Lot 7756

AR 20 piastres AH1302, year 5, Rebellion of the Mahdi, Muhammad Ahmed, AH1298-1302/AD1881-85, early standard coinage, mint-name ‘al-Hijirah’, but struck at Omdurman in AH1302 (KM2, MWI 1346; ZENO 280804) Obv. Thoughra within circle of stars and crescent border / rev.: “zarb fi al-hijirah, 1302/5” – 23.80 g. – VF, very rare. The year 5 on this issue is thought to be counted from the beginning of his jihad in AH1298, from Aba Island to Masat, and later Gedir, which journey he referred to in the addresses to his followers as his Hijra or flight. The Mahdists overran Khartoum on AH 8 Rabi II 1302 (25 January 1885) and defeated General Gordon and his British troops. The Mahdi established his capital at Omdurman, rather than the destroyed Khartoum. This coin was struck by the Mahdi in Omdurman without the name of the mint. Very rare, only crown issue of the Mahdi, struck in the year of the fall of Khartoum and the Mahdi's unexpected death 6 months later.