Research Article

Some Reasons for the Currency Reform of A.H. 77/696-7 A.D.: The Figure on the Obverse, ‘the Caliph, the Prophet, or an Image of an Idol of Solid Hammer-Beaten Metal?’

Volume: 4 Number: 2 December 30, 2014
TR EN

Some Reasons for the Currency Reform of A.H. 77/696-7 A.D.: The Figure on the Obverse, ‘the Caliph, the Prophet, or an Image of an Idol of Solid Hammer-Beaten Metal?’

Abstract

This article suggests there were quite specific reasons for the change in A.H. 77/696-7 to a reformed dīnār, the change from a figural to an epigraphic Islamic currency even though this reformed currency carrying only script was itself bida. It is suggested that this reform was associated with the arrival in Damascus in 696-7 A.D. of the third envoy from Emperor Justinian II demanding the return of the Christian Trinitarian tiraz to the coinage and to other official items, with the associated threat that if this was not done an imprecation on the Prophet would be struck on the widely circulated East Roman currency. It is suggested the depiction of the ‘Standing Caliph’ struck on the obverse of ‘Abd al-Malik’s dīnārs from 74 to 77 A.H. was misunderstood by some Christians as carrying a depiction of the Prophet, or of an idol of the Almighty, an idol thought have been to be worshipped by Muslims, rather than being a depiction of the Caliph. To prevent any further confusion concerning the relationship between legend and image on the obverse of the dīnār, the image was dispensed with, resulting in the epigraphic type of dīnār.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Islamic Arts

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 30, 2014

Submission Date

November 1, 2014

Acceptance Date

December 1, 2014

Published in Issue

Year 2014 Volume: 4 Number: 2

APA
Duggan, T. M. P. (2014). Some Reasons for the Currency Reform of A.H. 77/696-7 A.D.: The Figure on the Obverse, ‘the Caliph, the Prophet, or an Image of an Idol of Solid Hammer-Beaten Metal?’. Akdeniz İnsani Bilimler Dergisi, 4(2), 89-112. https://izlik.org/JA37MN74TT
AMA
1.Duggan TMP. Some Reasons for the Currency Reform of A.H. 77/696-7 A.D.: The Figure on the Obverse, ‘the Caliph, the Prophet, or an Image of an Idol of Solid Hammer-Beaten Metal?’. MJH. 2014;4(2):89-112. https://izlik.org/JA37MN74TT
Chicago
Duggan, Terrance Michael Patrick. 2014. “Some Reasons for the Currency Reform of A.H. 77 696-7 A.D.: The Figure on the Obverse, ‘the Caliph, the Prophet, or an Image of an Idol of Solid Hammer-Beaten Metal?’”. Akdeniz İnsani Bilimler Dergisi 4 (2): 89-112. https://izlik.org/JA37MN74TT.
EndNote
Duggan TMP (December 1, 2014) Some Reasons for the Currency Reform of A.H. 77/696-7 A.D.: The Figure on the Obverse, ‘the Caliph, the Prophet, or an Image of an Idol of Solid Hammer-Beaten Metal?’. Akdeniz İnsani Bilimler Dergisi 4 2 89–112.
IEEE
[1]T. M. P. Duggan, “Some Reasons for the Currency Reform of A.H. 77/696-7 A.D.: The Figure on the Obverse, ‘the Caliph, the Prophet, or an Image of an Idol of Solid Hammer-Beaten Metal?’”, MJH, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 89–112, Dec. 2014, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA37MN74TT
ISNAD
Duggan, Terrance Michael Patrick. “Some Reasons for the Currency Reform of A.H. 77 696-7 A.D.: The Figure on the Obverse, ‘the Caliph, the Prophet, or an Image of an Idol of Solid Hammer-Beaten Metal?’”. Akdeniz İnsani Bilimler Dergisi 4/2 (December 1, 2014): 89-112. https://izlik.org/JA37MN74TT.
JAMA
1.Duggan TMP. Some Reasons for the Currency Reform of A.H. 77/696-7 A.D.: The Figure on the Obverse, ‘the Caliph, the Prophet, or an Image of an Idol of Solid Hammer-Beaten Metal?’. MJH. 2014;4:89–112.
MLA
Duggan, Terrance Michael Patrick. “Some Reasons for the Currency Reform of A.H. 77 696-7 A.D.: The Figure on the Obverse, ‘the Caliph, the Prophet, or an Image of an Idol of Solid Hammer-Beaten Metal?’”. Akdeniz İnsani Bilimler Dergisi, vol. 4, no. 2, Dec. 2014, pp. 89-112, https://izlik.org/JA37MN74TT.
Vancouver
1.Terrance Michael Patrick Duggan. Some Reasons for the Currency Reform of A.H. 77/696-7 A.D.: The Figure on the Obverse, ‘the Caliph, the Prophet, or an Image of an Idol of Solid Hammer-Beaten Metal?’. MJH [Internet]. 2014 Dec. 1;4(2):89-112. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA37MN74TT

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Mediterranean Journal of Humanities (MJH) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

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Publisher

Akdeniz University, Faculty of Letters

Correspondence Address

Akdeniz İnsani Bilimler Dergisi (MJH), Akdeniz University, Faculty of Letters 07058 Campus, Konyaaltı, Antalya Türkiye

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: Biannual (June – December)

E-ISSN: 2148-144X

E-mail: mjh@akdeniz.edu.t