Coin

Art Historical Context

This modest copper coin, minted during A.H. 160–163 (776–779 CE), hails from the early Abbasid Caliphate a golden age of Islamic expansion and cultural flourishing under caliphs like al-Mahdi and al-Hadi. As a product of the vast Abbasid empire, which stretched from Spain to Central Asia, it served as everyday currency in bustling markets from Baghdad to distant provinces, facilitating trade in spices, textiles, and silks. Crafted in copper—a practical medium for smaller denominations known as *fals*—the coin exemplifies Islamic numismatic artistry. Unlike earlier Byzantine or Sasanian coins ...