Abbasid: Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi, rival caliph (817-819), silver dirham (3.09g), Madinat al-Salam (Baghdad) mint, AH 202 (817-818 CE). "i-h" (for Ibrahim). Rare.

Abbasid: Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi, rival caliph (817-819), silver dirham (3.09g), Madinat al-Salam (Baghdad) mint, AH 202 (817-818 CE). "i-h" (for Ibrahim) in reverse field. Album E225 (R). Extremely fine. Rare. An Abbasid prince and son of the third caliph al-Mahdi, Ibrahim was briefly propelled to power during the Fourth Fitna when the citizens of Baghdad revolted against Caliph al-Ma'mun. Proclaimed caliph in 817, Ibrahim secured the crucial allegiance of the Hashemites and minted coinage in his own name during this turbulent civil war. His rebellion was short-lived; he was forced to abdicate in 819, ultimately spending the remainder of his life in peaceful retirement as a celebrated poet and musician.