Figural Islamic Coins
Traditional Islamic coins use no figural images, but some Turkish and Mughal
rulers did produce coins with images, often representing astrological signs. Some of
the iconography is derived from coins struck centuries earlier, suggesting the
existence of medieval coin collections.
Artuqid Turkish copper fals of Najm
al-Din Alpi (1152-1176) depicting the sign of Gemini.
Seleucid silver tetradrachmon of
Antiochus VII (138-129 BC) from Antioch, possibly the ancient model for the
fals, above.
Rum Seljuk Turkish gold dinar (1200)
of Rukn al-Din Sulayman II depicting a Turkish cavalryman.
Rum Seljuk Turkish silver dirham
(1242) of Ghiyat al-Din Kaykhusraw II depicting the sign of Leo.
Mughal gold mohur (1623) of
Jahangir depicting the sign of Sagittarius.