Dirham of al-Mahdi, Madina-t al-Salam (Baghdad) c. 8th century

Curator: Here we have a Dirham of al-Mahdi, a silver coin minted in Madina-t al-Salam, now Baghdad, weighing just under 3 grams. Editor: It looks worn, doesn't it? A tangible piece of history, holding a lot of symbolic weight, quite literally. Curator: Absolutely. Coins like this served not only as currency but also as tools for propagating political and religious ideologies. The inscriptions are Kufic script, likely containing religious declarations and the ruler's name. Editor: Notice how the design seems to center around a square or rectangular shape? Money has always had a connection with the idea of stability. I can imagine that these shapes also evoke notions of order and permanence. Curator: Indeed. Minting coins was a powerful act; it signified sovereignty and economic control. This dirham connects us to the vast trade networks and the political landscape of the Abbasid Caliphate. Editor: It is quite humbling to consider that an object so small could carry such meaning. I wonder what hands it passed through. Curator: It brings the past to life, doesn't it? Coins help us understand the economies and power structures of the ancient world in an intimate way.