Coin

Unknown Artist

8th–9th century

Coin by Unknown Artist

Medium

Copper

Classification

Coins

Department

Islamic Art

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Rogers Fund, 1939

Accession Number

39.40.127.392

Art Historical Context

This copper coin, minted in the 8th–9th century, offers a tangible glimpse into the vibrant world of early Islamic civilization. Produced during the Umayyad or early Abbasid periods, it belongs to a time when the Islamic empire stretched from Spain to Central Asia, fostering unprecedented trade and cultural exchange. As a common "fals" denomination, this everyday medium of copper—affordable and durable—was essential for local markets, taxes, and daily transactions across diverse regions. Artistically, Islamic coins from this era marked a revolutionary shift. Departing from figurative Byzantin...

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