Analysis of a Coin with Mahdism Content in the Second Century AH

"Coins" not only report on the history of a period but they are also important tools reflecting religious symbols, including the concept of Mahdism in the Islamic period. The present study focuses on examining and analyzing a coin with Mahdism content that does not bear a mint date and location. This research has been conducted using a "descriptive-analytical" method. It is revealed through the comparison of the data of the coins under study with the reports of written sources that the slogans "Ya Hamd" and "Ya Mansoor" as two victory slogans in battles, verse 33 of Surah Tawbah, a part of verse 23 of Surah Ash-Shura, and verse 81 of Surah Al-Isra, as well as the explicit mention of the word "Mahdi" on the coin, indicate the uprising of an individual claiming Mahdism. Investigations indicate that Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn Hasan ibn Hasan ibn Ali (100-145 AH), known as Nafs al-Zakiyya (pure soul) who rose up in 145 AH, can be a probable option for this coin.