Coin

Art Historical Context

This copper coin, minted in A.H. 174 (790 CE), offers a tangible glimpse into the flourishing Abbasid Caliphate, a golden age of Islamic civilization centered in Baghdad. As a product of the Islamic world, it exemplifies the evolution of coinage under Muslim rule, transitioning from imitations of Byzantine and Sasanian designs to purely Arabic inscriptions. These coins bore essential Islamic phrases, dates, and mint marks, serving not just as currency but as portable declarations of faith and authority. Crafted from durable copper—a common medium for smaller denominations like the fals—this p...