Coin

Art Historical Context

This small bronze coin, measuring just 7/8 inch (2.2 cm) in diameter, hails from the early Islamic period around 691–692 CE (or 72 A.H.), a pivotal time in the Umayyad Caliphate's expansion across the Near East. Minted during the reign of Caliph Abd al-M, it exemplifies the transitional phase of Islamic coinage, bridging Byzantine and Sasanian influences emerging Arab-Islamic designs. As an inscribed metalwork piece, its surface likely bears Arabic script, marking a shift toward aniconic (image-free) currency that emphasized religious phrases like the Islamic testimony of faith, symbolizing th...