Coin
Unknown Artist
8th–9th century
Medium
Copper
Dimensions
Diam. 13/16 in. (2 cm) Thickness. 1/16 in. (0.2 cm) Wt. 26 gr (1.7g)
Classification
Coins
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1939
Accession Number
39.40.127.15
Art Historical Context
This modest copper coin, dating to the 8th–9th century, hails from the vibrant era of early Islamic civilization, likely during the Abbasid Calate's rise. Measuring just 1316 inch (2 cm) in diameter and a mere 1.7 grams, it exemplifies the practical artistry of numismatics in the Islamic world. Struck from durable copper—a common medium for everyday transactions—these coins facilitated bustling trade routes stretching from Spain to Central Asia, underscoring the economic prowess of medieval Muslim societies. In the Department of Islamic Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (acquired via the ...