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Primary sourceArtifactca. 945-947

Silver Dirham of Abd-ar-Rahman III

ca. 945-947

A silver coin minted under Abd-ar-Rahman III, used to show the economy of his caliphate.

These coins were minted under Abd-ar-Rahman III's authority, showing the economy of his caliphate.

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Four small silver coins on a brown fabric background, arranged in a row from left to right. Each coin has inscribed Arabic script and geometric markings on its surface. The leftmost coin is the largest.
Silver dirhams of Abd-ar-Rahman III, Elca (Oliva), ca. 945-947. Museu Arqueològic d'Oliva.

About this source

What it is

These are silver dirham coins minted at Elca (Oliva) around 945–947, during the reign of Abd-ar-Rahman III. They are inscribed with Arabic script and geometric markings, and are now held at the Museu Arqueològic d'Oliva.

Why it matters

Coins like these were minted under the authority of the caliph, and carried his name and titles across the territory he ruled. They show how the state under Abd-ar-Rahman III organised its economy and projected its authority through everyday objects that passed through many hands.

Look closer

  • What can the inscriptions on a coin tell historians, even without a written document surviving?
  • Why might a ruler want his name stamped onto money used by ordinary people?
  • What differences do you notice between the four coins, and what might explain them?

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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