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The first dated coins that can be assigned to the Muslims are copies of silver Dirhams of the Sassanian Yezdigird III,struck during the Caliphate of 'Uthman, radiy'allahu 'anhu. These coins differ from the original ones in that an Arabic inscription is found in the obverse margins, normally reading "In the Name of Allah". The subsequent series was issued using types based on drachmas of Khusru II, whose coins probably represented a significant proportion of the currency in circulation. In parallel with the later Khusru-type Arab-Sassanian coins first issued under the Well-Guided Caliphs of Islam, a more extensive series was struck with Khusru's name replaced by that of the local Arab governor or, in two cases, that of the Caliph. Historical evidence makes it clear that most of these coins bear Hijrah dates. The earliest Muslim copper coins are anonymous and undated but a series exists which may have been issued during the Caliphates of 'Uthman or 'Ali, radiy'allahu 'anhum. These are crude copies of Byzantine 12-nummi pieces of Heraclius from Alexandria. The First Dirhams By the year 75 AH/695 CE 'Abdalmalik had decided on changes to the coinage. A scattering of patterned pieces in silver exist from this date, based on Sassanian prototypes but with distinctive Arabic reverses. This experiment, which maintained the Sassanian weight standard of 3.5-4.0 grams was not proceeded with and in 79 AH/698 CE a completely new type of silver coin was struck at 14 mints to a new nominal weight of 2.97 grams. Unlike the contemporary gold coinage, this figure does not seem to have been achieved in practice. The average weight of sixty undamaged specimens of 79-84 AH is only 2.71 grams, a figure very close to that for a unique coin of 79 AH struck with no mint name (as was the standard procedure for the gold Dinars produced in Damascus). These new coins which bore the name of 'Dirham', established the style of the Arab-Sassanian predecessors at 25 to 28 mm. in diameter. Their design is composed of Arabic inscriptions surrounded by circles and annulets. On each side there is a three or four line legend with a single circular inscription. Outside this are three line circles with, at first, five annulets surrounding them. The side normally taken as the obverse has as its central legend the Kalima or shahadah: "There is no god except Allah alone, there is no partner with Him'. Around it is the mint/date formula reading "In the Name of Allah: this Dirham was struck in [mint name e.g. Damascus] in the year [e.g. 79 AH]". The reverse has a four line central inscription taken from the Surah 112 of the Qur'an; "Allahu Ahad, Allahu's-Samad, Lam yalid wa lam yulad walam yakul-lahu kufu-an ahad'". The marginal legend states: "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, he was sent with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over every other religion, averse though the idolaters may be" (Qur'an 9:33) The First Dinars The gold coins were first struck to the contemporary standard
of 4.4 grams and with one or more Arabic standing figures on the obverse
and an Arabic legend on the reverse. Dated coins exist from 74 AH and
are named as 'Dinars'. These experimental issues were replaced in 77 AH,
except in North Africa and Spain, by completely epigraphical designs very
similar to the designs adopted for the silver pieces but with a shorter
reverse legend and no annulets or inner circles. This type was used without
appreciable change for the whole of the Umayyad period, the coins being
struck to anew and carefully controlled standard of 4.25 grams. This weight
was reputed to be based on the average of the current Byzantine solidi,
was called a mithqal, a term used earlier for 1/72 of a ratl. Evidence
of the importance attached to the close control of the new Dinars is provided
by the existence of glass weights, mainly from Egypt. They usually show
the governor's name,sometimes the date but all are marked with a coin
denomination. The First Fulus The first Umayyad copper coins are undated and based on Byzantine or Sassanian designs. They were called fals (plural fulus) from the Greek follis. A few coins are known with Sassanian obverses,and sometimes reverses as well, but with Arabic names or legends. In the northeast of the Caliphate similar coins were still being struck two hundred years after the Muslim conquest of Persia. The change to a completely Arabic style for copper coins seems to have lagged behind the reform of the gold and silver coins. The earliest dated coins from the capital Damascus are of the year 87 AH although the undated series presumably precedes this issue. No coins are known from the major cities of ar-Rayy, Kufa or Wasit before about 100 AH and the majority of coins from the fifty or so other mints recorded for copper, are from the period 98-130 AH, where they can be dated. The earliest of these 'post-reform' fulus have a shortened version of the Kalima but later issues add the mint, the date and sometimes the governor's or, rarely, the Caliph's name. These extended inscriptions normally result in a marginal legend on both sides, a feature absent from earlier coins. Over the whole series, the epigraphy and layout bear little resemblance to either gold or silver contemporary issues and the study of regional variations might well prove ranging from 12-27 mm. in diameter and averaging about 3.50 grams in weight, although with a wide variation.
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