© Alema66
© Alema66
Square Dirham "Millarés" - Anonymous - "Dirham imitation" ND
| Silver | 1.35 g | - |
| Issuer | Almohad Caliphate (Islamic states) |
|---|---|
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1130-1269 |
| Value | Dirham (0.7) |
| Currency | Dinar (1121-1269) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 1.35 g |
| Size | 18 mm |
| Shape | Square (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#228022 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 83% |
Reverse
Deformed Arabic script
Legend in three lines in double-border
Script: Arabic
Comment
This coin could be a Chistian imitation of an Almohad square dirham. It is unclear which Christian kingdom had them minted but people speculate on it being made under the Crown of Aragon. The Dirham was very popular in the Peninsula so that may be a reason for it to have been made.To know if a coin is a Dirham or a Millarés, one should look at the characters and the weight. Besides the characters on the Millarés being deformed and not actual arabic script, the coin is itself lighter than a true Dirham
Hohertz-pp.68-69; Medina-Tipo 201 bis; Tonegawa-2/524.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Square Dirham "Millarés" coin is that it was used as a form of currency during the Almohad Caliphate, which was a powerful Islamic empire that spanned across North Africa and parts of Spain during the 12th and 13th centuries. The coin's design, which features a square shape with a circular hole in the center, was a distinctive feature of Almohad coinage and was used to distinguish it from other currencies in circulation at the time.
