Samanid Gold Dinar (Nishapur)

Historical context — Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic

Arab governors continued striking Sasanian-style drachms with added Arabic Kufic legends (bismillah). Abd al-Malik's reform (696/77 AH) introduced epigraphic-only Islamic coinage — the silver dirham and gold dinar.

Frequently asked

What is the Samanid Gold Dinar (Nishapur)?

Samanid silver dirhams flooded Viking-age trade; vast hoards found from Russia to Sweden. It was struck in 955–956 CE at Nishapur under Abd al-Malik I (Samanid).

What metal and weight is it?

Gold, weighing approximately ~4.0 g.

What designs appear on it?

Obverse: Shahada, ruler's name, caliph's name. Reverse: Qur'anic verse, mint and date.

Related pieces

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Abd al-Malik (post-reform)

77 AH / 696 CE

First purely epigraphic Islamic coin — a revolution in monetary art.

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1099–1115 CE

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Great Seljuq Gold Dinar

Malik-Shah I

1072–1092 CE

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Ilkhanid Gold Dinar of Arghun

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Abbasid Gold Dinar of Harun al-Rashid

Caliph Harun al-Rashid

AH 184 / 800 CE

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Mu'izz al-Din Muhammad of Ghor

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