Coin
Unknown Artist
dated A.H. 371/ 981 CE
Medium
Silver
Classification
Coins
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1939
Accession Number
39.40.127.142
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver coin, struck in A.H. 371 (981 CE), offers a tangible glimpse into the vibrant Islamic world of the late 10th century. Minted during a period when the Abbasid Caliphate's influence persisted amid regional dynasties like the Buyids, it exemplifies the standardized coinage that facilitated trade across vast empires from Spain to Central Asia. As a product of the Islamic Art tradition, such coins were not mere currency but finely crafted artifacts, often bearing intricate Arabic inscriptions that proclaimed rulers' names, mint locations, and religious phrases. Crafted from s...