Fatimid Dynasty of Northern Africa. Al-Mu'izz Li Din Allah (932-975) Gold Dinar. The Fatimids were a major power during the medieval ages that has swathes of land covering a large part of Northern Africa and the Levant. The Fatimid dinars were extremely popular as a medium of exchange during this period for their purity and weight that they influenced the eventual Bezants of the Crusaders kingdoms of Jerusalem. Al-Mui'zz was a prominent Shia Ismaili Caliph known particularly tolerant attitude towards non Muslims to the extent that Coptic legends even suggested that he converted to Christianity. Among other achievements included establishing the name for Cairo (al Qahira) which lasted to this day and the alleged discovery of the fountain pen. Whilst they were an Islamic power in the Levant and Northern Africa, they eventually went into decline only to be replaced by the Ayyubids under the illustrious Saladin.
these are so beautiful. I hope to buy 1 in the far future. so mysterious and interesting looking and they are made of gold. these are not cheap coins either.
Thanks.. they are beautiful and of high purity gold. Some designs included linear Arabic kalimah which I did not quiet find as appealing. They were so popular for trade that the crusaders imitated them as Bezants in the levant.
Wow, that is a wonderful coin @Loong Siew . I do not have anything from this dynasty but since you mentioned him, here is a coin of Saladin.
Very nice! The Fatimids had ahold of Sicily as well, which eventually became an independent principals. These gold coins were then adopted by the Normans when they conquered Sicily (although they had evolved...) Norman Italy - Sicily Roger II, r. 1130-1154 (1140-1154) Palermo mint, AV Taris, 12.66 mm x 1.1 grams Obv.: Outer Cufic legend denoting date and mint, inner Cufic legend al-malik Rujar al-mu’tazz bi-llah, pellet in center of dotted circle Rev.: Outer cufic legend denoting date and mint, in center, cross potent on shaft with pellet between IC XC NI KA Ref.: NCKS 240, [MEC 14.202], De Wit 3796
Wow!! That's the first time I saw this.. I particularly like the cross cultural influence @FitzNigel .. they were clearly Christian but held on to Arabic influence..
Yep - there's a couple examples of this. This follis was minted for a Capua which was a fully Christian area, but it contains pseudo-cufic to acquaint the residents there with the Arabic Coins: Norman Italy - Capua Anfusus, r. 1136-1144; AE Follaro, 10.86 mm x 0.69 grams Obv.: O/A/N in left field, standing figure holding sword Rev.: Pseudo-Cufic legend, cross above and below Ref.: NCKS 14var., [MEC 14.188] Ex.: Baldwin’s Auction 40, lot 1264, 3 May 2005 This Crusader coin one I also like, as it is a Norman adopting Byzantine currency and design, but it shows him wearing Muslim dress: Crusader - Antioch Tancred, Regent, r. 1101-1103, 1104-1112 AE Type 2 Follis, 20.3 mm x 3.3 grams Obv.: Bust of Tancred facing, wearing turban, holding sword Rev.: Cross pommetée, fleuronnée at base; IC XC NI KA in quarters Ref.: De Wit 4079 Overstruck on a First type follis of Tancred (CCS 3b)
WOW! What happened to Capua??? Coins got a little funky later on... here are a few Capuas from Hannibal's occupation... Campania CAPUA AE 14-5mm 216-211 BCE Hera Oscan Grain ear Hannibal capital Italia SNG Fr 517 SNG ANS 219 HN Italy 500 EE Clain Stefanelli SCARCE Campania CAPUA AE Uncia 216-211 BCE Diana Boar Hannibal capital Italia SCARCE Campania CAPUA AE Semuncia 216-211 BCE Juno Xoanon Hannibal capital Italia SCARCE
Wonderful coin. These have come onto my radar recently, but like @spirityoda, I'm not ready for a medieval dinar quite yet. Any collection which includes the most important coins of world history should probably include one of these, though. I do have a Norman Sicily gold tari sort of like what @FitzNigel posted in my watchlist. But there's also an Indian gold pagoda tempting me (I've not had any Indian coins in the Eclectic Box, either). All a moot point, since I lack the funds to buy either right now.
No, those are frightfully expensive, aren't they? This one caught my eye. Of course at this stage I know nothing about them. India, Chitaldrug, ca 1565-1779, AV Durgi Pagoda Update: I just Googled the gold elephant pagodas. Those are not quite as untouchable as I thought, though definitely expensive. I will have to browse them some. Of course I would want a well centered one with the elephant (or at least all of his head) on the flan. Sorry this is straying away from the topic of your Fatimid coin. By all means, let us resume the dinar discussion.
I posted a thread of mine some time ago https://www.cointalk.com/threads/medieval-india-western-gangas-gold-elephant.287203/#post-2580402
