Early Islamic Copper Coins

There are various ways to conduct scholarly numismatics. Syllogues are one of the oldest. The idea behind them is to provide researchers with material they can use to continue their work. Syllogues were a central tool, especially in the field of Greek coins. They provided the material necessary for die studies. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer numismatists today are engaged in the labor-intensive compilation of die and type catalogs. Publishing hoard coins simply yields faster results. In addition, the internet—with its digital images and identifications—has pushed the concept of the sylloge into the background.

It is therefore entirely intentional that Nikolaus Schindler has chosen a different path. He could simply have labeled his work a monograph. After all, he not only brings together nearly 1,500 early Islamic bronze coins minted after the reform of 77 AH (= 696/7 CE), but also provides a scholarly discussion spanning more than 150 pages. Nevertheless, with this book, the author adds the first volume of his *Sylloge Nummorum Arabicorum Österreich* to the *Sylloge Numorum Arabicorum Tübingen* series initiated by Lutz Ilisch. (And yes, the difference in spelling is intentional!)

In this way, Nikolaus Schindel makes the material available to all his colleagues so they can verify—and perhaps even refute—his theses. That is remarkable.

Why are Islamic coins so important for research?

I know I’m no specialist in Islamic coins. That’s why I’d like to ask all enthusiastic experts in this field for forgiveness in advance if I make any factual errors. Knowing you as I do, you’ll correct me quickly anyway. In any case, it seems to me that what makes Islamic coins so incredibly fascinating for historical research are their inscriptions, which routinely name the highest governing authority in addition to the year and the mint. For an era for which there are hardly any historical sources, these coin inscriptions are a godsend. Whether a coin comes new from an excavation, was discovered in a specific hoard, or is pictured in an auction catalog, its inscription, legend, speaks to us quite centuries later and helps us understand which authority a city recognized in a given year, and when that city changed its political allegiance.

That is why coins are so crucial for historians studying the Middle East in reconstructing history. And as mentioned, all coins are equally important—including, and especially, those in private collections. Thus, the first volume of the *Sylloge Nummorum Arabicorum Austria* brings together exclusively coins from private collections, making them accessible to a broad scholarly audience for the first time.

The year 77 AH (= 696/7)

The period covered by Nikolaus Schindel spans the Umayyad caliphate, although some pieces date from the early Abbasid period in the mid-8th century. It begins with the coinage reform of the Umayyad ruler Abd al-Malik, whom non-numismatists know primarily for having built the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Abd al-Malik restored the unity of the Umayyad Caliphate; his coinage reform of 77 AH (= 696/7) served to strengthen the economic ties among the lands he had reconquered. It introduced the gold dinar and the silver dirham and established an iconography quite deeply rooted in Islamic culture—including for bronze coins. This marked the end of that fascinating era in Islamic numismatics, during which gold coins were produced that drew on Byzantine models.

While the dinars and dirhams have been relatively well studied, no one has focused on the more inconspicuous bronze coins for quite some time. John Walker was the last to do so when he published the British Museum’s stock in 1956. Since then, a wealth of new types has come to light, which Nikolaus Schindel now makes accessible.

Many Questions and Some Answers

As already indicated above, the author does not limit himself to presenting the material. He provides a 160-page commentary on the material, which discusses—and in some cases answers—many of the questions raised by the coins.

I certainly won’t attempt to summarize the findings here. But I would like to express my admiration for how lively and collegial the discussion in the field of Islamic numismatics appears to me. Criticism of other scholars’ theses does not become a matter of faith, but rather a debate based on arguments.

If you are interested in this field of numismatics, this Sylloge volume—which is far more than just a Sylloge volume—will provide you with new insights.

Excellent photos!

For the large group of people who are buying this book primarily to identify coins: what impresses me most is the quality of the photos. Let’s agree: photographing bronze coins is never easy. In this volume, even the smallest coins—some of which are heavily worn—are reproduced with great detail and high contrast.

The catalog is organized geographically and is intended for experienced users. Simply by limiting itself to Austrian private collections, it is not exhaustive; however, given the large number of examples it contains, it can certainly be used as a reference work. In other words: Anyone who wants to describe Islamic coins with scholarly accuracy must purchase this work.

You can do so through Phoibos-Verlag for 44 euros plus shipping.

Last-minute update: I’ve just learned that the publication has been awarded the Samir Shamma Prize by the venerable Royal Numismatic Society. Heartfelt congratulations from CoinsWeekly!

Text and images: Ursula Kampmann