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This item has been added to the Database within the Explore Islamic Art Collections project. Information is available in: English, Arabic.

Name of Object:

Coin

Location:

New York, United States of America

Holding Museum:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

About The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Date of Object:

Dated Hegira 79/ AD 698–99

Museum Inventory Number:

99.35.2386

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Gold

Dimensions:

Diameter: 2.1cm

Period / Dynasty:

Umayyad

Provenance:

Syria

Description:

The first Muslim rulers relied on older Byzantine and Sasanian mints to keep a constant supply of coinage in the newly converted lands. Modifications to older types occurred gradually over the first century of Islam. Crosses on Byzantine-style gold coins, for example, were the first visual elements to disappear. ‘Abd al-Malik’s gold reform in 696–97 resulted in totally new coin styles without figural imagery of any kind. Instead, coins like this one made during his reign feature the shahada (profession of the faith) in stately kufic script: “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”

How Object was obtained:

Bequest of Joseph H. Durkee, 1898

Former owner: Joseph H. Durkee, New York (until d. 1898; bequeathed to MMA)

Selected bibliography:

Bates, Michael, Islamic Coins. ANS Handbook 2, New York: American Numismatic Society, 1982: 14.
Ekhtiar, Maryam, Canby, Sheila R., Haidar, Navina and Soucek, Priscilla P. (eds), Masterpieces from the Department of Islamic Art in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2011: 22, 32, no. 8, ill. 32 (colour).
Walker, John, A Catalogue of the Arab-Byzantine and Post-Reform Umaiyad Coins. Volume 2. A Catalogue of the Muhammadan Coins in the Collection of the British Museum, London: British Museum, 1956.

Additional Copyright Information:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bequest of Joseph H. Durkee, 1898

Citation of this web page:

 "Coin" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;us;Mus23;4;en

MWNF Working Number: US3 04

RELATED CONTENT

 Artistic Introduction

Islamic Dynasties / Period

Umayyads


On display in

MWNF Galleries

Calligraphy Coins and Medals

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