Ancient Coin Review 98 : Antique Gold Mas Coin Sultan Addalah ( Samudra Pasai Sultanate 1412-1435 CE)

 This is a gold coin from Sultan Abdullah era of Samudra Pasai Sultanate. There is an error in the name inscribed on this coin. It was written Addallah instead of Abdullah. Historians has argued that this error is intentional as this coin is quite common.

Looking at the Arabic calligraphy used, its quite tricky as the calligraphy is compressed to fit on the coin face. However it has the resemblance to Thuluth & Sini. Or probably this is how Malay calligraphy was derived. There is an error in the name of عبدالله was written as عدالله  . Some historians thought it was intentionally done as the coin is quite common. Another error is the spelling of ملك was written as مك .
Obverse : عدالله مك الطاهر    
                 Addalah Malik AtTahir
Reverse : السلطان العادل
                AsSultan Al Adil

Pasai, also known as Samudera and Samudera-Pasai sometimes called Samudera Darussalam was a Muslim harbour kingdom on the north coast of Sumatra from the 13th to the 15th centuries CE. It was believed the word Samudera derived from Samudra meaning ocean in Sanskrit. According to Hikayat Raja-raja Pasai, it was said Merah Silu saw an ant as big as a cat, he caught it and ate it and he named the place Samandara. King Merah Silu later converted to Islam, known as Malik ul Salih, he was the sultan in year 1267 CE.

Obverse : عدالله مك الطاهر    
                 Addalah Malik AtTahir
Reverse : السلطان العادل
                AsSultan Al Adil
Weight : 0.60 gm
Dim : 14mm
Date : 1412 - 1435 CE
Rarity :Common
Denom : Mas
Material : Gold
Reference : ٍSP14 type 2 pg 142 ( Jaarboek Voor Munt-en Penningkunde)