Persian Treasury
Ruler

Coinage of Caliph Harun al-Rashid

1 catalogued issue of Caliph Harun al-Rashid — metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions with references.

In short

Harun al-Rashid (786–809 CE) ruled the Abbasid caliphate at its height, and his gold dinars and silver dirhams — struck from Baghdad to Nishapur — are the standard coinage of the classical Islamic world. Caliph Harun al-Rashid issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 184 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Gold at No mint name (likely Madinat al-Salam / Baghdad).

Catalogued
1
Eras
1
Metals
1
Denominations
2

Key facts

Key facts about Caliph Harun al-Rashid in the Persian Treasury catalogue
Catalogued pieces1
Date range184 CE
Eras representedArab-Sasanian & Early Islamic
MetalsGold
DenominationsDinar, Abbasi
MintsNo mint name (likely Madinat al-Salam / Baghdad)
Reign786–809 CE
Dinar≈4.25 g gold
Dirham≈2.9 g silver
Coin contentShahada, mint, Hijri date, names of heirs

The Abbasid apogee

Harun's reign is the setting of the Thousand and One Nights and the period of the Baghdad translation movement. Its material base was a tax system running on a unified dinar–dirham standard across three continents.

Coins from his reign name heirs and officials — al-Amin, al-Ma'mun, the Barmakid viziers — so the coinage records the succession arrangements that would collapse into civil war after his death.

Reading the coins

Abbasid gold and silver are purely epigraphic: shahada and Qur'anic phrases in the fields, mint and Hijri date in the margin. Attribution means reading Kufic script, and once learned it unlocks the whole Islamic series.

Dinars of the reign are obtainable and, unusually for medieval gold, often survive in high grade — Islamic gold circulated by weight among merchants rather than hand to hand in markets.

Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic · 651 – 1258 CE

Era overview →

Abbasid Gold Dinar of Harun al-Rashid

Caliph Harun al-Rashid

AH 184 / 800 CE

Struck at the height of the Abbasid Caliphate's prestige under the patron of the 'Thousand and One Nights' court. Abbasid gold dinars circulated as the dominant trade coin from al-Andalus to Sogdia, and the standard was rigorously maintained for over two centuries.

Frequently asked about Caliph Harun al-Rashid

Are Harun al-Rashid dinars rare?
They are obtainable and often in high grade, because Islamic gold circulated between merchants by weight rather than passing hand to hand in daily trade.
How do I read an Abbasid coin?
Look for the shahada in the field, then the marginal legend, which gives 'in the name of God this dinar/dirham was struck at [mint] in the year [Hijri date]' in Kufic script.
What coins did Caliph Harun al-Rashid issue?
Caliph Harun al-Rashid issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 184 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Gold at No mint name (likely Madinat al-Salam / Baghdad).
How many Caliph Harun al-Rashid pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
1 item, dated 184 CE, spread across 1 era: Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic.
Which metals were used for Caliph Harun al-Rashid coinage?
Gold. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
Which denominations are associated with Caliph Harun al-Rashid?
Dinar, Abbasi. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.
Where were Caliph Harun al-Rashid coins minted?
Recorded mints include No mint name (likely Madinat al-Salam / Baghdad).

Explore related hubs

Denominations here

Metals here