Coin
Unknown Artist
8th–9th century
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...