{"product_id":"islam-medieval-square-dirhams-almohads-marinids-1121-to-1465-islamic-spain-africa","title":"Islam: Medieval Square Dirhams, Almohads \u0026 Marinids - 1121 to 1465 - Islamic Spain \u0026 Africa","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"hh-backorder-notice\" data-hh-notice=\"small-box\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePLEASE READ:\u003c\/strong\u003e Our shipment of small display boxes has been delayed. \u003cstrong\u003eSmall display boxes are currently out of stock and are expected to arrive around October 1st.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can still \u003cstrong\u003epre-order items that include a small display box.\u003c\/strong\u003e These items will \u003cstrong\u003enot ship until the display boxes arrive.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePre-orders receive $5 off each delayed item.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn-stock items in the same order will ship immediately as usual.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThese curiously shaped silver \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003edirham\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e coins date back to the medieval period, during the Islamic control of Spain and North Africa. Though the coins look nearly the same, one dates from the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlmohad Caliphate\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e (1180–1212 CE) and one is from the following \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eMaranid Sultanate\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e (1244–1465 CE).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe story of Islamic rule in Spain and Northern Africa began with Arab Muslim forces conquering Byzantine-controlled Africa in the mid-600s and taking Spain from the Visigoths in the early 700s CE. This ushered in 800 years of Islamic rule in Spain, a period known as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eAl-Andalus\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0102\/1096\/7599\/files\/1280px-Almohad_dynasty_of_Morocco-en_svg.png?v=1711057788\u0026amp;width=700\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Almohad Caliphate's greatest territorial extent in the early 13th century (Source: Wikimedia)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe Almohad Caliphate was a Berber Masmuda Muslim tribe that took control of the area in the late 1100s. They professed the ideas of the religious scholar Ibn Tumart, whose followers were called \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eal-Muwaḥḥidūn\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e or Almohads; literally, those who profess the unity of God. Therefore, coins minted under the Almohads bear the declaration \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e”al-mahdi imamunâ”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e (al-Mahdi is our Imam).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eTribal revolts whittled away at the Caliphate’s control over its African territories, paving the way for the success of the rise of the Marinid Sultanate, a different faction of the Berber Tribes, who overthrew the Almohads in Morocco in 1244. They proceeded to mint nearly identical coins, but replaced the declaration above with “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eal-qur'an imamunâ”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e (the Qur'an is our Imam).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMany theories have formed to explain why these coins were made square instead of round. While it certainly made them easier to cut from a larger piece of metal, most agree that the square symbolism was an intentional design choice. The Almohad incorporated squares into other designs as well, and the coins were likely made square to further project the empire's power.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\" data-mce-style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eEach includes a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\" data-mce-style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eCertificate of Authenticity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\" data-mce-style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"History Hoard","offers":[{"title":"Include display case (+$0.00)","offer_id":67581946593357,"sku":"hnb1791343595038","price":32.39,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"No display - just the coin and certificate\/info card (save $15.00 each)","offer_id":67581946626125,"sku":"wbs1791343595039","price":27.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0667\/0775\/0989\/files\/islam-medieval-square-dirhams-almohads-marinids---1121-to-1465---islamic-spain-a_1.png?v=1791343601","url":"https:\/\/www.neatcorner.shop\/products\/islam-medieval-square-dirhams-almohads-marinids-1121-to-1465-islamic-spain-africa","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}