Artheon MuseumArtheonMuseum

Coin

Unknown Artist

ca. 1130

Coin by Unknown Artist

Medium

Silver

Classification

Coins

Department

Islamic Art

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Rogers Fund, 1939

Accession Number

39.40.127.616

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silver coin, minted around 1130, hails from the vibrant world of medieval Islamic art and serves as a tangible window into the economic and cultural life of the time. Produced during a period when Islamic empires like the Seljuks and Fatimids flourished across the Middle East and North Africa, such coins—known as dirhams—were essential for trade along the Silk Road and beyond, circulating from bustling bazaars in Baghdad to distant markets in Spain. Crafted through die-striking techniques, the coin's silver medium allowed for fine detailing, typically featuring elegant Arabic c...

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