Numismatics

Cleopatra, Queen of Kings

The coin depicts a profile of Queen Cleopatra VII. In the autumn of 34 BC, Alexandria was about to witness a grand celebration and an even greater event. Mark Antony, the Roman governor of the East, had come to Alexandria to meet his wife, Queen Cleopatra VII, and celebrate with her and their children his victories in the Armenian campaign…

Assassin 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…

The 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…

Cookies 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…

Antinopolis commemorative coins

In 130 AD, the Roman Emperor Hadrian was visiting Egypt as part of a large-scale tour of the eastern parts of his empire. Naturally, Hadrian took his "favorite" page, Antoninus, with him. Fate would have it that the page drowned in the Nile River, causing the emperor great sorrow. It was then that Hadrian decided to build a city…

Coins 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…

The gold coinage of Babylon

After Alexander captured the Achaemenid treasuries in Persepolis, Susa, and Pasargadae, he melted down their gold and silver and minted enormous quantities of gold and silver coins—especially silver—in Babylon, using the Macedonian style and the Attic standard to pay soldiers and distribute spoils among senior army commanders. Here we present a sample of the gold coinage minted in…

Damanhur Silver Treasure

Near the town of Damanhur, the capital of the Beheira Governorate, a small number of residents discovered a substantial hoard of silver coins in 1905. More than 8,000 silver coins of the "Tetradach" type were unearthed, most of them minted during the lifetime of Alexander the Great in the various cities he conquered throughout his historic campaign in the East. Unfortunately, the available information about…

Public toilet tax

During the year 69 AD, the Roman general Vespasian was besieging Jerusalem to suppress a rebellion when he decided to entrust the siege to his son Titus so that he could go to Alexandria and from there to Rome to claim the contested imperial throne. In Alexandria, he received news of the defeat of his rival Vitellius and that the Senate had recognized him as emperor, and…

The 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.

Encyclopedia of Egyptian Protocol

During a special event, Engineer Magdy Hanafy announced the release of his latest book, "Encyclopedia of Egyptian Ceremonies," at a seminar on Saturday, December 16, 2023. Attendees were welcomed, and a presentation was given introducing the encyclopedia and its contents. The seminar included a question-and-answer session with the author and a book signing. The encyclopedia contains information on…

NGC office opens in Dubai

In a first for the Arab region, CCG, the US-based owner of NGC, a leading coin grading company, announced plans to open an office in Dubai in 2024. The Dubai office will serve as an application center, connecting to the company's headquarters in the United States, and will handle the transfer of submitted collections.

Khwarazmian Currency, a new book

New publication from the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage: Title: Khwarazmian Coins from the Beginning of the Tahirid Dynasty to the End of the Timurid Dynasty (207-911 AH / 820-1504 AD) Author: Dr. Sharif Yahya Mahmoud Muhammad Khwarazmian Coins: This book sheds light on the study of the coins of the various states that ruled the Khwarazmian region during the research period, according to their historical chronological order, examining the coins of each state…

Currency of the Imamate of Oman

Love 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…

Ashkelon 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…

Gaza Money Lecture

On Friday, October 27th, a lecture titled "Gaza's Currency" was held. The lecture, broadcast remotely via Zoom to the Arab Collector's Office, was presented in collaboration with engineer Mohammed Abdul Hamid. Abdul Hamid explained, "We felt it was our duty to contribute to preserving Palestinian history and heritage, and so we began preparing this lecture, in which we will delve into the history of…"

Coins 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…

Sale of royal coins at the Egyptian Mint

On July 18, 2023, the Sales Department of the Egyptian Treasury and Mint announced the opening of a sale for some of Egypt's royal coins. It offered sets of copper and nickel coins issued during the reigns of Sultan Hussein, King Fuad I, and King Farouk I for public purchase. The coins were displayed…

The heaviest drachma minted in Alexandria has ever appeared in the world.

What is the heaviest drachma in the world, minted in Alexandria? Introduction: Egypt fell under Roman rule in 30 BC after the Battle of Actium, in which Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII clashed on one side, and Octavian and the Roman legions on the other. The end of the battle marked the beginning of the Roman province of Egypt…