Artheon MuseumArtheonMuseum

Coin

Unknown Artist

dated A.H. 375/ 985 CE

Coin by Unknown Artist

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...

    Send Feedback

    We use this only to reply to your feedback.