المسكوكات الإسلامية
Minted in Cairo: Documenting the history of Cairo through coins
Can a small coin encapsulate the history of an entire empire? In his new book, "Mined in Cairo," published by Dar Al-Maaref, researcher Mohamed Abdel Hamid takes us on a research journey to prove that coins were not merely a means of purchase, but rather a "news ticker" documenting the events of Cairo since the early Islamic era. The book, "Mined in Cairo: Coins and History," by researcher Mohamed Abdel Hamid…
March 8, 2026The crescent moon on coins
In celebration of the holy month of Ramadan and the sighting of its blessed crescent moon, let us examine the crescent on coins issued in Egypt throughout Islamic history and before. First, we must understand that the crescent is a symbol used on various types of coins, some Islamic and many others non-Islamic. We have chosen a notable example: a Mamluk fils (coin) of Sultan al-Mansur Ala' al-Din Ali ibn...
February 19, 2026History of Arab currency
The history of Arab currency studies the evolution of monetary systems in the Arab world from ancient times to the modern era, including both coinage and paper money. This field aims to understand how money was organized, its relationship to political power, economic development, and the construction of national sovereignty. The history of Arab currency is an essential part of the financial and administrative history of the Arab world, reflecting economic and social transformations…
February 17, 2026