Al-Andalus | Almohad Caliphate Silver Dirham

The square silver dirham from Al-Andalus is a striking example of the rich cultural and artistic fusion that defined Islamic Spain. These coins stand out immediately due to their unusual square shape—an aesthetic choice that set them apart from the more common round coins of both Islamic and Christian mints. They’re inscribed with elegant Kufic script, bearing the iconic phrase of the 'shahada' - the Islamic profession of faith - along with the name of the issuing authority and mint location, usually cities like Córdoba, Almería, or Seville. Rather than featuring portraits, which Islamic tradition generally avoided, the beauty of these coins lies in their geometry, symmetry, and calligraphy, making each one a small masterpiece of medieval design.

What makes these coins especially compelling is how they embody the complex and dynamic world of Al-Andalus. This was a time when Muslim, Christian, and Jewish communities coexisted in a remarkably advanced and cosmopolitan society—one known for its scholarship, architecture, and commerce. These dirhams would have changed hands in bustling markets, passed between scholars, merchants, and artisans, their silver content trusted and respected across the Mediterranean. Holding one today is like holding a fragment of that flourishing world: not just a piece of currency, but a direct link to the intellectual and economic vibrancy of medieval Islamic Spain.

What makes these coins especially compelling is how they embody the complex and dynamic world of Al-Andalus. This was a time when Muslim, Christian, and Jewish communities coexisted in a remarkably advanced and cosmopolitan society—one known for its scholarship, architecture, and commerce. These dirhams would have changed hands in bustling markets, passed between scholars, merchants, and artisans, their silver content trusted and respected across the Mediterranean. Holding one today is like holding a fragment of that flourishing world: not just a piece of currency, but a direct link to the intellectual and economic vibrancy of medieval Islamic Spain.

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

The coin you will receive will be of very similar size and quality as the ones shown in the pictures. A High quality coin is guaranteed or your money back! The display case included is openable so that you may easily handle and closely observe the artifact.

Abbasid Caliphate coins, minted between circa 750 and 1250 A.D., are accessible to collectors today due to their widespread production and the historical significance of the Abbasid era. The Abbasid dynasty, which succeeded the Umayyad Caliphate, established a vast empire with its capital in Baghdad, becoming a center of culture, science, and commerce. To facilitate trade and unify their diverse territories, the Abbasids produced large quantities of coins, primarily gold dinars and silver dirhams, featuring inscriptions in Kufic script that emphasized Islamic tenets and the caliph's authority. The extensive minting and circulation of these coins across the empire, combined with the durability of precious metals, have ensured their survival over centuries. Additionally, the Abbasid period is often regarded as the Golden Age of Islam, heightening interest among historians and numismatists. Consequently, many of these coins have been preserved, discovered in various regions, and are now available to collectors, reflecting the rich economic and cultural history of the Abbasid Caliphate.