Date:
Islamic Period, Ayyubid Period (1169-1252)
Material(s):
Non-organic material, metal, gold
Diameter:
1.9 cm;
Weight:
4.86 gr
Hall:
Islamic Antiquities, showcase M2
Description
This is a dinar issued during the reign of Al-Adil Abu Bakr. It was coined with the phrase “Imam Ahmad Abu al-Abbas al-Nasser Ldin Allah, the Caliph” on the obverse, surrounded by the phrase “In the name of Allah, this dinar was coined in Alexandria in the year five hundred and ninety-six”. On the reverse, the phrase “Al-Malik al-Adil Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Ayyub and the named successor of Al-Kamel Muhammad Ghayah” was inscribed, surrounded by the phrase “Muhammad is a messenger sent by God with guidance and the religion of truth to proclaim it over all religions” on the edge.
The Ayyubid Coins
The Fatimid monetary system is a turning point in the history of the Egyptian monetary systems, as the country did not witness any monetary stability in the Ayyubid and Mamluk eras. When Saladin established his state in Egypt over the ruins of the Fatimid Caliphate 1171 AD/567 AH, he began to face a shortage of gold followed by a shortage in silver by the beginning of the sixth Hijri century (13th century AD). This led to coining dirhams of poor quality with increased amounts of copper to reach half of the coin material in the Naserian dirhams, and one third in the Kamli dirhams (related to Al-Kamel al-Ayyubi). This had also led to the appearance of copper fils among the main coins circulating in the markets. Saladin made his coins after the same style of the Fatimid dinars with the multi circles, inscribing the name of the Abbasid caliph instead of the Fatimid caliphs on Egyptian coins for the first time since the Ikhshidid era. In addition, Saladin coined a new style of dinars in 1181 AD/576H made of an obverse/reverse and two edges. This style continued until Al-Malik al-Adil I (1199 AD/596 AH – 1218 AD/615 AH), who coined a new style of one center and one edge that was in use until the end of the Ayyubid realm. All the inscriptions on these coins were written in Kufic letters until 1226 AD/632 AH when the beautiful Naskh script was used on the Ayyubid dinars.
The information given here is subject to modification/update as a result of ongoing research.
References
- Zahi Hawass, ed., Bibliotheca Alexandrina: The Archaeology Museum (Cairo: The Supreme Council of Antiquities, 2002): 133.
- Mona Serry, ed., Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Antiquities Museum, introduction by Ismail Serageldin (Alexandria: Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Antiquities Museum, 2015): 224, 329.