The Dinar: a Persian numismatic guide
The gold dinar, from Sasanian issues to the Umayyad reform and its Persian medieval successors. 12 catalogued examples spanning Sasanian Empire, Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic, Qajar Dynasty.
In short
The dinar is the gold coin of the Islamic world — standardised at about 4.25 g by the reform of Abd al-Malik in 696–697 CE — and the name also covers the rare gold issues of the Sasanian kings that preceded it. The Dinar is a Persian and Iranian denomination represented by 12 catalogued examples dated 77 CE – 1896 CE. The gold dinar, from Sasanian issues to the Umayyad reform and its Persian medieval successors. Examples here are struck in Gold, Copper at mints including Sind, Damascus, Nishapur and 5 more.
- Catalogued
- 12
- Eras
- 3
- Metals
- 2
- Denominations
- 2
Key facts
| Catalogued pieces | 12 |
|---|---|
| Date range | 77 CE – 1896 CE |
| Eras represented | Sasanian Empire, Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic, Qajar Dynasty |
| Metals | Gold, Copper |
| Denominations | Dinar, Abbasi |
| Mints | Sind, Damascus, Nishapur, Ghazna, Isfahan, Nishapur, Baghdad, No mint name (likely Madinat al-Salam / Baghdad), Tehran (machine-struck) |
| Issuers | Bahram V (Bahram Gur), Shapur I, Shapur III, Abd al-Malik (post-reform), Abd al-Malik I (Samanid), Mas'ud III (Ghaznavid), Malik-Shah I, Arghun Khan (Ilkhanid) |
| Standard weight | ~4.25 g (one mithqal) |
| Reform date | AH 77–78 / 696–697 CE |
| Design | Purely epigraphic after the reform |
| Key Iranian mints | Nishapur, Ray, Isfahan, Herat |
From denarius to dinar
The word descends from the Roman denarius aureus through Byzantine usage. Sasanian kings struck occasional gold dinars using drachm designs, but they were ceremonial rather than monetary; the dinar becomes a working currency only under the caliphate.
Abd al-Malik's reformed dinar of 696–697 CE removed all imagery, fixed the weight near 4.25 g (the mithqal), and filled both faces with Qur'anic text and the declaration of faith inside marginal legends giving mint and AH year.
Iranian dinars after the caliphate
Samanid, Buyid, Ghaznavid, Seljuq and Ilkhanid rulers all struck gold dinars in Iran, usually acknowledging the Abbasid caliph in the legend while naming themselves as the effective power. Weights loosen after the eleventh century, and some Seljuq and later dinars are struck on small thick flans well below the classical mithqal.
Nishapur, Ray, Isfahan, Herat and Baghdad are the mints most frequently encountered in the Iranian series.
Sasanian Empire · 224 – 651 CE
Era overview →Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic · 651 – 1258 CE
Era overview →Qajar Dynasty · 1789 – 1925 CE
Era overview →Frequently asked about Dinar
- What is a gold dinar?
- The gold coin of the Islamic world, standardised near 4.25 g in 696–697 CE and inscribed on both faces with Qur'anic text, the mint name and the AH year.
- How much is a gold dinar worth?
- Value depends on ruler, mint and condition rather than metal alone; common Abbasid and Fatimid dinars trade at a modest premium over bullion, while rare Iranian mints and early caliphal issues sell for many multiples.
- What is a Dinar?
- The Dinar is a Persian and Iranian denomination represented by 12 catalogued examples dated 77 CE – 1896 CE. The gold dinar, from Sasanian issues to the Umayyad reform and its Persian medieval successors. Examples here are struck in Gold, Copper at mints including Sind, Damascus, Nishapur and 5 more.
- How many Dinar pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
- 12 items, dated 77 CE – 1896 CE, spread across 3 eras: Sasanian Empire, Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic, Qajar Dynasty.
- Which metals were used for Dinar coinage?
- Gold, Copper. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
- Where were Dinar coins minted?
- Recorded mints include Sind, Damascus, Nishapur, Ghazna, Isfahan, Nishapur, Baghdad.