Islamic Coins
Who is best at grading coins?
When it comes to coin grading and appraisal, two names stand out in the industry: PCGS and NGC. While both companies are reputable and widely used by coin and numismatic collectors in general, there are differences between them that can affect the grading process, pricing, and overall experience. In this article, we will discuss…
April 9, 2026Mamluk coinage between the deposition of the sultan and the rule of the caliph
The Abbasid caliphs in Cairo held virtually no real power. They were called Commander of the Faithful, their names were inscribed on coins in prayers from the pulpits, and everything else rested with the sultan, including the power to depose and appoint the caliphs themselves. There was only one unique case worthy of careful consideration, even though it lasted only seven months and was a product of chance and the work of…
April 18, 2025Inclusive Numismatic Diploma – Online
It is a specialized diploma under the supervision and delivery of Dr. Almoatzbellah Elshahawi entitled “Inclusive Numismatic Diploma” (Online), that delivered in English, and organized by the Arab Collector. Audience Archeologists, numismatists, conservators, historians, curators, and collectors Diploma's Objective: Highlight the significant of coins in history; Elucidate the information derived from coins across various streams…
August 13, 2024Comprehensive Developmental Science Diploma
This is a specialized diploma course, supervised and taught by Dr. Al-Mu'taz Billah Al-Shahawi, entitled "Comprehensive Numismatics Diploma," offered in both Arabic and English, and organized by the Arab Collector. Target audience: Students and researchers in archaeology and numismatics, restoration specialists, historians, museum curators, and enthusiasts. Course objectives: To learn about the history of ancient coins and the metals used in their manufacture; to learn about…
August 11, 2024Assassin coins
Over a year ago, I wrote an article about the coins of the Assassins, but I didn't publish it because there was one particular dinar for which I searched extensively for a clear image but couldn't find one. I could have made do with the poor-quality image I had, in addition to images of the other common dinars, but fortunately, I preferred to postpone the article until a clear image appeared. Now I remember…
March 15, 2024The Fatimids went during Ramadan
Very few Islamic coins bear a minting date that includes the Arabic month as well as the year. If we look at the Fatimid coinage of the Fatimid state, we find a very limited number of issues inscribed with the month alongside the year. It is highly likely that these issues are linked to historical events or religious occasions, and we must attempt to deduce these events and occasions…
March 11, 2024Cookies with dinars
Were there really cakes made with dinars? The Fatimids in Cairo established a dedicated cake-making workshop called Dar al-Fitra, located next to the Great Palace opposite Bab al-Daylam – roughly the current site of the Husseiniya Square – and its purpose was to produce large quantities of cakes and sweets that were distributed to the common people and the elite a day before Eid al-Fitr…
March 9, 2024Coins of Baybars II
Baybars al-Jashankir assumed power during the second reign of al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun after the latter left Cairo and retired to Karak. However, al-Jashankir's rule was short-lived, as he failed to gain the loyalty of the elite or even the support of the common people. The country's situation deteriorated, and dangers and threats multiplied. After approximately a year, al-Nasir Muhammad returned…
March 4, 2024The first Abbasid currency issue in Egypt
The mint of Egypt (Fustat) in the year 133 AH marked the final chapter in the history of the Umayyad Caliphate with the killing of its last caliph, Marwan ibn Muhammad, at the hands of the Abbasids in the village of Zawiyat al-Maslub, in the Wasita district of Beni Suef Governorate. A few months later, a new bronze coin bearing the name of… was minted in Fustat.
March 1, 2024Love Dirham
From the stories of coins: The Love Dirham! Perhaps one of the most beautiful Islamic coins in terms of design, its exquisite design is surpassed only by the even more beautiful love story it tells! The coin known as the "Lion and Sun Dirham" or "Love Dirham" was minted and circulated in the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. It differs from most Islamic coins that have reached us, as it does not bear a decorative design…
November 13, 2023Ashkelon coins through the ages
This article will examine examples of coins minted in Ashkelon throughout the ages: Philistine, Hellenistic, Roman, and Islamic. Ashkelon is one of the largest and oldest cities in Palestine on the Mediterranean coast. It is located 65 km west of Jerusalem. The Canaanites founded the city in the third millennium BC. 1- Philistine: Here we present a coin minted in Ashkelon during…
November 8, 2023Coins of Gaza City
This is Gaza City… that steadfast, ancient city that has always been a thorn in the side of invaders throughout history. Even as the invaders changed, it remained. It is also the most important city on the Palestinian coast to have begun issuing its own currency, or rather, the first to do so. This is Gaza, the city whose land continues to witness a present that is shaping history…
October 18, 2023Striked in Egypt, the history behind the coin inscriptions
Under the title "Struck in Egypt," a cultural seminar was held on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at the Cairo Opera House. Organized by the Cairo Biography Initiative in cooperation with the Civilization Cinema Center, the seminar featured a lecture by numismatic researcher Professor Mohamed Abdel Hamid, who posed the question of how history can be discerned from the inscriptions on coins, and…
May 16, 2023Arabization of Islamic currency
The Arabization of Islamic coinage went through several gradual stages. Changing the circulating currency was not an easy task, and the internal conflicts within the Caliphate greatly hindered the process. When Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan was proclaimed Caliph in Damascus, he did not effectively control most of the Caliphate's territories, and years passed before he was able to…
January 6, 2023Shajar al-Durr dinars
Shajar al-Durr... Queen of the Muslims, the Guardian of the World and Religion, Umm Khalil al-Salihiyya. Shajar al-Durr, a slave of Turkish origin, was one of the concubines of King al-Salih Najm al-Din Ayyub. She possessed sharp intelligence, a strong personality, and captivating beauty—a combination that, when combined in a woman, gives her a powerful influence on men. And if these men...
March 12, 2022