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Khalid ibn Mawlid (tenth/eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin wearing the maphorion, with medallion of Christ before her. Sigla on left: Μ̅|Ρ : Μήτηρ Θεο. Indeterminate border.

Reverse

Arabic inscription in three lines. Border of dots.

سلام) عليك الله وخالد ولله بن مولد

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin wearing the maphorion, with medallion of Christ before her. Sigla on left: Μ̅|Ρ : Μήτηρ Θεο. Indeterminate border.

Reverse

Arabic inscription in three lines. Border of dots.

سلام) عليك الله وخالد ولله بن مولد

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4584
Diameter 23.0 mm

Translation

سلام عليك الله وخالد ولله بن مولد

(Peace) of God be upon you, Khalid, son of Mawlid.

Commentary

The reading of the arabic inscription is unsure, especially the last word of the last line (which seemingly does not end in a ه) and the last line, in which the formation of بن is uncertain, and in which there is likely a letter between the و and the final letter, likely a ت/ث/ب or perhaps even a د/ذ. This seal comes from the same boulloterion as BZS.1958.106.4347, but is only parallel on the reverse to BZS.1958.106.4300.

It is possible that this actually reads, عليك الله وخالد ولله بن موب, translating to "(Peace) of God be upon you, God the immortal son of death" but it is more likely that instead of a slogan such as this, a name is present, perhaps خالد ابن مولد, though the repetition of الله is strange.