Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Glass, Room 131

Weight

1036-1094 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

People used coin weights such as this in Egypt under the Fatimid dynasty (969-1171). This example weighs 3.00 grammes and we think it was used to balance silver coinage weighing one dirham. It was produced in the reign of the caliph al-Mustansir (1036-1094), whose names and titles appear on the obverse. (This is the side of the coin that carries the main design.) They are written in a band that surrounds the circular field, which contains the title Commander of the Faithful in two lines. The reverse of the coin is blank.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Stamped blue glass
Brief description
Palish blue coin weight, from the reign of the Fatimid Caliph al-Mustansir (1036-1094). Equates to the weight of a dirham. Egypt (Cairo)
Physical description
Coin weight of transparent glass with a blue tinge. Equates to the weight of a dirham.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 2.5cm
  • Of die diameter: 1.7cm
  • Weight: 3.00g
Style
Marks and inscriptions
'al-!imaam ma?add !abuu tamiim al-muStansir bi-llaah / !amiir / al-mu!miniin' (Inscription; decoration; Arabic; Arabic; obverse; stamped)
Translation
'The Imam Ma'add Abu Tamim al-Mustansir bi-Allah, Commander of the Faithful'
Production
The Fatimid caliph al-Mustansir (1036-1094) is named in the inscription.
Summary
People used coin weights such as this in Egypt under the Fatimid dynasty (969-1171). This example weighs 3.00 grammes and we think it was used to balance silver coinage weighing one dirham. It was produced in the reign of the caliph al-Mustansir (1036-1094), whose names and titles appear on the obverse. (This is the side of the coin that carries the main design.) They are written in a band that surrounds the circular field, which contains the title Commander of the Faithful in two lines. The reverse of the coin is blank.
Bibliographic references
  • Balog, Paul, "Fatimid glass jetons: token currency or coin weights?", Annali, Istituto Italiano di Numismatica, 17-19 (1971-2): 175-264
  • Balog, Paul, "Fatimid glass jetons: token currency or coin weights?", Annali, Istituto Italiano di Numismatica, 20 (1973): 121-212
Collection
Accession number
360:10-1900

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Record createdFebruary 6, 2003
Record URL
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