Gold Umayyad Coin with Kufic Inscriptions Discovered in Egypt

Submitted by Ann on Mon, 05/24/2010 - 13:32

Both sides of the coin are decorated with kufic inscription. Egypt announced today that a gold Umayyad coin was unearthed last Thursday during an excavation at the Monastery of St. John the Little, in the desert west of the Nile Delta. In a statement Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the SCA, said both sides of the well-preserved coin are decorated with Kufic inscriptions, the oldest calligraphic form of the Arabic script.

One side of the coin bears the name of Allah. The second side is inscribed: “in the name of God the Merciful.” The coin's edge is decorated with the year it was minted. It dates to the year 103 of Higra (721 AD) during the reign of the 9th Umayyad Caliph Yazid II (687 – 724 AD).

The archaeological mission at Wadi el-Natrun is a joint venture between Yale University and the Supreme Council of Antiquities and involves the excavation and conservation of early Christian remains. The Monastery of St. John the Little is over seven square kilometres in area and contains about a hundred unexcavated structures.

In late antiquity, the desert settlement called Scetis in Greek (now Wadi el-Natrun, or Natrian Desert, as it is often referenced in Christian literature) was a haven for early Egyptian monastic communities. Monks lived in small cells around the area which were later organized into more formal monastic orders.

The Monastery of John the Little was named after the fourth century desert father, Saint John the Dwarf (or 'John Kolobos') and remained one of the most active monasteries throughout Arab rule. It was demolished by a Berber raid in the fourteenth century, yet it is claimed a tree planted by Saint John the Dwarf known as 'the Tree of Obedience' still exists at the monastery today.

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Ann Wuyts (follow me: e-mail or

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Last three pieces by this author:

Unique Iron Age Hoard goes on display at Ipswich Museum | Royal Artefacts - Including King Tut's Golden Trumpet - Returned to Egyptian Museum Cairo | SCA releases full list of treasures missing from the Cairo Museum

Ann 'Vint' Wuyts is looking after the Heritage Key community and avatar health & entertainment. She is slightly fascinated by everything to do with 3D technology and what's commonly defined as 'Web 2.0'. When she grows up, Ann - eventually - wants to be a mummy. Favourite game: Buzzword Bingo /…

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Comments

Guide:

Egypt announced today that a gold Umayyad coin was unearthed last Thursday during an excavation at the Monastery of St. John the Little.. This was a fairly recent discovery and seemingly important makes me wionder what will be going on now with all the unrest in Egypt.. Lets hope discoveries like this are not going to be ruined and that the Egyption people realise how important their past is to their future

Wed, 02-02-2011 11:05

chuck norris jokes:

<p>Are you sure that these coins really made from gold?</p>

Tue, 26-07-2011 11:51

flower bed edging:

<p>Very interesting post about coins, I didn't here anything about it anywhere</p>

Mon, 08-08-2011 18:08

Minepedia Crafting:

Thank you for your sharing.

Tue, 23-08-2011 15:55

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Wed, 24-08-2011 04:50

Bid4dream:

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Wed, 24-08-2011 04:51

billiga fönster:

<p>Very nice, I am sure its just candy coins ... the might look real but I dont think so.</p>

Sat, 10-09-2011 22:18