Coin

Art Historical Context

This unassuming copper coin, dating from the 5th to 14th century, offers a tangible glimpse into the vibrant economic and cultural world of Islamic civilizations. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Department—acquired through the Rogers Fund in 193—it exemplifies the everyday currency that fueled trade across vast empires, from the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates to regional dynasties. Struck in copper, a practical and abundant metal, these coins (often called *fulus*) were designed for common transactions, contrasting with rarer gold *dinars* reserved for high-value exchanges. ...