Coin

Art Historical Context

This 8th-century copper coin, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art department, offers a tangible glimpse into the early Islamic world. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1939, it exemplifies practical artistry of numismatics during a transformative era, when the Umayyad and early Abbasid caliphates across vast territories from Spain to Central Asia. Crafted from durable copper—a common medium for everyday fractional currency known as *fals*—the coin reflects the Islamic emphasis on functionality and piety. Unlike pre-Islamic coins featuring rulers' portraits, early Islamic example...