Arabization of Coins

United Arab Emirates20 July 2003Draft

Coins like a mirror which reflects the civilization of nations and people. Through coins man could acknowledge the strength and power of a particular country in all fields such as political, military, economic, cultural and artistic. As part of its commitments to the preservation of Islamic and Arabic Heritage, Emirates Post has issued a special set of stamps in four denominations and a souvenir sheet. The stamps depict the Arabization of coins by dispensing with the use of Persian and Byzantine coins and issuance of independent Islamic coins. This rare collection of coins has been selected from the private collection owned by Mr. Abdullah bin Jassim Al Matiri, Director Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House. Arab Sasanian Dirham – Abdul Malik Bin Marwan 75 H. The Umayyad Caliph Abdul Malik bin Marwan (65-86 H.) was the first to introduce arabized coins, sizes and weights. The front face bears the picture of king Khusraw the Second. On the right of the king’s picture are the words “Five and Seventy”, and on the left “Struck in”. The reverse side bears the picture of Caliph Abdul Malik bin Marwan wearing his sword. On the right side of the Caliph’s picture, there are the words “Caliph of God”, and on the left “Commander of the Faithful”. Souvenir sheet: AED 5. Size: 36.25 x 48 mm in sheets of 50 stamps.