Coin
Unknown Artist
A.H. 144/ 761 CE
Medium
Copper
Classification
Coins
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1939
Accession Number
39.40.127.258
Art Historical Context
This copper coin, struck in A.H. 144 (761 CE), offers a tangible glimpse into the vibrant world of early Islamic civilization. Minted during the Abbasidiphate's formative years, it reflects the economic and administrative pulse of an empire spanning from Spain to Central Asia. As a common fals—a low-denomination copper piece—it circulated widely in daily trade, markets, and taxes, underscoring the caliphate's sophisticated monetary system. Islamic coins like this one marked a departure from pre-Islamic traditions, evolving from Byzantine and Sasanian prototypes to feature elegant Arabic inscr...