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Primary sourceArtifact335 AH

Silver Dirham of Abd al-Rahman III

Numismática Pliego · 335 AH

A silver coin struck during the reign of Abd al-Rahman III, bearing Arabic inscriptions, a direct product of his authority as Caliph of Córdoba.

This coin was minted under Abd al-Rahman III's authority, a direct physical trace of his rule as Caliph.

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Two photographs of a silver dirham coin, obverse on left and reverse on right. Both faces show raised Arabic inscriptions in concentric circles and a central inscribed field with a crack visible on the left coin's edge.
Silver dirham issued under Abd al-Rahman III, 335 AH. Numismática Pliego.

About this source

What it is

This is a silver dirham, a coin issued under Abd al-Rahman III. It was struck in the year 335 of the Hijra calendar. Both sides carry raised Arabic inscriptions arranged in circles around a central field.

Why it matters

Coins like this were official products of the ruler's government. Minting money in his own name was a way for Abd al-Rahman III to show his authority as Caliph of Córdoba, and to spread his name and titles across the territory he controlled. Studying coins helps historians understand political power, trade and how rulers presented themselves without needing written chronicles.

Look closer

  • What do the inscriptions on the coin tell you about who made it and why?
  • Why might a ruler want his name stamped onto something used every day, like money?
  • What can a coin tell us that a written history cannot?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Abd al-Rahman III on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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