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• 1 2022-06-16T12:37:04-07:00 What is this? 24 plain 2023-01-14T14:01:05-08:00 By John Fashek '23
  
  Coins from Islamic caliphates can be broken down into two categories: dinars (usually gold) and dirhams (usually silver), with dinars being of significantly greater value. This dinar was minted under the direction of Salah al-Din, the first sultan of Egypt and the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty. Like earlier Fatimid dinars, Ayuubid dinars feature three circular legends or concentric circles inscribed with Kufic script, a style of Arabic calligraphy. The central and inner inscriptions of these gold dinars usually reference ruling caliphs and sultans, while the outer circle quotes an important Quranic verse or phrase. These inscriptions emphasize the authority of the named individuals as well as seek to spread Islam.
  
  The central inscription on the obverse or front of the coin reads يوسف ابن أيوب (Yusuf ibn Ayyub), who is more commonly referred to as Saladin. The inner inscription reads الملك علم صلاح الدين which translates to the high-ranking king Saladin, which serves as a title and reinforces his power. The final ring of text reads محمد رسول الله ارسله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله which translates to "Muhammad is the Apostle (Messenger of Allah, who has sent him with Guidance and the Religion of Truth that he may make it prevail over all religion)" (Quran 9:33).
  
  
  The central inscription on the reverse or back of the coin reads الامام أحمد or Imam Ahmad, referencing the founder of the Hanbali school of thought, one of the four schools of thought of Sunni Islam. The inner inscription reads Abu al-Abbas, the Victorious, for God's religion, the Commander of the Believers, who was the ruling caliph of Baghdad at the time. Lastly, the final ring of text translates to 'In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful," a phrase that begins all but one chapter of the Quran. The outer ring also provides the minting location of this coin, القاهرة or Cairo and the mint year of 588 in the Islamic calendar, which is the equivalent of 1192/1193 CE.
  
  Translated from Arabic by John Fashek '23, Omar Afifi '24, Muhammad Ayman, Foreign Language Assistant. These translations represent our best efforts, and we welcome suggestions for amendments.
  
  
  
   
• 1 media/2510600.jpg 2022-10-30T16:12:12-07:00 Dinar of Salah al-Din, Al-Qahirah (HUAM 1951.31.4.2354) 20 google_maps 2023-01-17T14:29:31-08:00 30.2316894437107, 31.165789801778818 By John Fashek '23
  
  
  

  This gold dinar was minted in 1192 during the Ayyubid Dynasty under the direction of Saladin (Salah al-Din) (r. 1169-1193), the first sultan of Egypt. Following the conquests of Jerusalem and nearby regions in 1099, the crusaders decided to continue using and even minting imitations of similar gold dinars. The crusaders understood the significant value of these gold dinars throughout the Mediterranean and, despite their Christian faith, chose to imitate these coins closely, including their Quranic inscriptions.
  
  Gold dinars minted around this period feature three circular legends inscribed with Kufic script, a style of Islamic calligraphy. Ayyubid dinars honor Sunni religious and political leaders and feature Quranic verses that promote the spread of Islam. This Ayyubid dinar makes particular reference to Saladin as well as Abu al-Abbas, the then-ruling caliph of Baghdad. 

  This dinar is known to have been minted in al-Qahirah (Cairo). Under Saladin’s reign, gold was in scarce supply, and Egyptian coin-makers diluted gold with other metals, resulting in an inconsistency in weight and fineness that significantly devalued the currency. Following the Third Crusade (1189–1192), crusaders opted to import and use Fatimid dinars (rather than Ayyubid dinars) as a standardized currency because they were widely recognized and highly valued for their consistent weight and fineness.