I was really looking into scoring the AR Millaresa, minted in Western Europe from mints in Spain, France and Italy. The coin is a larger and lighter imitation of the Almohad Muwahhid silver Dirham. The coin was used for trade and gold exchange with Islamic Africa and Iberia. In the 14th century the minting of Islamic coins by Christians in Europe was forbade. For everyone's enjoyment I wanted to share the European representation of the Almohad Dirham side by side with the prototype coin. (Both are in decent grade) For some background on the prototype coin check out this thread.. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/almohad-dirhams-and-muslim-spain.262105/ The photo is scaled to size for comparison. Top Coin: Western European AR Millaresa AR, NM,ND 19 mm x 20 mm x 1.17 grams Bottom Coin: Almohad Muwahid Dirham AR,NM,ND 13.8 mm x 14.0 mm x 1.40 grams
If the minting of Islamic coins was forbidden in Europe, what is the text on the Millaresa? Is it still Arabic?
The text on the Millaresa is just lines, squiggles and arrows, look closely. It looks like someone made an honest effort to make it look like Arabic.
So these were not an official issue of any European authority. I suppose I should have figured that out with your use of the word "bootleg." Did the bootleggers intentionally skirt the ban on Islamic coins by the use of nonsense script, or were they illiterate, like so many Roman copy-cats? BTW, I really like the term "bootleg" here. It conjures up an industry that is technically illegal but possibly gets the wink from government authorities, much like bootlegging throughout recent history. Perhaps we should use the term instead of "barbarous."
Nice, I had got one of these last year, didnt make it past customs So I never bothered to replace it.
Aweful....I heard from one dealer at the Westchester show that said US customs can hold a coin up to 364 days. (..from his experience I guess he aggravated someone at customs.)
oh cool AN, i was looking at some of these when i picked up my dirham. i read somewhere that the word "Mohammad" was intentionally blundered. i wonder if they were intentionally debased and released into the circulation? like, "hey don't take money from those guys..their coins are crap". here is my dirham again..
Thanks for compliments guys. Chris Welcome to the club! I can't wait till VK sees the European coin. I would love to see his face.
Thanks, I do try but I can't seemed to get the honor of featured thread. I guess the powers that be don't like my coins, maps, and research. Ah well. I am glad I have a good group of guys (and gals) that like my stuff. Sometimes it can be a little disheartening after literally hundreds of quality posts, maps and photos, introducing coins many have never seen before.
