How to Identify the Copper Fals of as-Salih Salih
A collector's guide to attributing a copper fals of as-Salih Salih: reading its worn Arabic legends, judging metal and size, and separating it from similar Islamic coppers.
Read the full Copper Fals of as-Salih Salih encyclopedia entry →
Start by confirming that the coin is entirely epigraphic. A Mamluk-era copper fals of this type carries only linear Arabic script on both faces, with no portrait, animal, or figural device anywhere. If you see any human or animal image or any Latin lettering, you are not looking at a coin of as-Salih Salih.
Read whatever survives of the legends to attribute the piece. On a well-preserved coin the inscriptions name the sultan and his honorific titles alongside religious formulas, and a mint designation may appear within the legend. On a heavily worn example like this one, much of the calligraphy is softened and only fragments remain; attribution then rests on matching the surviving letters, style, and any legible titles against published references for as-Salih Salih rather than on a full reading.
Check the physical coin. This is a copper piece, so expect a reddish-brown to dark oxidized surface, sometimes with green corrosion products. Fulus are small, hand-struck coins that are often slightly irregular in outline and unevenly centered, with part of the legend running off the edge because the dies were larger than the flan. Copper is non-precious and lacks the bright tone of silver; weight and diameter vary from mint to mint since fulus were not held to a strict standard.
Watch for look-alikes. Many Islamic dynasties — Ayyubid, other Mamluk sultans, and various regional issuers — struck superficially similar all-Arabic copper coins, so general appearance alone cannot pin a coin to as-Salih Salih. The specific ruler's name and titles in the legend are what separate one copper fals from another; when those are worn away, a confident attribution may not be possible.
Apply sensible authentication checks. Genuine fulus are struck, showing the slightly uneven relief and irregular flan of hand production; be wary of cast copies with soft, blurry detail, seams, or air bubbles, and of pieces with artificially applied patina hiding tooled or modern surfaces. Because so much of this coin's detail is lost to wear, treat any attribution cautiously and compare against a specialist catalog of Mamluk copper coinage, or seek an expert opinion, before accepting a firm identification.
Frequently asked questions
How can I attribute a coin this worn?
When most of the legend is effaced, attribution rests on matching the surviving letters, style, and any legible titles against references for as-Salih Salih. A heavily worn coin may only be identifiable to a general type rather than a precise issue.
Where would the ruler's name appear?
The sultan's name and honorific titles are worked into the Arabic legends on the coin's faces, alongside religious formulas and, where present, a mint designation. Reading or matching these is essential for a precise attribution.
How do I tell it apart from other Islamic copper coins?
Many dynasties struck similar all-Arabic copper fulus, so appearance alone is not enough. The specific ruler's name and titles in the legend are what identify it as an issue of as-Salih Salih rather than a related coin.
How do I spot a fake or a tooled coin?
Genuine fulus are struck, with the uneven relief and irregular flan of hand production. Watch for casting seams, bubbles, and mushy detail, and for artificial patina concealing modern or tooled surfaces. Verify doubtful pieces against a specialist catalog.