Artheon MuseumArtheonMuseum

Coin

Unknown Artist

dated A.H. 374/ 894 CE

Coin by Unknown Artist

Medium

Silver

Classification

Coins

Department

Islamic Art

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Rogers Fund, 1939

Accession Number

39.40.127.48

Art Historical Context

This silver coin, struck in A.H. 374 (894 CE), offers a tangible glimpse into the vibrant world of medieval Islamic civilization. Minted during the Abbasid Caliphate—a golden age of scholarship, trade, and empire-building—this dirham-like piece reflects the economic backbone of a realm stretching from Spain to Central Asia. As a product of the Islamic Art tradition, it exemplifies how coins served not just as currency but as portable emblems of authority, circulating along the Silk Road and beyond. Crafted from high-quality silver, the coin's medium was chosen for its durability and prestige,...

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