Coin

Art Historical Context

This delicate silver coin, on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art department, offers a glimpse into the early days of Islamic numismatics. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 9, it bears a tentative date of A.H. 37 (circa 657 CE) or 98 CE, a notation that underscores the scholarly debates surrounding ancient coin chronologies. Crafted by an unknown artisan its silver medium—prized for durability and prestige—made it ideal for circulation across trade networks in the burgeoning Islamic world. As a prime example of early Islamic coinage, this piece reflects the transition from ...