Persian Treasury
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Coinage of Abd al-Malik (post-reform)

1 catalogued issue of Abd al-Malik (post-reform) — metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions with references.

In short

Abd al-Malik (685–705 CE) carried out the monetary reform of 696–697 CE, replacing all figural coinage with purely inscriptional gold dinars and silver dirhams — the single most consequential design decision in Islamic numismatics. Abd al-Malik (post-reform) issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 77 CE – 696 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Gold at Damascus.

Catalogued
1
Eras
1
Metals
1
Denominations
1

Key facts

Key facts about Abd al-Malik (post-reform) in the Persian Treasury catalogue
Catalogued pieces1
Date range77 CE – 696 CE
Eras representedArab-Sasanian & Early Islamic
MetalsGold
DenominationsDinar
MintsDamascus
Reign685–705 CE
ReformAH 77–79 / 696–697 CE
Dinar≈4.25 g gold
Dirham≈2.9 g silver

The reform

Before the reform, Islamic coinage adapted Byzantine solidi and Sasanian drachms. Abd al-Malik removed images entirely, leaving the shahada, Qur'anic phrases, mint and Hijri date in Kufic script.

The standards set — dinar at about 4.25 g gold, dirham at about 2.9 g silver — governed Islamic money from Spain to Central Asia for centuries.

Why it worked

An inscriptional coinage was universally legible as Islamic regardless of the local visual culture it entered, and it removed the theological problem of portraiture at a stroke.

Transitional issues from the reform years — including the short-lived 'standing caliph' type — are among the most sought-after Islamic coins and command exceptional prices.

Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic · 651 – 1258 CE

Era overview →

Umayyad Gold Dinar

Abd al-Malik (post-reform)

77 AH / 696 CE

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

Frequently asked about Abd al-Malik (post-reform)

What was Abd al-Malik's coinage reform?
The replacement of Byzantine- and Sasanian-derived figural coinage with purely inscriptional dinars and dirhams in 696–697 CE, setting standards used for centuries.
What is the 'standing caliph' type?
A short-lived transitional issue showing a standing figure with a sword, struck just before the fully epigraphic reform; it is rare and highly prized.
What coins did Abd al-Malik (post-reform) issue?
Abd al-Malik (post-reform) issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 77 CE – 696 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Gold at Damascus.
How many Abd al-Malik (post-reform) pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
1 item, dated 77 CE – 696 CE, spread across 1 era: Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic.
Which metals were used for Abd al-Malik (post-reform) coinage?
Gold. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
Which denominations are associated with Abd al-Malik (post-reform)?
Dinar. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.
Where were Abd al-Malik (post-reform) coins minted?
Recorded mints include Damascus.

Explore related hubs

Denominations here

Metals here