Coin
Unknown Artist
dated A.H. 375/ 985 CE
Medium
Silver
Classification
Coins
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1939
Accession Number
39.40.127.57
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver coin, minted in A.H. 375 (985 CE), offers a glimpse into the vibrant of medieval Islamic civilization. Produced during the late Abbasid Caliphate—likely under Buyid influence in regions like Persia or Iraq—it exemplifies the dirhem, a standard silver currency that facilitated trade across the vast Islamic empire, from the Mediterranean to Central Asia. As a product of the Islamic Art tradition, such coins were not mere money but finely crafted artifacts, blending functionality with artistry. Crafted in silver, the coin's medium was chosen for its durability and portabili...