Coin

Art Historical Context

This unassuming copper coin, dating to the 8th century, offers a tangible glimpse into the vibrant world of early Islamic civilization. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art department (acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1939), it the practical artistry of numismatics—coins that served as both currency and cultural messengers during the expansive Abbasid era or late Umayyad period. Crafted from copper, a common medium for everyday transactions known as *fals* in the Islamic world, this coin was likely struck using dies that impressed intricate Arabic inscriptions. These ofte...