Struck during the reign of the Abbasid caliph Al-Ma’mun, one of the most influential rulers of the Islamic Golden Age. Al-Ma’mun is remembered for his patronage of science, mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy through the famed House of Wisdom in Baghdad.

This hammered silver dirham features bold Kufic inscriptions containing Islamic declarations of faith and religious formulas typical of early Abbasid coinage. Unlike earlier Roman and Byzantine traditions, Islamic coinage of this era avoided portraiture, emphasizing religious text and elegant calligraphic design instead.

A fascinating historical artifact from the height of medieval Islamic civilization.

Minted in Baghdad.  VF