Page 11 - The Lugdunum Auction 21

This is one of the few cases to find Sufi influence in Islamic coinage. Arabic huwwa for "he" is a Sufi address to
Allâh, frequently used in repetition in the mystical practice of dhikr. The retrograde form is commonly found
as a symmetrical juxtaposition of the word in Sufi calligraphy. This corresponds with the mirrored vision of
the stars when the vision from the world is compared to the vision on a celestial globe. But it corresponds
equally to a famous Sufi response to orthodox Islam, i.e. praying in the mosque with the back to the qibla (di-
rection to Mecca) in order to express that Allah is not to be addressed in Mecca but rather inside the believer.
Consequently there is no reason to assume that the reversed form of huwwa on the coin is merely accidental.

It cannot be entirely sure that this coin has to be dated to Karîm Khan's lifetime, as the invocation yâ karîm,
which can be found on this coin was continued in the coinage of some of his sons and also under Abû'l-Hasan
Beglerbeg, the factual ruler of Kirmân after 1193 H.

10 11

10 Karîm Khân, 1166-1193 AH (1753-1779 AD). 1/4 mohur (no date), Yazd (Dâr al-'ibâda). 2,67 g. A.
2791. GOLD. Very fine 100.-

11 Karîm Khân, 1166-1193 AH (1753-1779 AD). 1/4 mohur 1109 (for 1190) AH, Yazd (Dâr al-'ibâda). 2,73
g. A. 2791. GOLD. Marginal weakness. Extremely fine 150.-

12 13

12 Karîm Khân, 1166-1193 AH (1753-1779 AD). 1/4 mohur 1182 AH, Qazwîn. 2,69 g. A. 2791.
GOLD. Very fine 100.-

13 Karîm Khân, 1166-1193 AH (1753-1779 AD). 1/4 mohur 1187 AH, Kâshân (Dâr al-mu'minîn). 2,70 g. A.
2791. GOLD. Good very fine 150.-

QAJAR DYNASTY

14

14 Fath'alî Shâh, 1212-1250 AH (1797-1834 AD). Keshvarsetan (ducat weight) 1244 AH, Qazwîn. 3,42 g. A.
2870; KM 759. GOLD. Scarce. Some marginal weakness. Extremely fine 200.-