Beautiful Umayyad Gold Dinar Al-Walid ibn Abdel Malik 91 AH 710 AD
Description: Umayyad Gold Dinar struck in 91 AH (710 AD) during the reign of the Caliph al-Walid Ibn Abd al-Malik. Al-Walid I ruled the Islamic world in the period 86-96 AH (705-715 AD). His father Abd al-Malik is the Umayyad Caliph responsible for the reformed coinage in the Islamic world. Please carefully review the scan as it is part and parcel of our description.
Date: Struck 91 AH or 710 AD.
Mint: Not mentioned on the coin.
Size and Weight: This is a gold dinar, weighs ~4.2 grams and is ~19. mm in diameter.
References: It is Album 127, Bernardi 43, Walker 202, and is listed in Lane Poole Catalogue of the Collection of Arabic Coins Preserved in the Khedivial Library in Cairo Egypt as number 15.
Condition: I would grade this coin as a good very fine with a well centered strike and beautiful Calligraphy. The coin has a few scratches, there is a prominent scratch on the obverse on and above the word "Ella" on the top line and on the reverse below the word "Ahaad" again on the top line. These are minor and can be seen in the scan. The coin also has a minor ding to the rim at 5 O'clock on the obverse. Other than that is problem free and looks much better than the scan shows. It is just great looking coin. Please see photo to confirm grade and to appreciate the quality as well as the condition of this beautiful coin.
Historic Perspective: The Muslim Arabs used existing gold and silver coinage in lands they conquered. At that time the nascent Islamic nation did not have a monetary system and did not strike neither gold nor silver coins, instead the conquering Arabs used the Byzantine monetary system already existing in Egypt for most of the gold coins and the Sassanian monetary system already existing in Iran for most silver coins with minor modifications. In 77 AH (699 AD) Abd al-Malik Ibn Marwan the Umayyad caliph instituted a monetary system and began striking the first Islamic coins including the gold Dinar. The dinar weighed 4.25 grams, or one mithqal, of the highest purity gold possible. At the time the center of power and the main gold coin mint was located in Dimishq (current day Damascus in Syria).
