A complete set of the Umayyad Reform gold coinage will lead a sale of Islamic coins at Baldwin's in London on December 10.
The lot is estimated at £80,000-100,000 ($130,816-163,520), and includes all 56 dinars from 78h to 132h (AD 697-749) with two of the rarest examples described as being of particularly high grade.
 The majority of the set is in extremely fine condition |
The coinage reforms were carried out in the Umayyad caliphate, which at its greatest extent spanned the Middle East, North Africa and Spain, leading to the development of the first currency ever produced by a Muslim government.
The coins were designed as a way to demonstrate Muslim control of the conquered territories, and feature verses from the Qur'an - in contrast to the images of crown heads that had dominated the design of coinage up until this point.
In May of this year another complete set of Umayyad Reform coinage in superior condition, including the extremely rare 77h gold dinar, realised £330,000 ($538,758) at Baldwin's.
A gold dinar produced in Mecca in 366h (AD 976) during the reign of Al Aziz, fifth caliph of the Fatmid caliphate, is valued at £35,000-45,000 ($57,232-73,584).
 The gold dinar was produced in Mecca in 366h (AD 976) |
Aziz ruled from AD 975-996 and is credited with stabilising the economic situation of Egypt and Syria, which had recently been conquered, by introducing a stable currency into the region and increasing the development of infrastructure.
The coin is weakly struck but is otherwise extremely fine and rare.
We have a range of rare coins available.
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