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One of a group of site finds from the Tanzanian island of Kilwa Kisiwani and its vicinity gathered by Dr G. S. P. Freeman-Grenville between 1955 and 1960 while stationed there. This material comprises 385 bronze coins mainly of the sultanates of Kilwa and Mogadishu (13th/14th cent. AD) and some later Portuguese and local East African issues. The Islamic coins formed the basis of Freeman-Grenville's studies of these coinages in the Numismatic Chronicle 1957 and 1964, which remains the standard reference. This group provides many rulers and types that the Fitzwilliam lacks, and it makes sense to keep the bulk of it together (although the Ashmolean has already picked out some pieces) as a group of provenanced material for future study. The series is one with great variety of epigraphy and added marks, and would repay a more detailed analysis. Dr David Phillipson has kindly made enquiries about the relevant antiquities legislation, and it seems that this came into force in Tanganyika in 1964 and in Zanzibar in 1963. We are advised that as these coins were brought to Britain in 1960 or earlier they were legally exported.: CM.401-1996

Object information

Awaiting location update

Titles

One of a group of site finds from the Tanzanian island of Kilwa Kisiwani and its vicinity gathered by Dr G. S. P. Freeman-Grenville between 1955 and 1960 while stationed there. This material comprises 385 bronze coins mainly of the sultanates of Kilwa and Mogadishu (13th/14th cent. AD) and some later Portuguese and local East African issues. The Islamic coins formed the basis of Freeman-Grenville's studies of these coinages in the Numismatic Chronicle 1957 and 1964, which remains the standard reference. This group provides many rulers and types that the Fitzwilliam lacks, and it makes sense to keep the bulk of it together (although the Ashmolean has already picked out some pieces) as a group of provenanced material for future study. The series is one with great variety of epigraphy and added marks, and would repay a more detailed analysis. Dr David Phillipson has kindly made enquiries about the relevant antiquities legislation, and it seems that this came into force in Tanganyika in 1964 and in Zanzibar in 1963. We are advised that as these coins were brought to Britain in 1960 or earlier they were legally exported.

Maker(s)

Ruler: Ali ibn al-Hasan (1478-9)

Entities

Categories

Description

Kilwa, 'Ali b. al-Hasan (1478-9), 0.91g.

Notes

History note: Under Review

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bought (1996-04-29) by A.H. Baldwin and Sons Ltd.

Dating

1478 - 1479

Components of the work

Object composed of copper alloy Weight 0.91 g

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.401-1996
Primary reference Number: 272795
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Tuesday 17 November 2020 Updated: Thursday 7 December 2023 Last processed: Thursday 7 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "One of a group of site finds from the Tanzanian island of Kilwa Kisiwani and its vicinity gathered by Dr G. S. P. Freeman-Grenville between 1955 and 1960 while stationed there. This material comprises 385 bronze coins mainly of the sultanates of Kilwa and Mogadishu (13th/14th cent. AD) and some later Portuguese and local East African issues. The Islamic coins formed the basis of Freeman-Grenville's studies of these coinages in the Numismatic Chronicle 1957 and 1964, which remains the standard reference. This group provides many rulers and types that the Fitzwilliam lacks, and it makes sense to keep the bulk of it together (although the Ashmolean has already picked out some pieces) as a group of provenanced material for future study. The series is one with great variety of epigraphy and added marks, and would repay a more detailed analysis. Dr David Phillipson has kindly made enquiries about the relevant antiquities legislation, and it seems that this came into force in Tanganyika in 1964 and in Zanzibar in 1963. We are advised that as these coins were brought to Britain in 1960 or earlier they were legally exported." Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/272795 Accessed: 2024-12-23 14:54:31

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/272795 |title=One of a group of site finds from the Tanzanian island of Kilwa Kisiwani and its vicinity gathered by Dr G. S. P. Freeman-Grenville between 1955 and 1960 while stationed there. This material comprises 385 bronze coins mainly of the sultanates of Kilwa and Mogadishu (13th/14th cent. AD) and some later Portuguese and local East African issues. The Islamic coins formed the basis of Freeman-Grenville's studies of these coinages in the Numismatic Chronicle 1957 and 1964, which remains the standard reference. This group provides many rulers and types that the Fitzwilliam lacks, and it makes sense to keep the bulk of it together (although the Ashmolean has already picked out some pieces) as a group of provenanced material for future study. The series is one with great variety of epigraphy and added marks, and would repay a more detailed analysis. Dr David Phillipson has kindly made enquiries about the relevant antiquities legislation, and it seems that this came into force in Tanganyika in 1964 and in Zanzibar in 1963. We are advised that as these coins were brought to Britain in 1960 or earlier they were legally exported. |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-23 14:54:31|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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