Islamic Coins and Their Values, volume 1

I also have Volume II on the Early Modern Period. The volumes are a useful adjunct to Steve Album's Checklist which lacks illustrations. Although I have a large numismatic library, in arranging my collection it's useful to have books that aim to include everything, even if superficially. - John

 

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Seems a nice book you've got hold of, about Islamic coins. Perhaps the illustrations, of the coins, may be a bit limited, also reading Arabic could be challenging. Still, Valentinian, you're quite happy with the book, so why grumble ?

 

I would say that the coins constitute a source of evidence regarding the development of Islamic doctrine. While Islamic scholars tend to encourage the view that it was set in stone from its earliest days, in fact the first compilation of ahadith (sayings and stories of Muhammad) wasn't produced until Umar II (717-720), and the most commonly quoted hadith about graven images wasn't collected until the mid 9th century by Muhammad al-Bukhari, and that one is only accepted by the Sunni.

It seems likely that the prohibition on icon-worship dates from very early (and is probably the explanation behind the cool @dougsmit coin above), but the more general prohibition on graven images likely arose significantly later, after many of the coins posted above were issued... and only in certain quarters.

 

I didn’t discern much grumbling in Valentinian’s post. Any review worth its salt may point out deficiencies where they are perceived, even if the overall tone of the review is positive. If someone is considering buying the book, I suspect he or she would be grateful for a detailed assessment.

 

The caliph Abd al-Malik reformed the coinage, changing weights and designs. Beginning in 697 AD (77 AH) there was a radical redesign, eliminating pictorial elements on precious metal coinage. (There were a few remote hold outs, like the city of Bukhara). Early Islamic coins, with human figures, are called "pre-Reform".

A good introduction is this article by Mike Markowitz in CoinWeek. https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/coinage-first-caliphate/

 

Not all of Sailent's coins are "Islamic". The earliest period is typically labeled as Arab-Sassanian which Doug's coin from Tarbistan falls under whereas some of his coins can clearly be labeled as Sassanian.

Following this period, you have the pre-reform and post-reform coinages. The pre-reform includes the Arab-Byzantine coinage.

 

I know I’m late to the party, but does volume I cover the Islamic cons of East Africa (Kilwa, Mogadishu, Zanzibar)? Thanks!

 

It lists 5 of Mogadishu, 6 of the Sultans of Kilwa, and 2 of the Sultans of Zanzibar, without photos.

 

Ah - unfortunate for the lack of photos.

 

I tried to get volume 2 and it says it has a March 2018 release date.

 

post-reform portraiture on coins is more common than one might think, esp. among turkic peoples after they converted to islam. I published an article about this in the early 1980s that appeared in ni bulletin

 

Neat! Which issue? (Though I only have some late 80s issues, alas.)

 

Charles Davis has the second volume in stock:

https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/ch...2_the_early_modern_period/914113/Default.aspx

 

which issues? atabegs, zangids, and seljuks, among others when they entered asia minor. more recently, various persian civic coinage as well as the zodiac coins of the moghul emperor jahangir. all of these were non-arabic

 

Sorry, I meant in which issue of the Numismatics International bulletin did your article appear.

 

october 1990

 

F

Full book name please, i want the same one

 

The book name is the title of this thread.

Islamic Coins and Their Values, volume 1, by Tim Wilkes.

 

https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/ch...me_1_the_mediaeval_period/619352/Default.aspx

 

dear sirs and experts on ancient vintage coins of all sorts;

my friend has these coins and wishes to know their real value. can you please help or can you or anyone else on this group put me in touch with anyone who would be able to assist?



thankyou

kind regards



Mr Ayub