Coin

Art Historical Context

This modest copper coin, minted during the early Abbasid CaliphateA.H. 141–54/758–68 CE), a tangible glimpse into the bustling Islamic world of the 8th century. Struck shortly after the Abbasids overthrew the Umayyads in 750 CE, it reflects a pivotal era of political consolidation and cultural flourishing under caliphs like al-Mansur, who founded Baghdad as the new capital. As a common medium of exchange, such coins—known as *fals*—circulated widely in markets from Mesopotamia to the Mediterranean, facilitating trade in spices, textiles, and grains. Crafted from durable copper, the coin exemp...