The gold dinar (Arabic: ﺩﻳﻨﺎﺭ ذهبي) is an Islamic medieval gold coin first issued in AH 77 (696–697 CE) by CaliphAbd al-Malik ibn Marwan. The weight of the dinar is 1 mithqal (4.25 grams or 0.137 troy ounces).
Dinar Mamluq sultan Baybars (658–676 AH (1260–1277 CE)
The word dinar comes from the Latin word denarius, which was a silver coin. The name "dinar" is also used for Sasanid, Kushan, and Kidarite gold coins, though it is not known what the contemporary name was.
The first dinars were issued by the Umayyad Caliphate. Under the dynasties that followed the use of the dinar spread from Islamic Spain to Central Asia.
Although there was a dictum that the Byzantine solidus was not to be used outside of the Byzantine empire,[citation needed] some of these coins became involved in distant trade; those then did not get re-minted by the imperial mints, and quickly became worn. Towards the end of the 7th century CE, Arabic copies of solidi – dinars issued by the caliphAbd al-Malik (685–705 CE), who had access to supplies of gold from the upper Nile – began to circulate in areas outside of the Byzantine empire. These corresponded in weight to only 20 carats (4.0 g) rather than the 24 carats of a recently minted solidus, but matched with the weight of the worn solidi that were circulating in those areas at the time. The two coins circulated together in these areas for a time.[1]
First dated coins
The first dated coins that can be assigned to the Muslims are copies of silver Dirhams of the Sassanian ruler Yazdegerd III, struck during the Caliphate of Uthman. These coins differ from the original ones in that an Arabic inscription is found in the obverse margins, normally reading "in the Name of Allah". The subsequent series was issued using types based on drachmas of Khosrau II, whose coins probably represented a significant proportion of the currency in circulation.
In parallel with the later Khosrau-type Arab-Sassanian coins, first issued under the Well-Guided Caliphs of Islam, a more extensive series was struck with Khosrau's name replaced by that of the local Arab governor or, in two cases, that of the Caliph. Historical evidence makes it clear that most of these coins bear Hijra dates. The earliest Muslim copper coins are anonymous and undated but a series exists which may have been issued during the Caliphates of Uthman or Ali. These are crude copies of Byzantine 12-nummus pieces of Heraclius from Alexandria.
Silver dirham of the Umayyad Caliphate, minted at Balkh al-Baida in AH 111 ( 729–730 CE)
By the year AH 75 (695 CE) Abd al-Malik had decided on changes to the coinage. A scattering of patterned pieces in silver exist from this date, based on Sassanian prototypes but with distinctive Arabic reverses. This experiment, which maintained the Sassanian weight standard of 3.5–4.0 grams was not proceeded with, and in AH 79 (698 CE) a completely new type of silver coin was struck at 14 mints to a new nominal weight of 2.97 grams. Unlike the contemporary gold coinage, this figure does not seem to have been achieved in practice. The average weight of sixty undamaged specimens of AH 79–84 (698–704 CE) is only 2.71 grams, a figure very close to that for a unique coin of (AH 79) 698 struck with no mint name (as was the standard procedure for the gold dinars produced in Damascus). These new coins which bore the name of 'dirham', established the style of the Arab-Sassanian predecessors at 25 to 28 mm in diameter. Their design is composed of Arabic inscriptions surrounded by circles and annulets.
Umayyad gold dinar, minted 695 CE, obverse with image of Abd al-Malik
On each side there is a three- or four-line legend with a single circular inscription. Outside this are three line circles with, at first, five annulets surrounding them. The side normally taken as the obverse has as its central legend the Kalima or shahada: "There is no god except God alone, there is no partner with Him." Around it is the mint and date formula reading "In the Name of God: this Dirham was struck in [mint name e.g. Damascus] the year [e.g. 698, AH 79]". The reverse has a four line central inscription taken from the Surah 112 of the Quran; "Qul hu Allahu Ahad, Allahu-Samad, Lam yalid wa lam yulad wa lam yakul-lahu kufu-an ahad"'. The marginal legend states: "Muhammad is the Messenger of God, he was sent with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over every other religion, averse though the idolaters may be" (Quran 9:33).
First gold dinar
Umayyad gold Dinar, minted 692 C.E., obverse with three figures, reverse with altered "cross on steps" design.
The gold coins were first struck to the contemporary standard of 4.4 grams and with one or more Arabic Standing figures on the obverse and an Arabic legend on the reverse. Dated coins exist from 680 (AH 74) and are named as 'Dinars'. These experimental issues were replaced in 683 (AH 77), except in North Africa and Spain, by completely epigraphical designs very similar to the designs adopted for the silver pieces but with a shorter reverse legend and no annulets or inner circles. This type was used without appreciable change for the whole of Umayyad period, the coins being struck to a new and carefully controlled standard of 4.25 grams. This weight was reputed to be based on the average of the current Byzantine solidi, was called a Mithqal, a term used earlier for 1⁄72 of a ratl. Evidence of the importance attached to the close control of the new Dinars is provided by the existence of glass weights, mainly from Egypt. They usually show the governor's name, sometimes the date but all marked with coin denomination.[2]
Early gold dinars imitated Byzantine and Sasanian coins of the time, but as time progressed, they began to take on a more uniquely Islamic style. Two early examples, minted in approximately 692 and 694 C.E., have similar designs. Both have a depiction of figures on the obverse while the reverse includes a pyramid-shaped pedestal and a staff with a circular head resting at the top. These two early coin types both bare significant resemblance to Byzantine coins of the same period. In fact, they were all but copied whole cloth from Byzantine designs, the only alterations being the removal of the horizontal bar of the Byzantine cross for religious reasons and the conversion of figures on the front to wearing Islamic-style dress.[3] In the year 692 C.E., the Shahada, or profession of faith, was added onto the obverse and in 694 C.E. it was added to the reverse.[3] In the year 696-7 C.E., images were almost completely removed from coins and were replaced by coins exclusively decorated with inscriptions.[4]
The issues in gold from North Africa began as copies of the coins of Heraclius and his son (but with an abbreviated Kalima in Latin), the reverse "cross on steps" losing in most cases its cross piece. Dinars, halves and thirds were struck, all to the new weight standard. Later coins are dated by indiction, from Indiction II (703, AH 84–85) changing to the Hijra date in Roman numerals in 713 (AH 94) with Arabic phrases appearing in the field from 716 (AH 97). In 684 (AH 100), North Africa came into line with the eastern issues although the mint is named as Ifriqiya. The legends are shorter and the reverse has a new central inscription: "In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate". This was used also on the coins from Al-Andalus, and on the half and third Dinars, most of which show no mint but may well have been struck in Al-Andalus.
Modern use
The modern gold dinar is not an official currency, but a private bullion coin, patterned after the historical currency.
^Miles, George, C (1967). "The Earliest Arab Gold Coinage". Museum Notes (American Numismatic Society). 13: 205.
Sources
Porteous, John (1969). "The Imperial Foundations". Coins in History: A Survey of Coinage from the Reform of Diocletian to the Latin Monetary Union. Weidenfeld and Nicolson. pp. 14–33. ISBN0-297-17854-7.
April 13, 2023
gold, dinar, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, factual, accuracy, disputed, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, help, ensure, . This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article s factual accuracy is disputed Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced January 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Gold dinar news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message The gold dinar Arabic ﺩﻳﻨﺎﺭ ذهبي is an Islamic medieval gold coin first issued in AH 77 696 697 CE by Caliph Abd al Malik ibn Marwan The weight of the dinar is 1 mithqal 4 25 grams or 0 137 troy ounces Umayyad gold dinar minted at Damascus Syria in AH 77 697 CE having a weight of 4 24 grams Gold Dinar of the 20th Abbasid Caliph Ar Radi bi llah 934 to 940 CE Dinar issued during the reign of the Fatimid emir Al Mu izz li Din Allah in Mansouria Tunisia in 344 AH 955 CE Dinar Mamluq sultan Baybars 658 676 AH 1260 1277 CE The word dinar comes from the Latin word denarius which was a silver coin The name dinar is also used for Sasanid Kushan and Kidarite gold coins though it is not known what the contemporary name was The first dinars were issued by the Umayyad Caliphate Under the dynasties that followed the use of the dinar spread from Islamic Spain to Central Asia Contents 1 Background 2 First dated coins 3 First silver dirham 4 First gold dinar 5 Modern use 6 See also 7 References 8 SourcesBackground EditAlthough there was a dictum that the Byzantine solidus was not to be used outside of the Byzantine empire citation needed some of these coins became involved in distant trade those then did not get re minted by the imperial mints and quickly became worn Towards the end of the 7th century CE Arabic copies of solidi dinars issued by the caliph Abd al Malik 685 705 CE who had access to supplies of gold from the upper Nile began to circulate in areas outside of the Byzantine empire These corresponded in weight to only 20 carats 4 0 g rather than the 24 carats of a recently minted solidus but matched with the weight of the worn solidi that were circulating in those areas at the time The two coins circulated together in these areas for a time 1 First dated coins EditThe first dated coins that can be assigned to the Muslims are copies of silver Dirhams of the Sassanian ruler Yazdegerd III struck during the Caliphate of Uthman These coins differ from the original ones in that an Arabic inscription is found in the obverse margins normally reading in the Name of Allah The subsequent series was issued using types based on drachmas of Khosrau II whose coins probably represented a significant proportion of the currency in circulation In parallel with the later Khosrau type Arab Sassanian coins first issued under the Well Guided Caliphs of Islam a more extensive series was struck with Khosrau s name replaced by that of the local Arab governor or in two cases that of the Caliph Historical evidence makes it clear that most of these coins bear Hijra dates The earliest Muslim copper coins are anonymous and undated but a series exists which may have been issued during the Caliphates of Uthman or Ali These are crude copies of Byzantine 12 nummus pieces of Heraclius from Alexandria First silver dirham EditMain article Dirham Silver dirham of the Umayyad Caliphate minted at Balkh al Baida in AH 111 729 730 CE By the year AH 75 695 CE Abd al Malik had decided on changes to the coinage A scattering of patterned pieces in silver exist from this date based on Sassanian prototypes but with distinctive Arabic reverses This experiment which maintained the Sassanian weight standard of 3 5 4 0 grams was not proceeded with and in AH 79 698 CE a completely new type of silver coin was struck at 14 mints to a new nominal weight of 2 97 grams Unlike the contemporary gold coinage this figure does not seem to have been achieved in practice The average weight of sixty undamaged specimens of AH 79 84 698 704 CE is only 2 71 grams a figure very close to that for a unique coin of AH 79 698 struck with no mint name as was the standard procedure for the gold dinars produced in Damascus These new coins which bore the name of dirham established the style of the Arab Sassanian predecessors at 25 to 28 mm in diameter Their design is composed of Arabic inscriptions surrounded by circles and annulets Umayyad gold dinar minted 695 CE obverse with image of Abd al MalikOn each side there is a three or four line legend with a single circular inscription Outside this are three line circles with at first five annulets surrounding them The side normally taken as the obverse has as its central legend the Kalima or shahada There is no god except God alone there is no partner with Him Around it is the mint and date formula reading In the Name of God this Dirham was struck in mint name e g Damascus the year e g 698 AH 79 The reverse has a four line central inscription taken from the Surah 112 of the Quran Qul hu Allahu Ahad Allahu Samad Lam yalid wa lam yulad wa lam yakul lahu kufu an ahad The marginal legend states Muhammad is the Messenger of God he was sent with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over every other religion averse though the idolaters may be Quran 9 33 First gold dinar Edit Umayyad gold Dinar minted 692 C E obverse with three figures reverse with altered cross on steps design The gold coins were first struck to the contemporary standard of 4 4 grams and with one or more Arabic Standing figures on the obverse and an Arabic legend on the reverse Dated coins exist from 680 AH 74 and are named as Dinars These experimental issues were replaced in 683 AH 77 except in North Africa and Spain by completely epigraphical designs very similar to the designs adopted for the silver pieces but with a shorter reverse legend and no annulets or inner circles This type was used without appreciable change for the whole of Umayyad period the coins being struck to a new and carefully controlled standard of 4 25 grams This weight was reputed to be based on the average of the current Byzantine solidi was called a Mithqal a term used earlier for 1 72 of a ratl Evidence of the importance attached to the close control of the new Dinars is provided by the existence of glass weights mainly from Egypt They usually show the governor s name sometimes the date but all marked with coin denomination 2 Early gold dinars imitated Byzantine and Sasanian coins of the time but as time progressed they began to take on a more uniquely Islamic style Two early examples minted in approximately 692 and 694 C E have similar designs Both have a depiction of figures on the obverse while the reverse includes a pyramid shaped pedestal and a staff with a circular head resting at the top These two early coin types both bare significant resemblance to Byzantine coins of the same period In fact they were all but copied whole cloth from Byzantine designs the only alterations being the removal of the horizontal bar of the Byzantine cross for religious reasons and the conversion of figures on the front to wearing Islamic style dress 3 In the year 692 C E the Shahada or profession of faith was added onto the obverse and in 694 C E it was added to the reverse 3 In the year 696 7 C E images were almost completely removed from coins and were replaced by coins exclusively decorated with inscriptions 4 The issues in gold from North Africa began as copies of the coins of Heraclius and his son but with an abbreviated Kalima in Latin the reverse cross on steps losing in most cases its cross piece Dinars halves and thirds were struck all to the new weight standard Later coins are dated by indiction from Indiction II 703 AH 84 85 changing to the Hijra date in Roman numerals in 713 AH 94 with Arabic phrases appearing in the field from 716 AH 97 In 684 AH 100 North Africa came into line with the eastern issues although the mint is named as Ifriqiya The legends are shorter and the reverse has a new central inscription In the Name of God the Merciful the Compassionate This was used also on the coins from Al Andalus and on the half and third Dinars most of which show no mint but may well have been struck in Al Andalus Modern use EditThe modern gold dinar is not an official currency but a private bullion coin patterned after the historical currency See also Edit Money portal Numismatics portalFalsReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Golden dinar Porteous 1969 Broome Michael A Handbook of Islamic Coins Page 11 a b Bloom Jonathan Blair Sheila 1997 Islamic Arts Phaidon p 66 Miles George C 1967 The Earliest Arab Gold Coinage Museum Notes American Numismatic Society 13 205 Sources EditPorteous John 1969 The Imperial Foundations Coins in History A Survey of Coinage from the Reform of Diocletian to the Latin Monetary Union Weidenfeld and Nicolson pp 14 33 ISBN 0 297 17854 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gold dinar amp oldid 1143001356, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
