Ancient Coins
A “treasure trove” of Abbasid dinars found in Egypt
According to Sky News Arabia, an Egyptian-Russian archaeological mission has unearthed a treasure trove of gold dinars dating back to the Abbasid era at a site known as Deir al-Banat in the Fayoum Governorate. The mission discovered 28 gold dinars and five smaller dinar coins, all from the Abbasid period, wrapped in linen and secured with a clay ring bearing indistinct symbols.
November 13, 2020Yep Island's huge coins
The island of Yep in Micronesia, in the Pacific Ocean, uses the US dollar as its official currency. However, they also use another unusual currency: large limestone discs, some weighing as much as a car. These discs are plentiful there, and thieves cannot steal them due to their size. Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2011/02/15/131934618/the-island-of-stone-money?fbclid=IwAR1jeyPGW9cbb6G2uGY1Slr6tA1Dy1PjvOr_LdrRnG3ryZJ62fA83sZ2HWU
November 13, 2020Jerusalem: 1000-year-old gold coins
A small earthenware jug containing four pure gold coins dating back over a thousand years (the early Islamic period) was discovered during archaeological excavations in Jerusalem. According to Dr. Robert Kool, a numismatic expert with the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The coins were in excellent condition and were immediately identified…”
November 8, 2020A lecture on the maintenance and preservation of ancient silver coins
The Sharjah Archaeology Authority organized a remote lecture via the “Zoom” application entitled “Maintenance and Preservation of Ancient Silver Coins”, as part of spreading awareness of the restoration and maintenance of antiquities, as the number of attendees exceeded 230 participants interested in preserving antiquities from inside and outside the country.
October 15, 2020Maintenance and preservation of ancient silver coins
The Sharjah Archaeology Authority has announced an online lecture titled “Maintenance and Preservation of Ancient Silver Coins,“ presented by Al-Mu'taz Billah Al-Shahawi. You can register by scanning the QR code in the image or via the link below: https://zoom.us/…/tJcrcO2hqTIqE9EvPSew5iO5osh2T_5mZDcJ
October 7, 2020Rare Islamic coins
This coin, belonging to the Abbasid Caliph al-Mutawakkil, bears the inscription on its obverse: "In the name of God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God, al-Mutawakkil." On the reverse is the date: "Year 241 AH." The obverse depicts a man (possibly the Caliph himself), while the reverse shows a soldier holding a camel. The coin weighs 4.24 grams of silver, and the reason for its minting is unknown. It is a unique piece.
August 17, 2020Training course on ancient coins
For the second time, a training course on ancient coins will be held via Zoom, in cooperation with lecturer Moataz Bellah El-Saeed El-Shahawy, a member of the American Numismatic Society, a researcher at the Paul Getty Foundation for Antiquities, and an antiquities restoration specialist at the Grand Egyptian Museum. The course will be held, God willing, from August 14th to 29th, and participants will receive a certificate accredited by the Arab Collector's Magazine. The course is available online.
August 1, 2020A lecture on the currencies circulating in the Arabian Gulf
The Sharjah Archaeology Authority organized a lecture on “Currency in Circulation in the Arabian Gulf,” presented remotely via Zoom by Professor Dr. Atef Mansour Mohamed Ramadan, Professor of Islamic Numismatics and Archaeology, Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology, Fayoum University, Egypt. Dr. Ramadan listed the currencies that were in circulation, including: the Venetian ducat, the Austrian thaler, the Spanish real, Portuguese coins, the British pound, the Safavid laran, and the Indian rupee…
July 28, 2020A seminar entitled "Maintenance and Preservation of Ancient Silver Coins"
Through the Zoom electronic platform, sponsored by Al-Muqtana Al-Arabi magazine and in cooperation with the lecturer: Al-Mu’taz Billah Al-Saeed Al-Shahawi – Member of the American Society for Numismatics, Researcher at the Paul Getty Institute of Archaeology, and Antiquities Restoration Specialist at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
July 21, 2020Jerusalem Redemption Dinar
Rare Islamic Coins: The Jerusalem Reconquest Dinar; The Battle of Hattin: A decisive battle between the Crusaders and the Muslims, led by Saladin, took place on Saturday, 25 Rabi' al-Thani 583 AH (July 4, 1187 CE) near the village of Majdal, between Nazareth and Tiberias. The Muslims were victorious. The Crusaders' defeat at the Battle of Hattin was catastrophic, as they lost the flower of their knights, and large numbers were killed…
July 20, 2020Maintenance and preservation of ancient silver coins
A general invitation is extended to researchers and those interested in the study of ancient silver coins to attend a seminar entitled "Conservation and Preservation of Ancient Silver Coins" via the Zoom platform. This seminar is sponsored by Al-Muqtana Al-Arabi Magazine and presented by: Al-Mu'taz Billah Al-Saeed Al-Shahawi – Member of the American Numismatic Society, Researcher at the Paul Getty Institute of Archaeology, and Antiquities Restoration Specialist at the Grand Egyptian Museum. The seminar will be held remotely, God willing, via the platform…
July 20, 202001 Shajar al-Durr
July 17, 2020Banu Samjur
The Banu Samjur were a Turkic family who served the Samanid princes of Bukhara in the 10th century CE. They played an influential role in the history of eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan during that period, and by the second half of the 10th century, they had established a semi-independent principality in Khorasan. The Banu Samjur originated as Mamluks of the Samanid princes. They quickly rose to prominence thanks to their skills as leaders…
July 1, 2020The activities of the archaeological coins course have concluded.
With the conclusion of the course on ancient coins, prepared by Dr. Moataz Billah El-Shahawy, we extend to him our deepest gratitude and appreciation for his efforts in organizing this course and ensuring its outstanding success. We would also like to thank all the participants—amateurs, professors, and specialists—for the valuable information and expertise shared throughout the course. We hope that it will be a lasting success…
June 28, 2020When our fingers touch an old coin, we inevitably wonder about its purchasing power during its period of circulation…
The coin on display is a Roman-Egyptian obol, minted in Alexandria around 2,000 years ago in the first century AD during the reign of Emperor Claudius. The obol was a coin introduced by the Greeks and retained by the Romans; six obols were equal to one drachma. It was always made of bronze and weighed between 8 and 12 grams (depending on the minting period), with a diameter of approximately 2.5 cm.
June 5, 2020Rare Islamic coins: The fils of Jahwar ibn al-Murar
Jahwar ibn Marrar al-Ajli was a brave commander loyal to the Abbasids. Abu Ja'far al-Mansur sent him to fight Sunbadh al-Majusi, who had risen up seeking revenge for the blood of Abu Muslim al-Khurasani. Jahwar defeated him in a battle between Hamadan and Rayy in 137 AH. However, he considered the spoils of war as booty and distributed them among the fighters, sending nothing to the Caliph. The Caliph then demanded it, but Jahwar refused…
June 4, 2020Training course on ancient coins
For the first time in the Arab world, an online training course on ancient coins will be offered, sponsored by Al-Muqtana Al-Arabi magazine and in cooperation with lecturer: Al-Mu'taz Billah Al-Saeed Al-Shahawi, researcher at the Paul Getty Institute for Conservation and Restoration in the USA, and an antiquities restoration specialist at the Grand Egyptian Museum. The course will be held remotely via Zoom, two days a week for three weeks, starting from the 12th of…
June 3, 2020Coin of Sayf al-Dawla al-Hamdani
Rare Islamic coins minted by Sayf al-Dawla al-Hamdani. Sayf al-Dawla al-Hamdani (Sayf al-Dawla al-Abbasiyya) (303-356 AH / 915-967 AD) was Ali ibn Abi al-Hayja ibn Hamdan ibn al-Harith Sayf al-Dawla al-Taghlibi, founder of the Emirate of Aleppo, which included most of northern Syria and parts of western Mesopotamia, and brother of Hassan ibn Abdullah (known as Nasir al-Dawla…
May 20, 2020The Atabegs of Bury
Rare Islamic Coins: The Burid Atabegs' Mint. The Burids were a Turkish dynasty that ruled Damascus from 1103 to 1154 CE. The dynasty's founder, Zahir al-Din Tughtekin (1103-1128 CE), was a Seljuk soldier in the Levant. In 1095 CE, he was appointed Atabeg of the Levant by the Seljuk prince Duqaq ibn Tutush. From 1103 CE onward, the rule of Damascus became hereditary within his descendants. Four of his sons...
May 11, 2020Banu Mirdas
The Mirdasids were an Arab family from the Banu Kilab clan of the Hawazin tribe of the Qays confederation. Their pre-Islamic homeland was the protected area of al-Rabadha, near Medina, al-Awali, and the highlands of Najd. Some of them migrated and settled on the banks of the Euphrates in the Levant. The Mirdasid state encompassed Aleppo, Manbij, Balis, Raqqa, al-Rahba, Homs, Sidon, Baalbek, and Tripoli. Its first ruler was Salih ibn Mirdas, nicknamed "Asad..."
April 29, 2020