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Umayyad Gold Dinar
Umayyad Caliphate
705–715 CE
This gold dinar from the Umayyad Caliphate represents one of the earliest fully epigraphic Islamic coinages, marking a decisive break from Byzantine and Sasanian visual traditions. Instead of figural imagery, the design relies entirely on carefully balanced Arabic inscriptions, emphasizing religious authority, unity, and the power of the written word. The refined calligraphy and precise geometry reflect the consolidation of Islamic identity, state governance, and monetary reform during the early medieval period.
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