Coin

Art Historical Context

This copper coin, minted between A.H. 716–736 (1316–1335 CE), hails from the Mamluk Sultanate, powerful Islamic dynasty that ruled Egypt and Syria during a golden age of trade, architecture, and cultural flourishing. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic collection, acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1939, it exemplifies the everyday artistry of medieval monetary systems. Copper coins like this were essential for local transactions, contrasting with gold dinars used for grander exchanges, and they circulated widely across bustling markets from Cairo to Damascus. Artistically, I...