Abdullah (tenth/eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of St. Nicholas holding a book. Inscription: |ΚΟΛ : Ὁ ἅγιος Νικόλαος. Wreath border.
Reverse
Arabic inscription in four lines. Wreath border.
عبد الله وخالد ؟ . . موت ؟
Obverse
Bust of St. Nicholas holding a book. Inscription: |ΚΟΛ : Ὁ ἅγιος Νικόλαος. Wreath border.
Reverse
Arabic inscription in four lines. Wreath border.
عبد الله وخالد ؟ . . موت ؟
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.5364 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 24.0 mm |
Translation
عبد الله وخالد ؟ . . موت ؟
Abdullah and Khalid (?) . . . death.
Commentary
The inscription is unclear and needs further interpretation. The disposition of the reverse Arabic inscription is similar in disposition to the seals of Khalid Ibn Mawlid (BZS.1958.106.4300, BZS.1958.106.4347, and BZS.1958.106.4300), but seems to read differently; apparently, below the الله above, is his name; this could read as عبد الله, though there seem to be two letters before the د, though this could be a strange form of ب; also possible as a reading for the name is عبيد الملك/الله (Obaid Al-Malik/Obaid Allah).
The interpretation of the next two lines is extremely uncertain; there appears to be either the word خالد at the beginning of the third line--though the final two characters are partially effaced--followed by something indecipherable. The final line may read as the similar alternate possibility on the Khalid Ibn Mawlid seals, with apparently the word for death, "موت" (though the clear بن present on those seals is not apparent here).