Coins with a Soul — Islamic Medieval Coins — Not Just Currency
When you hold a Islamic Medieval coins in your hand, you’re not just holding silver or gold — you’re holding a whisper from the past.
No portraits. No emperors on horseback. Just powerful words, inscribed in sacred calligraphy, etched by hand into metal that traveled across empires. These coins are quiet, but they speak volumes.
The Beauty Is in the Script
Instead of the faces of rulers, Islamic coins often bear something more meaningful:
-
The Shahada (Islamic testimony of faith)
-
Names of caliphs, cities, and governors
-
Dates in the Hijri calendar
-
Lines from the Qur’an, beautifully rendered in Kufic or Naskh script
No two coins feel quite the same. Some are clean and formal. Others are messy and local. That’s the charm.
Three Coins Every Collector Encounters
🟡 The Gold Dinar
-
First struck in Damascus under the Umayyads in 696 CE
-
Pure, thin, and elegant — a coin of the elite
-
Inscriptions only — no images
-
High-grade examples are rare and pricey, often starting at $1,500+
⚪ The Silver Dirham
-
The coin of the people — used from Spain to Persia
-
You’ll find thousands from the Abbasid period (750–1258 CE)
-
Most weigh around 2.9g to 3.1g
-
A great entry coin: clean examples start around $50
🟤 The Copper Fals
-
Small, local, and often irregular
-
Used in marketplaces and among common folk
-
Underrated by many, but a joy to study
-
Some have charming inscriptions or symbols specific to regions
A Journey Through Dynasties
🕋 The Umayyads (661–750 CE)
-
The first truly Islamic coins — no Roman or Persian influence
-
Early examples still resembled Byzantine coins until reforms in 77 AH
-
Look for simple Kufic script and religious inscriptions only
-
Coins from Damascus and Wasit are especially prized
🏛 The Abbasids (750–1258 CE)
-
Their silver dirhams are abundant, scholarly, and deeply historic
-
Many mention the caliph, governor, mint, and year
-
Baghdad (then known as Madinat al-Salam) is the most famous mint
-
Some coins even reference historic events or rebellions
🌍 The Regions: Fatimids, Mamluks, Seljuks, Ghaznavids
-
These dynasties each added their local touch
-
Fatimid dinars from Egypt are stunning in gold
-
The Seljuks often included Turkish elements
-
You’ll even find bilingual coins from Al-Andalus — Arabic + Latin!
Tips for Identifying Islamic Medieval coins
-
Start with the center — that’s usually the Shahada
-
Look for circular legends around the edge — they often include mint and year
-
Kufic script = earlier coins; Naskh script = later ones
-
Use a Hijri calendar converter to understand the date
-
Watch the weight — fakes often feel off
What Collectors Should Know
💰 Gold dinars from early periods can reach $10,000+ at auction
💡 Abbasid dirhams are affordable and offer endless variety
🌐 Islamic coins circulated widely — some were even copied by Crusaders!
📉 Be wary of modern counterfeits, especially on online marketplaces
📖 Every coin has a story — and most aren’t told yet
Collector’s Quote
“My first Islamic coin was a bent little fals I bought for $20. I’ve now got coins from 14 different dynasties. You don’t need gold to start — just curiosity.”
— Ahmed R., UK collector
Internal Links
FAQ (Human Tone – Schema-Ready)
Q: Are Islamic coins good for beginners?
Absolutely. Abbasid dirhams and copper fals are affordable, historic, and easy to find.
Q: How can I read Arabic on these coins?
You don’t need to speak Arabic. Just learn the common words: Allah, Muhammad, Amir al-Mu’minin, mint names like Baghdad, Wasit, Damascus, and numbers in Hijri format.
Q: Why don’t they have images like other coins?
Islamic tradition discouraged human or animal imagery in religious or official contexts. That led to a unique focus on language and calligraphy — and that’s part of what makes these coins so fascinating.
Coming Soon:
📥 Free guide: “How to Read and Date Islamic Medieval coins (Even If You Don’t Know Arabic)” Join the NumisDon newsletter and get notified.