Coin

Art Historical Context

This copper coin, minted in A.H. 144 (761 CE), offers a tangible glimpse into the early Abbasid Caliphate a pivotal era when the Islamic world shifted power from the Umayyads to the Abbasids in Baghdad. As a common "fals" denomination, it circulated in everyday transactions across a vast empire stretching from Spain to Central Asia, reflecting the economic vitality and administrative sophistication of the time. Crafted through precise striking techniques on thin copper flans, the coin exemplifies Islamic numismatic art's emphasis on calligraphy over figural imagery—an aniconic tradition roote...