Medieval Islamic coins

The coinage of the Fatimid, Almoravid and Almohad Dynasties reveals the rich and interconnected history of medieval North Africa, Egypt, Sicily, the Levant and al-Andalus. Issued between the 10th and 13th centuries, these authentic Islamic coins reflect an age of powerful caliphates, religious and political transformation, expanding cities and flourishing long-distance trade.

💡 Did you know? Fatimid coins are famous for their distinctive ‘bull’s-eye’ design, with Arabic inscriptions arranged in concentric circles around a central pellet. Fatimid gold dinars became respected trade coins throughout the medieval Mediterranean and were later imitated by the Crusader states.

Fatimid, Almoravid and Almohad coins are renowned for their Arabic inscriptions and distinctive calligraphic designs. Their legends frequently record professions of faith, the names and titles of rulers, and sometimes the mint and year of issue. Celebrated gold dinars circulated internationally, while silver dirhams, half-dirhams and qirats served regional commerce and everyday transactions. Today, these coins remain highly collectable witnesses to the artistic, economic and political history of the medieval Islamic world.

💡 Did you know? Almoravid gold dinars were so widely trusted for their purity and reliability that they influenced coinage far beyond the Islamic world. The name of the medieval Spanish maravedí was derived from al-Murābiṭūn, the Arabic name of the Almoravids.

💡 Did you know? Many Almohad coins feature inscriptions arranged within a striking square design. This distinctive layout became one of the most recognisable characteristics of Almohad coinage and also influenced contemporary Christian imitations.

Browse our selection of authentic Fatimid, Almoravid and Almohad coins and add a remarkable piece of medieval Islamic history to your collection.