Coin

Art Historical Context

This copper coin, dated A.H. 174 (790 CE), offers a tangible glimpse into the vibrant world of early Islamic civilization. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Department, it exemplifies the numismatic artistry of the Abbasid era, when caliphs like Harun alashid ruled from Baghdad. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1939, such coins were everyday tools of trade, circulating across a vast empire from Spain to Central Asia. Crafted from durable copper—a practical choice for smaller denominations known as *fals*—the coin likely features finely engraved Arabic inscriptions, a hallm...