Here are the forms of coins from pre-Islamic times to the issuance of the first Islamic coin at the “Islamic Money - A History Revealed” exhibition in Abu Dhabi

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - The history of great ancient civilizations is not only embodied in the majestic structures they left behind and the war equipment, such as helmets and engraved swords, but the coins show a unique view of history as well. During the “Islamic Coins - A History Revealed” exhibition at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in Abu Dhabi, one has the opportunity to wander among “one of the most important collections of ancient currencies in the world,” according to what the Director of the Department of Cultural Communication and Cultural Activities at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, Amal Bamatraf, said in an interview with the Ofoq News website in Arabic. “History Revealed” Bamtraf noted that the exhibition displays a “unique and exclusive” collection of currencies belonging to different eras, and their uniqueness is not only embodied in their value, but also in the stories they reveal.

The coins highlight the achievements of the thriving Islamic culture, and highlight the commonalities and human connections between cultures. The exhibition also presents coins “as unparalleled historical documents and a symbol of power,” according to Bamtraf.

During the exhibition, one will be able to learn about the early forms of currencies that were distributed before the “birth” of the first gold coin, in Bamtraf’s words, which is the dinar. From the first inscribed mihrab to coins contemporary with the Prophet Muhammad, the exhibition includes more than 330 coins, coming from all over the early Islamic world, as well as parts of Europe.

The history of these pieces ranges from the pre-Islamic period to the modern days of Islam, and extends over two thousand years, according to the curator of the exhibition, who holds a doctorate in numismatics from the Vienna Institute, Alain Baron. When asked about the most prominent coins in the exhibition, Baron pointed to a coin from Damascus from the Umayyad Caliphate period.

This piece marks the first time a niche has been engraved on a coin, and it is considered an “extremely rare and historically important coin,” according to Baron. Baron also pointed to another coin from the Umayyad Caliphate documenting the first appearance of the Arabic language on a gold coin.

“The coin is incredibly rare due to its design that includes people, images that are traditionally prohibited in Islam,” Baron explained. The exhibition, whose concept revolves around tolerance, begins from pre-Islamic times, displaying currencies that were in circulation before the spread of Islam, and then highlighting the making of the first Islamic coin.

ويبين هذا القسم كيفية تصميم العرب لعملاتهم المبكرة قبل إبعاد أنفسهم عن الأيقونات المسيحية لصنع أول عملة إسلامية بحتة. The exhibition was also keen to illustrate the strength of the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties.

Many familiar aspects of traditional Arab culture are evident in many of the coins on display, both Islamic and European, such as the art of falconry and camels. “The exhibition also displays the oldest coins made in Mecca, the holiest city in the Islamic world, as well as a number of extremely rare coins made in Hijaz, which today constitutes the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the same century in which the Prophet Muhammad lived,” Baron said.

The “Islamic Coins - History Revealed” exhibition runs from January 28 to April 28. It is worth noting that the exhibition is held under the patronage of the President of the General Women's Union, the President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and the Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.