ARABS IN THE HOLY LAND

The Roman Emperor Heraclius lost Jerusalem to the Arabian Khalif Omar in 637 CE, after a few month's siege. One of the first coins struck in Palestine by the Arabs (c. 650 CE) is an imitation of a Byzantine coin, picturing Heraclius in the center, flanked by his sons Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas, each holding a small globe with a cross; on the reverse is a large "M" (the denomination), along with the name of the city in Latin and Arabic. (#125) #125 Tiberias Copper Fals c. 650 CE (Coins of Tiberias, p. 105-6) The Umayyad Governors also struck several varieties of small bronze coins (fals denomination) in imitation of earlier Jewish coins. These feature an amphora (like the First Revolt bronze prutah) (#126), 5-branched candelabrum (like the Menorah coin of Antigonus Mattathias) (#127), and pomegranate (like the pomegranate buds on the famous First Revolt shekels) (#128). The Arabic inscriptions read "There is No God but Allah Alone" and "Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah." #126 Anonymous Copper Fals (Islamic Coins #66) #127 Anonymous Copper Fals (Islamic Coins #68) #128 Anonymous Copper Fals (Islamic Coins #70) The Caliph himself was portrayed on coins struck in Jerusalem c. 670-685 CE. He stands facing, wearing a long robe and native head-dress; his right hand is placed on a sword. The name of the mint in Arabic "Iliya Filistin" is indicated on the reverse. (#129) #129 Anonymous Copper Fals c. 670-685 CE (Islamic Coins #51) Around the turn of the first millennium, the Arabs began striking gold dinars in Palestine. Such a coin was issued in Ramla jointly by Ali b. Al-Ikshid with the Caliph Al-Muti Iillah (960-965 CE). The legends read in part: "There is No God but Allah Alone, He Has No Associate" and "Allah, Muhammad Is the Apostle of Allah, God Bless Him." (#130) #130 Ali b. Al-Ikshid and Caliph Al-Muti Iillah, Gold Dinar, Ramla, 960-965 CE (Islamic Coins #113) © 2000 - 2007 Mel Wacks. All Rights Reserved