Issa p. 68
No 5, Tuhfa 234 and 268, and Bedevian 1357, as Daphne Gnidium L. (Thymelaea
hirsuta Endl.), of the family of the Thymelaceae. IB lists an imposing number of
therapeutic effects on a wide scale, which seem to me over-optimistic. It may
have been used as a laxative with some success, as its German name, Purgier-
strauch, indicates.
899. MIKYALA OF PURE JUJUBE.
iLiC Mikyala of
j-JI jujube,
0~ pure.
Unpublished.
The substance, jujube, al-nabq, jj~JI, was read by Miles on a stamp of al-
Qasim b. 'Ubayd Allah (CAM I, 63-64).
900. MIKYALA OF DWARF ELDER. iiJb
iLSC Mikyala of
iiJb dwarf elder.
Green, translucent.
Unpublished.

The first letter of the substance is missing, so it was not easy to reconstruct
the word. There is, however, no drug with a short name which ends with the
same three letters: iiJL(_j) and I think the identification is correct.
309
Yadhqu or yadhqa is the small elder or dwarf elder, Sambucus ebulis L. of
the Caprifoliaceae. See Tuhfa 208, IB 2305, Ahmed Issa, p. 162, No. 8. The drug
has been used as a cicatrisant and as an astringent. Maimonides mentions the
dwarf elder as al-ball or al-shall, of which yadhqu or yadhqa seems to be the
synonym.
However, according to J.C. Willis, A Dictionary of the Flowering Plants and
Ferns, 4th ed. (Cambridge, Eng. 1919), the dwarf elder is Pilea grandis Lindl.
Urticariaceae, or artillery plant, so called from the puffs of pollen ejected by
the exploding stamen.
With Religious Legends Only
901-903.
lijJI Honesty
jlU to God.
902. As above. 23.
903. As above. 18
Launois, Cairo 251-255; EAG I, 187-188; CAM I, 275-276; CAM II. Ruthven 52!
Miles, "Muntaza" 68-79.
904-908.
Honesty
jOJ towards Allah.
904. Green, translucent 27.
905. As Above. 25.
906. As above. 23.
907. As above. 21.

908. As above. 19.
Launois, Cairo 260-266; CAM I, 277-280.
909-912.
jO] li^JI Honesty towards Allah
I^jeJ' Vj and do not tamper
JLSQI with the mikyal.
310
910. As above. 32.
911. As above. 32.
912. As above. 33.
EAG I 129; CAM 11 Rutlwen 50.
913. WISH OF GOOD HEALTH.
Drink
Ja^ Lsa in good health the rain
LJI of heaven.
Pale yellow, translucent. 23.
This specimen was published by Jungfleisch, BIE 1948, pp. 295-6. See also Cat. 784.
With Denominations Only
914. M IKY ALA OF TWO RATL.
(2UL)-X_(_) (Mi)kya(la)
i>LL.j of two ratl.
Unpublished.
915-918. THREE-QUARTERS OF A QIST.
l_JLyai One-half
one quarter
Ja-OJI of a qist.
916. Brilliant green, transparent. 27.
917. As above. 26.

Casanova, p. 364, No. 36; EAG I, 176-178; CAM 1, 266-267; CAM II. Benaki 69
CAM II. Ruthven 48.
311
This stamp, published many times, has been assessed as one-half of one-quarter
of a qist, which would mean one-eighth. Somehow I think that it is so much
simpler to state: y4, for one-eighth, than to say one-half of one-quarter, that
I am inclined to consider it tome an three-quarters. I believe that the engraver
simply forgot to add a waw. Correctly written, the denomination should read
jj j lJ*J. I have observed the same on some small silver coins of the Burjl
Mamluk Sultan al-Ashraf Barsbay. (See MSES No. 715).
919. QISTKABlR.
L~J Qist
kablr,
,JIj full measure.
Launois, Cairo 267.
920-921. ONE-HALF QIST KABlR.
One-half
kwJ qist
kablr,
,J|j full measure.
920. Very dark green, nearly opaque. 32.
Unpublished.
922. THREE QUARTERS OF A QIST KABlR.
One-half
JauJ one-quarter of a qist
j*S kablr.

Olive green, translucent. 20
See my comments on the denomination under Cat. 915-918.
ARABIC INDEX OF DRUGS
371
JLjI or J_j|
866
97
867-869
39
171, 190, 603
837-839
46-51
840-841
24, 52, 62, 99-105, 172, ooj
842-843
191-192, 222-232
133, 235, 252, 844
874-880
845-846
..
870-873
890
173
40-43
881
847
236 j
IfiJI or
849

882-884
jL-i
850-852
174-175, 207, 890
467 jZJu (jLL.
267-268
JUJI
848
891
170
25-30, 54-58
390-391, 853-854
885
847
106, 392
848
53
372, 855-857
107, 233, 269, 374, jZL, ^
858
d>I
886-887
859
888-889 ^Ju jZJu if^s.
860-862
138-139
468
35, 136, 215-216
373, 863-864
108
44
372, 855-857 (
45
(?) ^ U
31, 109-111, 176, 205, Î CyS
865
234, 254, 291-292
References in all indexes are to Cat. numbers.
312
Arabic Index: Drugs
375-376, 393-395, dyS 63 tSîI
895 896 jjU
134 ^ ^\ oyS 32, 377-379, 452-456, 897 JA\
112-113, 253 ijJiI 0^*5 59-60,899 JrJI
2, 34, 64-65, 135, ^\ or ^J. 33, 61, 114, 193- irJIjJI or ir>JI
237-238 195, 203, 270, 290, 380-381,
894 UjJ 396
892-893 JyjI or 900 *>}_

898 jbl* or ûi*
ENGLISH INDEX OF DRUGS
Beer 896
Box tree 842-843
Broad beans 892-893
Chick peas:
Dried 373, 863-864
Pure 468
Roast 860-862
Cinnamon 371
Composite drug 881
Cooked alcoholic beverage 25-30, 54-58
Cooked milk 891
Coriander seeds 372, 855-857
Cumin:
Black 112-113, 253
Pure white 134
White 31, 109-111, 176, 205, 234, 291-:
375-376, 393-395, 895
Dragon's blood 882-884
Dum 867-869
Dwarf elder 900
Fennel 236
Figs 40-43
Garum 63
Grapes 35, 136, 215-216
Grease 171, 190, 603
Greek fennel 859

Hemp oil 870-873
Hinna for the head 44
Hinna mardi (?) 45
Jujube 59-60, 138-139, 267-268, 899
Kidney beans 894
Lupin 133, 135, 252, 844
Lupin pure, 845-846
Lentils:
Black 106, 392
Red 885
Roast 53
Shelled 107, 233, 269, 374, 886-887
Shelled pure 886-887
Meat 2, 34, 64-65, 135, 237-238
Mustard 174-175, 207, 890
Myrtle 97
Olive oil 24, 52, 62, 99-105, 191-192, 222-232
Olive oil, pure 874-880
Peach 865
Shelled peas 840-841
Pomegranate petals (wild) 847
Pomegranate petals, roast (wild) 848
Privet 108
:, Rosemary 837-839
Sesame:
seeds 170
White seeds 390-391, 853-854
Smilax nigra 866
Sour milk 46-51
Spurge flax 898
Vetch:
Black 849
Chickling 847
Roast 848
Shelled 850-852
Shelled pure 467
Watercress 858, 890
Whey 32, 377-379, 452-456, 897
Wine of the Abyssinians 39, 103, 173
Woad leaves 33, 61, 114, 193-195, 203, 270,
290, 380-381, 396.
314
ARABIC INDEX OF PIOUS LEGENDS
784 *JUI
794, 913 v_jo v.r"
793, 794, 797, 901-912 jOJ lijJI
278, 285-287, li^JL Juji JT Î
288-289, 290, 291-292
678, 679, lijJIj JJuJL 4JUI y.\
688, 741
127-129, 130, 131, li>JL *JUI jj
133,134, 136, 137, 138-139,
142, 143, 144, 145, 150-151,
156-157, 170, 171, 177-181,
182-189, 190, 191-192, 193-
195, 198, 199-202, 203, 204,
205, 207, 208, 237-238, 239,
240, 243-245, 254, 255, 256,
258, 265, 266, 267-268, 270,
740
662-663 JJuJIj li^JL *A)I jj
349, 350-351, (Ow'an xxvi, 181)
352, 354, 365,366-370
704-705, 706, 739 4S>. *juI
724-725, -O)I
^ SS/ *M\
730-732, 738
699-700 40)
909-912 JLSai Ij^cJ Vj

315
HONORARY TITLES IN THE FORM OF INVOCATIONS
617, 619, 624, 626, 627, aM\ .11I
633, 636, 637-638, 639, 641,
642, 643-644, 649, 662-663,
665, 666-668, 669-670, 675,
676, 681-684, 685, 693-696
260, 261, 262-264, juuI 4*M
293-294, 296-297, 298, 299-
300, 397-399, 408-409, 410,
412-414, 415-416, 435-437,
514, 553, 554-555, 556, 557-
558, 576, 608
662-663, 678, 679, U> *M\ JU.I
686, 688, 724-725, 726, 727,
729
704-705, 706-715 ^*Ui ali\ JlLI
672-673, 677 jUJ I >I
385, 400, 528, 529-530, aj}\ -u/I
531, 532, 536-537, 538, 540,
541-543, 544, 545, 546-547,
567-569, 570-571, 575, 581,
582, 583-586, 590,611, 634,
648, 662-663, 665, 666-668,
669-670, 679, 681-684, 685,
690, 691, 738
295 4JUI
507-508, 522-523 *J -O)I Î

316
ARABIC INDEX OF OFFICIALS
742-47 (cf. 295, (tt*\j>\ Cx dk
352)
515, 520-21, 572- V Cx. Û
76
469 jlUl xs. Cx. f^*l^.
749 J-ftlrl Cx, ^y.
295, 352
748 fi^Cx.fty.
550-52 ~jc" Cx. y\ y
649 ioL. Cx. ^Jo j>
662-63, 665-68 ^LlsI
651 (j~$
730-39
14-33
617-19
691-96
522-27, 567
71
750
662-63, 665-68
277-92
640
679-80, 681-85
646
751-52
115-23
650

690
ij* -U- jyajJ\ y.
djij> Cx. ^*.
^l Cs. j-U
C^
oM
704-05
j-LÎ ^;l Cx. Cr..^l
138-39, 144, 204-05 ^1l Cx. î
698 ^^j tf/j
418, 482-85 ^,^1l i>. J-u.
417-19, 422-23, 427-28, ILL.
432-33, 457-68, 470-71, 476-
77
754
755
650
756
686A
(JlaL. i>.
688
757-58
J')
OUJl
J i>. o^
422-23, 427-28, 418, 480 ^ ^
293-301 J* i>. U
397
cn
kiw
i>. U>
317
587, 590-603, 604- ^ j. 11*
606, 612, 617-19, 621, 623,
624, 628
588 i>. ...
137, 143, 145, 151, i-i Cr jUt
196-203
339-48, 520-21,
532, 572, 579-80
647 (^""j~i Cr ltCjJI
635 ^ Î i>. 40JI
384, 385(?)386- JLiIj Cr *M
96, 432-56
648 (? 6.. 40)I J^*
627, 629, 629a J>\>y, Cr jUJI Jl*
636,643-44, 645 i>. *JUI
Jtui Cr (joJI -W* jI) 40H .V1
630-32
577 Ji>j<_ i>. *JJI J^*
759 i>jU-I
531 j^jc" i>. ole-jJI
565-66, 578, l^. Cr oÎ Jo*
584
401,415-16, Ju> Cr jÎ JLc
425-26, 430-31,440-51
625 J~* i>. >_>JI J^*
760 j^-ft i>. OiI JL*

256-70 jIjj- i>.
302-31, 355-57 i>. OiI ^
697 < ^ JÎ^JI JL*
761 vUjJI Jl*
412, 502-03 -jc i>. v1*Î .V1
652 SL* i>.
64-123 vl*rJ-| i>. JU*
Ju* Cr Ju* jI) jUM
630-32
764 xiU i>. Ua*
648 J*
635, 639 îyuJ\ i>. J*
582-86 oW- i>. J*
689 i>. J*
665-68 ^jVI ^ i>. J*
608 (jI^s* i>. jI) cflM. (>.
554-56, 559-63 S-ic i>. oIy1
701-03 J 1î i>. *~r*
237-55 lk* Î i>. ,j~a*
762-63 S^b* i>. Lr-=*
514, 553-58 oJ i>. ^j-^
653-61, 679 i>. ^-<*
698 t5^J tf~s*
581 ^ i>.
135-209 JUJI
766-69
U)I
l^s*JI i>.
504, 529-30, 533-34 :>L.j i>. 4.
765 o-jy?
1-13 liiij-i i>. 'eJ
403-09, 411, 421, 424-26, J_IT
429
261, 275-76 i-il* i>. ^
296-97, 314-16, 322-25, 355-
57, 388
301 uy)i
620-25 JîJI i>. .i-UI
636-39 fjii i>.
770 jjSsSirt> i>. Û)L.
662-63 jJuTi>. <iUL,
771 i>. iJJl*
648 UJJ-I jj-UI
Arabic Index: Officials
319
302-16, 326-38,
587-90
382,411,421,424, 429
382
111
jLsLI Juc i>. .J^1
578
1_ ~ " ^g**y*
773
383
i-r~*^ O1. Oy~*
774-75
655
646
780-83
JuiU
615-16
257-58, 261
784
724-29
785
777-78
397-406
136, 148-50,
701

?.... Cx. p-i1 .
156-57, 177-95
678
528-35
>
678-79
649-50
...
516-19, 564
662-63 jc-jiI jj[ jlUL t,nr.lI
786-90
651
(1JL3*) >.
791
776
XiIj i>.
536-44
582 I ciy o". 4j
567-68
634
jj U. i>. |
62-63 Jb>_
349-81
127-31, 133,
507-13, 548-49
142, 206-08, 210-36, 239-45
505-27 otÎ -/riI ^ iS.**1I
259, 262-64, 271-74 ^ (>_ Jbj.
664 j-UJI j>\ i>
415-39
604-06, 607
707-23
ENGLISH INDEX OF OFFICIALS
Abban b. Ibrahlm 742-747 and probably
295, 352
al-'Abbas Musa 647
'Abdawayh b. Jabala 652
'Abd Allah b. Abl Bakr 635
'Abd Allah or 'Ubayd Allah b. Muhammad
630-632
'Abd Allah b. Rashid 384, 385 (?), 386-396,
452-456
'Abd Allah b. 'Irbad 627, 629, 629A
'Abd Allah b. 'Isa 636, 643-644, 645
'Abd Allah b. Yazid 577
'Abd Allah b. ?(Tahir ? under al-Mamun ?)
648
'Abd al-'Azlz b. Humayd 625
'Abd al-Jabbar b. Nusayr 759
'Abd al-Malik b. 'Isa 760
'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan 256-270
'Abd al-Malik b. Yazld 302-331, 355-357
'Abd al-Rahman b. Maysara 565-566, 578,
584
'Abd al-Rahman b. Tamlm 531
'Abd al-Rahman b. Yazld 401, 415-416, 425-
426, 430-431, 440-451
'Abd al-Wahhab 761
'Abd al-Wahhab b. Tamlm 472, 502-503

'Abd al-Wahid Yahya, Khut 697
Abu Bakr b. Abl Bakr 748
Abu Bakr b. Junada 649
Abu Bakr b. Tamlm
Abu Ja'far Ashinas 662, 663, 665-668
Abu'l-Nasr Muhammad b. al-Sarl 651
Harun 678
Hayyan b. Shurayh 34-61, 62-63
Hilal b. al-Hasan 609-610
Humayd b. Qahtaba 408-414
al-Husayn b. Jamll 639, 685
al-Husayn b. al-Zafar al-Mutaqannit 702-703
Huwayy b. Huwayy 611-612
Ibrahlm b. 'Abd Allah 469
Ibrahlm b. Isma'll 749
Ibrahlm b. Salih 515, 520-521, 572-576
? b. Ibrahim 295, 352. See also Abban b.
Ibrahlm.
'Imran b. 'Utba 554-556, 559-563
'Isa b. Abl 'Ata 237-255
'Isa b. Junada 762-763
'Isa b. Luqman 514, 553-558
'Isa b. Mansur 653-661, 679
'Isa and Zakariyya 698
Ishaq b. Sulayman 617-619
Ishaq b. Yahya 691-696
Isma'Il b. Ibrahlm 522-527, 567-571
Isma'll b. Ja'far 750
Itakh al-Turki 679, 680, 681-685
Jabir b. al-Ash'ath 646
Ja'far 751-752
Junada b. Maysara 115-123
Ka'b b. 'Alqama 261, 275-276
Kamil 403-104, 411, 421, 424-426, 429,
430-431
Kayl 296-297, 314-316, 322-325, 355-357, 388
al-Khaslb b. 'Abd al-Hamld 633-634
Khumarawayh b. Ahmad 740
Khut 'Abd al-Wahid b. Yahya 697
al-Layth b. al-Fadl 620-625
al-Luqa 301
Ma'dd b. ('Azlz ?) 651
al-Mahdl, Caliph 505-527
English Index: Officials
321
MahfQz b. Sulayman 626-628
Maymun b. Ka'b 383
Malik b. Dalham 636-639
Malik b. Kaydur 662-663
Malik b. Mansur 771
Malik b. Sabuktakin 770
al-Ma'mun, Caliph 648
al-Mansur, Caliph 349-381
Matar, mawla 528-535
Mu'awiya b. Mawla al-Muhsin 582
Mu'awiya b. Rashid 776
al-Muhajir 507-513, 548-549
Muhammad b. 'Abd al-Jabbar 772
Muhammad b. 'Amr 774-775
Muhammad b. al-Ash'ath 384
Muhammad b. Muhammad 646
Muhammad b. Sa'Id 358-364, 470-494
Muhammad b. Shurabbll 302-316, 326-338,
382, 411, 421, 424, 429
Muhammad b. Sulayman 507-513, 545-547
Ahmad b. Tulun 730-739
Al Muhammad 277-292
al-Amln Muhammad, Caliph 640
'AH 648
'AH b. Muhammad 689

'AH b. al-Safradl 635, 639
'AH b. Sulayman 582-586
'AH b. Yahya al-Armanl 665-668
'Anbasa b. Ishaq 701-703
'Asim b. Hafs 339-348, 520-521, 532, 572,
579, 580
Ashinas, Abu Ja'far 662, 663, 665-668
'Ata b. Nashid 764
Dawud 753
Dawud b. al-Murr 138-139, 144, 204-205
al-Fadl b. Salih 581
Hafs b. al-WaKd 124-134
Hamza b. al-Mughira 699-700
Harith b. Zur'a 650
Harthama b. Nadr Jaball 669-670, 681-685
Harun b. Khumarawayh 741
al-Hasan b. al-Bahba 641-644
al-Hasan b. Abi'l-Mahasin 704-705
al-Hasan b. Mu'adh (?) 752A
Hashim b ?701
Hashim b. Salim 613-616
Hatim b. Harthama 689A, 690
Muhammad b. 'Ubayd Allah 773
Mukarram b. Khalid 634
Mukhallad and Yahya or Mukhallad b.
Yahya 257-258, 261
Musa 779
Musa b. Abi'l-'Abbas 664
MQsa b. 'Isa 587-590
Musii b. Ka'b 382
Musa b. al-Mus'ab 578
Musa b. Sabiq 604-606, 607
Muslim b. al-'Arraf 136, 148-150, 156-157,
177-195
al-Mutawakkil, Caliph 686-689
al-Mu'tasim billah, Caliph 662-663
al-Muttalib b. 'Abd Allah 649-650
Muzahim b. Khaqan 724-729
Muzahim b. Muhammad 777-778
al-Nahid 655
Nashid 780-783
Nasib 784
Naaih 615-616
322
Salih b. Qustantln 397-399, 407
? b. Salih 588
Samand 757-758
Sawlris 422-423, 427-428, 478, 480
Sulayman 755
Sulayman b. Aflah 650
Sulayman b. Dawiid 756
Sulayman b. Harthama 686A
Sulayman b. Wahb or ? b. Sulayman 688
'Ubayd Allah b. al-Habhab 64-123
'Ubayd Allah or 'Abd Allah b. Muhammad
630-632
'Umar b. Ghaylan or 'Umar b. Mihran 608
'Umar b. Yahya 495-501
Usama b. Zayd 14-33
Wadih, mawla 516-519, 564
al-Wathiq, CaUph 678-679
Yahya 791
Yahya, mawla of al-Mahdl 536-544
Yahya b. Sa'ld 567-568
Yazid II, Caliph 62-63
Yazld b. 'Abd Allah 704-723
Yazid b. Abl Yazld 127-131,133, 142,206-208,
210-236, 239-245
Yazld b. Hatim 415-439

Yazld b. Tamlm 259, 262-264, 271-274
Yuhannis 786-790
Zaffar b. Shaba 137, 143, 145, 151, 196-203
Zakariyya and 'Isa 698
AI 636
AW0S 402
I(0 622, 648
CO 470-471,473-474,475

PLATES

UMAYYADS

II
15
16
18
21
27
22
111
28
32
25
30
33
31
UMAYYADS

Ill
36
53
54
56
UMAYYADS

IV
59
60
65
64
68
67
69
70
73
74
75
76
UMAYYADS

77
78
79
81
83
84
85
86
94
97
98
100
104
106
UMAYYADS

VI
107
113
Ollt
am.
108
114
116
111
118
UMAYYADS

VII
129
130
126
131
133
132
136
UMAYYADS

VIII
UMAYYADS

IX
145
146
147
148
151
153
158
161
on*.
173
174
UMAYYADS

176
188
179
191
190
0.OjMCr
195
198
199
196
UMAYYADS

XI
203
IS
204
205
206
EP
209
210
207
208
215
212
UMAYYADS

XII
217
218
216
220
221
222
227
228
234
235
UMAYYADS

XIII
242
244
245
249
25U
252
UMAYYADS

XIV
253
257
261
262
UMAYYADS

XV
265
266
268
269
270
272
276
275
UMAYYADS

XVI
277
283
288
279
278
285
290
282
291
292
294
'ABBASIDS

XVII
296
298
295
299
301
302
'ABB AS IDS

XVIII
304
305
306
307
314
323
316
321
330
326
'ABBASIDS

XIX
332
333.A
348.A
'ABBASIDS

XX
350
353
354
356
357
358
360
362
363
365
'ABBASIDS

XXI
368
373
377
371
374
378
372
376
381
9V
383
382
'ABB AS IDS

XXII
'ABBASIDS

XXIII
397
406
'ABBASIDS

XXIV
407
413
414
410
416
417
'ABBAS IDS

XXV
421
426
432
435
437
422
427
429
424
430
433
434
>
438
439
'ABB AS IDS

XXVI
445
'ABBASIDS

XXVII
447
449
450
453
454
455
458
460
468
462
469
464
467
470
'ABBASIDS

XXVIII

XXIX
496
504
497
505
498
506
507
502
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
'ABB AS IDS

XXX
520
523
527
528
530
533
o6A
'ABBASIDS

XXXI
536
544
'ABBASIDS

XXXII
545
546
547
548
'ABBASIDS

XXXIII
566
568
567
'ABBASIDS

XXXIV
576
577
578.A
579
586
'ABBASIDS

XXXV
590
593
596.B
'ABBASIDS

XXXVI
600
601
602
603
The two glass
stamps attached
to the rim.
Reconstructed
from the
two fragments
605 and 606.
(jUo
605-606
609
614
610
615
'ABBASIDS

XXXVII
616
617
618
619
620
621
'ABBASIDS

XXXVIII
639
637
'ABBASIDS

XXXIX
640
643
648.A
648.B
'ABBASIDS

XL
649
648.A
650
'ABBASIDS

XLI
655
654
656
657
'ABBASIDS

XLII
671
V-
'I<M* I
.. &&
674
677
675
673
676
680
679
'ABB AS IDS

XLIII
681
681
682
683
685
686
691
'ABBA.SIDS

XLIV
692
692
697
698
701
693
699
702
704
695
696
700
703
704
'ABB AS IDS

XLV
706
707
713
714
715
715
'ABBASIDS

XLVI
718
716
722
720
724

XLVII
726
727
729
'abbAsids
728
733
TULUNIDS

XLVIII
734
736
738
739
737
740
741
754
756
TULUNIDS
755. Reconstructed

XLIX
758
Hill. -
iiOtJli._^
760
759.A
766
765.B
770
771
774
775
776
TULUNIDS

777
777
786
778
791
791
TULUNIDS

LI
795
796
ANONYMOUS WEIGHTS

LII
802
807
J-GGi
809
810
812
814
816
819
822
823
ANONYMOUS WEIGHTS

LIU
826
828
830
833
834
835
ANONYMOUS WEIGHTS
839
jf-3/i
844
840
845
841
849
851
843.B
848
852
ANONYMOUS VESSEL STAMPS

LIV
855
863
869
876
858
865
870
878
859
866
873
\P
879
882
884
860
868
875
881
886

LV
890
891
894
888
895
897
896
898
900
899
910
918
919

Umayyad, 'Abbāsid and Tūlūnid Glass Weights and Vessel Stamps / by Paul Balog

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Generated for anonymous on 2015-02-15 19:34 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.

'ABBASID AND TULUNID

GLASS WEIGHTS AND VESSEL STAMPS

THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY

Generated for anonymous on 2015-02-15 19:34 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015005328581

TO THE MEMORY OF MY BELOVED WIFE

whose devotion and encouragement

made all my work possible

I wish to dedicate this work also

GEORGE CARPENTER MILES

the founder of modern systematic Arabic metrology

Generated for anonymous on 2015-02-15 19:34 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015005328581

and an esteemed friend

Issuing Authorities and Protocols 4

Additions to the Historical Record of Officials and other Minor Officials .. 7

Analysis of the Weights 10

The Ratl Weights 13

The Ratl Systems 19

Accurary of the Heavy Weights 22

Names of Substances on Heavy Weights 27

Analysis of the Measures 29

Intact Measures of Capacity 31

Chronology of the Officials Identified in the Catalogue 32

A Note Concerning the Illustrations 36

Bibliography and Key to Abbreviations 39

4. Unidentified 'Abbasid Officials 270

5. Anonymous Weights 286

6. Anonymous Vessel Stamps 297

Arabic Index of Drugs 312

Generated for anonymous on 2015-02-15 19:34 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015005328581

English Index of Drugs 314

Arabic Index of Pious Legends 315

Honorary Titles in the Form of Invocations 316

Arabic Index of Officials 317

English Index of Officials 320

modern Arabic metrology.

other contributions to Arabic metrology, but, unfortunately, his printed works on

weights and vessel stamps are too few.

described an intact wuqiyya disk weight of the 'Abbasid governor Wadih.

Adolf Grohmann's comprehensive chapter on metrology in his Chrestomathie, al-

author's vast knowledge of early Arabic Egypt.

collection which is also in the Cabinet des M6dailles.

Generated for anonymous on 2015-02-15 19:34 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015005328581

by Launois. Unfortunately it is difficult to identify those coin weights which have

catalogue (NL 46 [Jan. 1959], pp. 367-8).

proper historical context, to arrange it in chronological order, to identify many of the

2 Glass Weights and Vessel Stamps

unsolved questions concerning the fals weight.

maceutical labels affixed to officially-issued drug containers. The names of drugs

used during the eighth and ninth centuries in Egypt.

Medailles, Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. The remainder of the specimens described

important systematically acquired collections of Arabic metrological material, contain-

Generated for anonymous on 2015-02-15 19:34 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015005328581

many well-preserved heavy weights, ring weights and disk weights.

to unknown on glass also occur.

well-preserved heavy weights. Intact or even reasonably well-preserved heavy weights

systems used in Egypt.

Generated for anonymous on 2015-02-15 19:34 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015005328581

Issuing Authorities and Protocols

al-Amln, al-Ma'mun as heir apparent, al-Mu'tasim, al-Wathiq and al-Mutawakkil.

was a viceroy, to him, or to the finance director, or to both jointly.

is written on the glass, without that of their superiors.

(see Cat. 648, 679).