Coin
Unknown Artist
dated A.H. 374/ 984 CE
Medium
Silver
Classification
Coins
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1939
Accession Number
39.40.127.49
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver coin, minted in A.H. 374 (984 CE), offers a glimpse into the vibrant world of the 10th century. Struck during a period when the Abbasid Caliph and regional dynasties like the Buyids held sway, such dirhams served as everyday currency, facilitating trade across vast empires from the Mediterranean to Central Asia. The precise dating in Hijri script underscores the Islamic calendar's centrality to daily life and governance. Crafted in silver—a prized medium for its durability and portability—the coin exemplifies Islamic numismatic artistry. Typically featuring intricate Kuf...