|
HOME :
Islamic Art :
Islamic Gold Coins : Samanid Gold Dinar Minted Under Abdel Malik I ibn Nuh
|
 |
|
|
|
Samanid Gold Dinar Minted Under Abdel Malik I ibn Nuh - C.3017
Origin: Iran
Circa: 954
AD
to 961
AD
Collection: Numismatics
Style: Samanid Dynasty
Medium: Gold
$1,200.00
Location: United States
|
|
|
| Photo Gallery |
|
|
| Description |
The first indigenous Muslim dynasty to rule Iran
following the Arab conquest, the Samanid
Dynasty was founded in 819 A.D. by Saman-
Khuda, a Persian vassal of the Abbasid Empire.
However, not until the reign of Saman-Khuda’s
great-grandson, Ismail I (892-907 A.D.), did
Samanid power become extensive, eventually
spreading outside of Iran and into Central Asia.
The coins of the Samanids were used throughout
North Asia, revealing their enormous influence
on the region. Today, the Samanid Dynasty is
renown as a time of cultural flourishing,
especially in regards to the arts of poetry and
pottery. The capital of Bukhara was also one of
the cultural centers of the empire, along with the
cities of Samarkand and Nishapur. Perhaps their
most important influence on Islamic art was the
Samanid innovation of slip painting that allowed
for more refined, controlled glazed decorations
on terracotta vessels and tiles. The Samanid
Dynasty was a period of nationalism, where the
Persian people regained power from the hands of
foreign invaders. While Samanid power gradually
waned throughout the 10th century in response
to the rise of Turkic power in Central Asia and
Afghanistan, during their rule the foundations of
a native Iranian Islamic culture were firmly
established.
How many hands have touched a coin in your
pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the
coin traversed on its journey into our
possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull
out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of
who might have touched the coin before us, or
where the coin will venture to after it leaves our
hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of
the state that struck them, of a specific time and
location, whether active currencies in the age we
live or artifacts of a long forgotten empire. This
stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise
of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail
that is often lacking in contemporary machine-
made currencies. This luminous gold dinar
minted during the reign of Abd al-Malik I bin
Nuh is a testament to the sophistication of
Samanid currency. Thanks to their large reserves
of silver, Samanid-issued coins became the
standard throughout Central Asia, reaching as
far as the British Isles. This coin is a luxurious
relic of this ancient dynasty passed from the
hands of civilization to civilization, from
generation to generation.
- (C.3017)
|
| |
|
