Coins of the GOLDEN AGE OF ISLAM

eading and understanding Islamic coins has frequently been considered a daunting task for new collectors. Knowing Arabic script and language is often cited as a pre-requisite for this field of numismatics. While it is extremely helpful to have that knowledge, not having the full grasp of Kufic script and Arabic language is no impediment to collecting and understanding these wonderful coins. Aside from the script, it is also important to be aware of the historical circumstances in which these coins were made, especially in the periods of great dynastic and political turmoil such as in the last centuries of the Abbasid rule. In this very brief, introductory guide, I would like to explore what makes these coins interesting and rewarding to collect and research. A useful list of books will be featured as well which are most illuminating on the subject. The