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

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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.