Coin

Art Historical Context

This copper coin, struck between 758 and 768 CE, offers a tangible glimpse into the early Abbasid Caliphate a pivotal era in Islamic history when Baghdad emerged as a center of power and culture following the overthrow of the Umayyads in 750 CE. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art collection—acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1939—it exemplifies the everyday artifacts that fueled trade and administration across a vast empire stretching from Spain to Central Asia. Crafted from durable copper, a common medium for smaller denominations, this coin reflects the Abbasid innovat...