Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Medieval & Modern Coins| ▸ |Islamic||View Options: ![]() ![]() The first Islamic coins copied the coins of the Sassanians and Byzantines. The first changes were minor with only the addition of short phrases in Arabic and sometimes the addition of hijra dates. A reform by ʿAbd al-Malik changed the coinage drastically. The new coins, following the traditions of Islam had no images, only inscriptions in Arabic that assert the oneness of Allah and Muḥammad as His last Messenger. Nevertheless, there have been lots of coinages by Muslim rulers with images and inscriptions in other languages, and lots of coinages by non-Muslims that have Arabic inscriptions and no images. |
From 1722 to 1735 (1135 - 1148 AH), the Ottomans occupied parts of northwestern Iran, as well as Armenia, Georgia and Tabriz. Sultan Ahmed III was curious and intellectual in nature, spending most of his time reading and practicing calligraphy. His poems manifest profound knowledge of poetry, history, Islamic theology and philosophy. After wars with Russia, Venice and Austria, his grand vizier, Ibrahim Pasha, determined limited finances necessitated avoiding war as much as possible. This suited Ahmed since he had no wish to lead military campaigns, and his interest in art and culture made him reluctant to leave Istanbul. Ahmed became unpopular due to the excessive pomp and costly luxury in which he and his principal officers indulged. On 20 September 1730, a riot of citizens and military, lead by Janissaries, swelled into an insurrection. Ahmed voluntarily led his nephew Mahmud I to the seat of sovereignty and paid allegiance to him as the new Sultan of the Empire. He then retired and died at Topkapi Palace after six years of confinement. | ![]() |