Umayyad Gold Dinar Minted Under Abd Al-Malik - LC.211, Origin: Minted in Damascus, Circa: 729 AD to 730 AD Weight: 4.2 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Umayyad, Medium:  More »

Umayyad Gold Dinar Minted Under Abd Al-Malik - LC.211, Origin: Minted in Damascus, Circa: 729 AD to 730 AD Weight: 4.2 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Umayyad, Medium: Gold, The early history of Islam following the death of the Prophet Muhammad can be characterized by glorious wars and victories on the one hand and by jealousy, intrigue, and deceit on the other. When the Umayyad Dynasty ruled in splendor from their capital at Damascus, a coin such as this would have been recognized and traded throughout their expanding empire. The rulers of the Umayyad Dynasty, beginning with the founder, Mu'awiyah, claimed a blood relationship with the Prophet via his sister, Umm Habibah, and his Abu-Sufyan, the leader of the Meccan Quraysh. As the Islam spread across North Africa and into Europe, political rivalry began to emerge between the Caliphs. These family feuds would culminate in 749 A.D. when the entire Umayyad clan was murdered, save for abd-al- Rahman, who fled to Spain and founded an independent Umayyad Caliphate there. In part, this division between opposing Muslim factions of Shi’ite and the Sunni continue to this day. Overall, the period of the Umayyad Dynasty can be characterized by a love of luxury. Great palaces were erected in the capital of Damascus. It is also noted that the Caliphs Yazi I and II were "passionate friends of sport, music and lady singers."   « Less

Umayyad Gold Dinar Minted Under Al-Walid - LC.212, Origin: Minted in Damascus, Circa: 711 AD to 712 AD, Weight: 4.2 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Umayyad, Medium:  More »

Umayyad Gold Dinar Minted Under Al-Walid - LC.212, Origin: Minted in Damascus, Circa: 711 AD to 712 AD, Weight: 4.2 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Umayyad, Medium: Gold, The early history of Islam following the death of the Prophet Muhammad can be characterized by glorious wars and victories on the one hand and by jealousy, intrigue, and deceit on the other. When the Umayyad Dynasty ruled in splendor from their capital at Damascus, a coin such as this would have been recognized and traded throughout their expanding empire. The rulers of the Umayyad Dynasty, beginning with the founder, Mu'awiyah, claimed a blood relationship with the Prophet via his sister, Umm Habibah, and his Abu-Sufyan, the leader of the Meccan Quraysh. As the Islam spread across North Africa and into Europe, political rivalry began to emerge between the Caliphs. These family feuds would culminate in 749 A.D. when the entire Umayyad clan was murdered, save for abd-al- Rahman, who fled to Spain and founded an independent Umayyad Caliphate there. In part, this division between opposing Muslim factions of Shi’ite and the Sunni continue to this day. Overall, the period of the Umayyad Dynasty can be characterized by a love of luxury. Great palaces were erected in the capital of Damascus. It is also noted that the Caliphs Yazi I and II were "passionate friends of sport, music and lady singers."   « Less

Umayyad Gold Dinar Minted Under Al-Walid - LC.214, Origin: Minted in Damascus, Circa: 706 AD to 707 AD, Weight: 4.0 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Umayyad, Medium:  More »

Umayyad Gold Dinar Minted Under Al-Walid - LC.214, Origin: Minted in Damascus, Circa: 706 AD to 707 AD, Weight: 4.0 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Umayyad, Medium: Gold, The early history of Islam following the death of the Prophet Muhammad can be characterized by glorious wars and victories on the one hand and by jealousy, intrigue, and deceit on the other. When the Umayyad Dynasty ruled in splendor from their capital at Damascus, a coin such as this would have been recognized and traded throughout their expanding empire. The rulers of the Umayyad Dynasty, beginning with the founder, Mu'awiyah, claimed a blood relationship with the Prophet via his sister, Umm Habibah, and his Abu-Sufyan, the leader of the Meccan Quraysh. As the Islam spread across North Africa and into Europe, political rivalry began to emerge between the Caliphs. These family feuds would culminate in 749 A.D. when the entire Umayyad clan was murdered, save for abd-al- Rahman, who fled to Spain and founded an independent Umayyad Caliphate there. In part, this division between opposing Muslim factions of Shi’ite and the Sunni continue to this day. Overall, the period of the Umayyad Dynasty can be characterized by a love of luxury. Great palaces were erected in the capital of Damascus. It is also noted that the Caliphs Yazi I and II were "passionate friends of sport, music and lady singers."   « Less

Umayyad Gold Dinar Minted Under Suleiman - LC.215, Origin: Minted in Damascus, Circa: 715 AD to 716 AD, Weight: 4.2 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Umayyad, Medium:  More »

Umayyad Gold Dinar Minted Under Suleiman - LC.215, Origin: Minted in Damascus, Circa: 715 AD to 716 AD, Weight: 4.2 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Umayyad, Medium: Gold, The early history of Islam following the death of the Prophet Muhammad can be characterized by glorious wars and victories on the one hand and by jealousy, intrigue, and deceit on the other. When the Umayyad Dynasty ruled in splendor from their capital at Damascus, a coin such as this would have been recognized and traded throughout their expanding empire. The rulers of the Umayyad Dynasty, beginning with the founder, Mu'awiyah, claimed a blood relationship with the Prophet via his sister, Umm Habibah, and his Abu-Sufyan, the leader of the Meccan Quraysh. As the Islam spread across North Africa and into Europe, political rivalry began to emerge between the Caliphs. These family feuds would culminate in 749 A.D. when the entire Umayyad clan was murdered, save for abd-al- Rahman, who fled to Spain and founded an independent Umayyad Caliphate there. In part, this division between opposing Muslim factions of Shi’ite and the Sunni continue to this day. Overall, the period of the Umayyad Dynasty can be characterized by a love of luxury. Great palaces were erected in the capital of Damascus. It is also noted that the Caliphs Yazi I and II were "passionate friends of sport, music and lady singers."   « Less

Fatimid Gold Dinar Minted Under Al-Mustansir - LC.216, Origin: Minted in Egypt, Circa: 1053 AD to 1054 AD, Weight: 3.8 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Fatimid,  More »

Fatimid Gold Dinar Minted Under Al-Mustansir - LC.216, Origin: Minted in Egypt, Circa: 1053 AD to 1054 AD, Weight: 3.8 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Fatimid, Medium: Gold, At the height of their power, the Fatimid Caliphate ruled much of the Islamic world, including North Africa, the Hejaz, and the Eastern Mediterranean, from their capital in Cairo. However, their roots can be traced to the shores of Ifriqiya in modern day Tunisia and eastern Algeria where in 909 A.D. an imam from the Ismaili sect of the Shia branch of Islam declared himself caliph and adopted the name of al-Mahdi (the Divinely Guided One). Directly opposing the power of the Sunni Abbasids, the Fatimids legitimized their claim to authority by tracing their descent to Muhammad by way of his daughter Fatima (hence the name Fatimid) and her husband Ali, the first Shia imam. Soon after their founding, the Fatimids began to expand outwards, swiftly bringing all of the Maghreb under their dominion. Thereafter, the Fatimids set their sights to the East where the Abbasids centers of power lay.   « Less

Umayyad Gold Dinar Minted Under Al-Walid - LC.217, Origin: Minted in Damascus, Circa: 712 AD to 713 AD, Weight: 4.2 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Umayyad, Medium:  More »

Umayyad Gold Dinar Minted Under Al-Walid - LC.217, Origin: Minted in Damascus, Circa: 712 AD to 713 AD, Weight: 4.2 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Umayyad, Medium: Gold, The early history of Islam following the death of the Prophet Muhammad can be characterized by glorious wars and victories on the one hand and by jealousy, intrigue, and deceit on the other. When the Umayyad Dynasty ruled in splendor from their capital at Damascus, a coin such as this would have been recognized and traded throughout their expanding empire. The rulers of the Umayyad Dynasty, beginning with the founder, Mu'awiyah, claimed a blood relationship with the Prophet via his sister, Umm Habibah, and his Abu-Sufyan, the leader of the Meccan Quraysh. As the Islam spread across North Africa and into Europe, political rivalry began to emerge between the Caliphs. These family feuds would culminate in 749 A.D. when the entire Umayyad clan was murdered, save for abd-al- Rahman, who fled to Spain and founded an independent Umayyad Caliphate there. In part, this division between opposing Muslim factions of Shi’ite and the Sunni continue to this day. Overall, the period of the Umayyad Dynasty can be characterized by a love of luxury. Great palaces were erected in the capital of Damascus. It is also noted that the Caliphs Yazi I and II were "passionate friends of sport, music and lady singers."   « Less

Abbasid Gold Dinar Minted Under Al-Muqtadi - LC.218, Origin: Minted in Nishapur, Circa: 1097 AD to 1098 AD, Weight: 3.9 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Abbasid,  More »

Abbasid Gold Dinar Minted Under Al-Muqtadi - LC.218, Origin: Minted in Nishapur, Circa: 1097 AD to 1098 AD, Weight: 3.9 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Abbasid, Medium: Gold, The Abbasid Dynasty was an Arab family legendarily descended from Abbas, the uncle of Muhammad. The Abbasids held the caliphate from 749 to 1258. Under the Umayyad caliphs the Abbasids lived quietly until they became involved in numerous disputes, beginning early in the 8th cent. The family then joined with the Shiite faction in opposing the Umayyads, and in 747 the gifted Abu Muslim united most of the empire in revolt against the Umayyads. The head of the Abbasid family became caliph as Abu al- Abbas as-Saffah late in 749. Under the second Abbasid caliph, called al-Mansur, the capital was moved from Damascus to Baghdad, and Persian influence grew strong in the empire. The early years of Abbasid rule were brilliant, rising to true splendor under Harun al-Rashid and to intellectual brilliance under his son al-Mamun. After less than a hundred years of rule, however, the slow decline of the Abbasids began. Long periods of disorder were marked by assassinations, depositions, control by Turkish soldiers, and other disturbances. In 836 the capital was transferred to Samarra, remaining there until 892. Under the later Abbasids, the power of the caliphate became chiefly spiritual. Many independent kingdoms sprang up, and the empire split into autonomous units. The Seljuk Turks came to hold the real power at Baghdad. Later their power dwindled even further, and, in 1258, Baghdad was burned by the Tatars. From then until 1517 the Abbasids retained limited power as caliphs of Egypt.   « Less

Umayyad Gold Dinar Minted Under Marwan II - LC.219, Origin: Minted in Damascus, Circa: 748 AD to 749 AD, Weight: 4.4 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Umayyad, Medium:  More »

Umayyad Gold Dinar Minted Under Marwan II - LC.219, Origin: Minted in Damascus, Circa: 748 AD to 749 AD, Weight: 4.4 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Umayyad, Medium: Gold, The early history of Islam following the death of the Prophet Muhammad can be characterized by glorious wars and victories on the one hand and by jealousy, intrigue, and deceit on the other. When the Umayyad Dynasty ruled in splendor from their capital at Damascus, a coin such as this would have been recognized and traded throughout their expanding empire. The rulers of the Umayyad Dynasty, beginning with the founder, Mu'awiyah, claimed a blood relationship with the Prophet via his sister, Umm Habibah, and his Abu-Sufyan, the leader of the Meccan Quraysh. As the Islam spread across North Africa and into Europe, political rivalry began to emerge between the Caliphs. These family feuds would culminate in 749 A.D. when the entire Umayyad clan was murdered, save for abd-al- Rahman, who fled to Spain and founded an independent Umayyad Caliphate there. In part, this division between opposing Muslim factions of Shi’ite and the Sunni continue to this day. Overall, the period of the Umayyad Dynasty can be characterized by a love of luxury. Great palaces were erected in the capital of Damascus. It is also noted that the Caliphs Yazi I and II were "passionate friends of sport, music and lady singers."   « Less

Umayyad Gold Dinar Minted Under Marwan II - LC.220, Origin: Minted in Damascus, Circa: 748 AD to 749 AD, Weight: 4.3 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Umayyad, Medium:  More »

Umayyad Gold Dinar Minted Under Marwan II - LC.220, Origin: Minted in Damascus, Circa: 748 AD to 749 AD, Weight: 4.3 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Umayyad, Medium: Gold, The early history of Islam following the death of the Prophet Muhammad can be characterized by glorious wars and victories on the one hand and by jealousy, intrigue, and deceit on the other. When the Umayyad Dynasty ruled in splendor from their capital at Damascus, a coin such as this would have been recognized and traded throughout their expanding empire. The rulers of the Umayyad Dynasty, beginning with the founder, Mu'awiyah, claimed a blood relationship with the Prophet via his sister, Umm Habibah, and his Abu-Sufyan, the leader of the Meccan Quraysh. As the Islam spread across North Africa and into Europe, political rivalry began to emerge between the Caliphs. These family feuds would culminate in 749 A.D. when the entire Umayyad clan was murdered, save for abd-al- Rahman, who fled to Spain and founded an independent Umayyad Caliphate there. In part, this division between opposing Muslim factions of Shi’ite and the Sunni continue to this day. Overall, the period of the Umayyad Dynasty can be characterized by a love of luxury. Great palaces were erected in the capital of Damascus. It is also noted that the Caliphs Yazi I and II were "passionate friends of sport, music and lady singers."   « Less

Abbasid Gold Dinar Minted Under Al-Musta'sim - LC.221, Origin: Minted in Madinat Al-Salam, Circa: 1248 AD to 1249 AD, Weight: 8.8 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Abbasid Gold Dinar Minted Under Al-Musta'sim - LC.221, Origin: Minted in Madinat Al-Salam, Circa: 1248 AD to 1249 AD, Weight: 8.8 Grams, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Abbasid, Medium: Gold, The Abbasid Dynasty was an Arab family legendarily descended from Abbas, the uncle of Muhammad. The Abbasids held the caliphate from 749 to 1258. Under the Umayyad caliphs the Abbasids lived quietly until they became involved in numerous disputes, beginning early in the 8th cent. The family then joined with the Shiite faction in opposing the Umayyads, and in 747 the gifted Abu Muslim united most of the empire in revolt against the Umayyads. The head of the Abbasid family became caliph as Abu al- Abbas as-Saffah late in 749. Under the second Abbasid caliph, called al-Mansur, the capital was moved from Damascus to Baghdad, and Persian influence grew strong in the empire. The early years of Abbasid rule were brilliant, rising to true splendor under Harun al-Rashid and to intellectual brilliance under his son al-Mamun. After less than a hundred years of rule, however, the slow decline of the Abbasids began. Long periods of disorder were marked by assassinations, depositions, control by Turkish soldiers, and other disturbances. In 836 the capital was transferred to Samarra, remaining there until 892. Under the later Abbasids, the power of the caliphate became chiefly spiritual. Many independent kingdoms sprang up, and the empire split into autonomous units. The Seljuk Turks came to hold the real power at Baghdad. Later their power dwindled even further, and, in 1258, Baghdad was burned by the Tatars. From then until 1517 the Abbasids retained limited power as caliphs of Egypt.   « Less