Islamic and Byzantine coins

Bubba Joiner
12/18/13
Block A

There are many differences in coins from the Islamic and Byzantine empires.  The biggest difference is their looks.  Islamic and Byzantine coins look nothing alike.  Islam coins had verses on their faces.  Also the Quran encourages trade.  Byzantine coins had emperor’s hl faces on them.

The Islamic coins had verses from the Quran on them, the verse says that the only God is God and that Muhammad is the prophet. Verses in the Quran in section 004.029 that actually encourage trade.  The currency in the Islamic empire is called Dinar and is made of gold.  They had coin weights hl that were made of glass.  They were about the same weight as the average Dinar and were clearly marked as weights.

Byzantine coins had the emperor’s face hl, regalia, and symbols of Christ on them. Among these symbols were crowns, crosses, and angels.  Some coins even had the emperor’s portrait on them.

Islamic and Byzantine coins have very different symbols on them.  Each symbol means something different and connects to the culture of the time period.  

I.  Introduction

    A.  There are many differences in coins from the Islamic and Byzantine empires.

    B.  Thesis: Islamic and Byzantine coins look nothing alike

    C.  Basic comparison

II.   Body Paragraphs

      A.  In depth description of Islamic coin

            i.  verse from Quran

           ii.  Quran encourages trade

          iii.  glass weight

      B.  In depth description of Byzantine coin

            i.  symbols on coins

III.  Conclusion

Works Cited:

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. "Solidus [Early Byzantine]." The Metropolitan

    Museum of Art. N.p., May 2012. Web. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/

    works-of-art/04.35.3356>.

Durkee, Joseph H. "Gold Solidus of Justinian I (527–65)." The Metropolitan

    Museum of Art. N.p., 1898. Web. <http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/

    search-the-collections/469160>.

"Gold Solidus of Justinian I (527–65)." The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

    N.p., 1898. Web. <http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/

    search-the-collections/469160?img=1>.

Fund, Rogers. "Coin Weight." The Metropolitan Museum of Art. N.p., 1908. Web.

    <http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/453506>.

"Gold [Syria]" (99.35.2386) In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/99.35.2386. (May 2012)