Coin
Unknown Artist
dated A.H. 374/ 983–84 CE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm) D. 1/16 in. (0.1 cm)
Classification
Coins
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1939
Accession Number
39.40.127.61
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver coin, minted in A.H. 374 (983–84 CE), offers a tangible glimpse into the thriving Islamic world of the late 10th. Measuring just 1¼ inches in diameter and remarkably thin at 1/16 inch, it exemplifies the precision craftsmanship of medieval Islamic minting. Produced during a period when dynasties like the Buyids held sway over much of the Abbasid realm, such coins circulated widely across vast trade networks from the Middle East to Central Asia, facilitating commerce in spices, silks, and scholarly exchanges. Artistically, Islamic coins like this one prioritize calligraph...