umayyad-caliphate-695-ce-item-2

Historical Context

This coin represents a pivotal moment in Islamic numismatics, marking the complete Islamization of coinage under Caliph Abd al-Malik. Introduced in AH 77 (696-697 CE), it replaced earlier transitional issues that still featured Byzantine iconography. This purely epigraphic design, devoid of images, established the standard for Islamic coinage for centuries and asserted the distinct Islamic identity of the Caliphate. The year 695 CE in the title likely refers to the period of its introduction, with AH 77 (696-697 CE) being the specific year inscribed on the coin itself.