Publication Date
202 AH / 818 AD
Publication Place
-
Money Museum of the Bank of Morocco; Rabat
Subject
Cast and minted silver. - Dar Al-Dharb: Wattit; Morocco.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
القطر:22 مم؛ الوزن: 2.2 غرام
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
991
Record ID
object;ISL;ma;Mus01_F;2;ar
Library Location
Money Museum of the Bank of Morocco; Rabat
Date
202 AH / 818 AD
Notes
This silver dirham was issued during the rule of Idris II, who ruled the country from 188 to 213 AH/803-828 AD. This dirham constitutes the prototype of the Idrisid coins that were minted according to the model of the Abbasid coins, with the name of “Ali” (Ibn Abi Talib), the son-in-law of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and the grandfather of the Idrisids, added to the name of the ruling prince. The shape of the dirham is circular, and it only bears inscriptions made of ancient Kufic letters, distributed between the center and the periphery. The face of the piece consists of a ground (or center) surrounded by two circles, the second of which is decorated on the outside with five small double rings, and includes the phrase “Shahada” to which the name “Ali” is added. On the circumference is an inscription indicating the following: “There is no god but God, alone with no partner, Ali.” It is surrounded by another inscription specifying, after the basmala, the place of minting and the date of issuance: “In the name of God, this dirham was minted in the year 202 AH (818 AD). And it is inscribed on the back. The dirham, in the center, has the name of the ruling prince “Idris” (meaning Idris II) and the prophetic message “Muhammad is the Messenger of God” with the name “Ali” again. Verse 33 of Surat Al-Tawbah (Surah No. 9) was written on the perimeter between two circles in beautiful Kufic letters: “It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all religions, even if the polytheists hate it.”
Sample Text
Naima El Khatib-Boujibar "Dirham" in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;ma;Mus01_F;2;ar
