First Islamic Caliphate, Umayyad Dynasty, Arab-Byzantine, (C. 680-90 Ce – Ah 60-70), Fals (C)

These incredible artefacts date from about 50-60 years after the death of the Prophet Mohammed. During this period, Islam spread rapidly beyond the Arabian peninsula and into the adjacent Byzantine empire. In these newly conquered lands, the First Caliphate continued to strike coins to the same Byzantine model as before but devoid of Christian symbols. Starting in AH77 (c. 696 CE), the Caliph, Abdul Malik, initiated a total reform of the coinage eventually removing all non-Islamic symbols and script.