How to Identify the Copper Fals of Barquq
A collector's guide to attributing a Mamluk copper fals of Barquq: reading its Arabic legends, the Damascus mint, judging metal and size, and spotting look-alikes.
Read the full Copper Fals of Barquq encyclopedia entry →
Start by confirming the coin is entirely epigraphic. A copper fals of Barquq carries only Arabic calligraphy 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 Mamluk fals of Barquq.
Read the legends to attribute the piece. The inscriptions name the sultan and his titles — look for the honorific al-Zahir linked to Barquq — while the reverse legend gives the mint. On this coin the mint is Damascus, a key Syrian center of the Mamluk state. Being able to read, or match against a reference, the ruler's name and the mint is what separates a Barquq fals from the many other Mamluk copper issues.
Check the physical coin. This is copper, so expect a reddish-brown to dark oxidized surface, sometimes with green corrosion products, and none of the bright tone of silver. 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. Weight and diameter vary from coin to coin, since fulus were not held to a strict standard.
Watch for look-alikes. Earlier Bahri Mamluk sultans, Barquq's own later reign, and successor rulers all struck superficially similar all-Arabic copper coins, and Barquq also issued silver dirhams that should not be confused with the copper fals. The specific ruler's name and the Damascus mint in the legend — not the general appearance — are what pin a coin to Barquq's first reign rather than to a related issue.
Apply sensible authentication checks. Genuine fulus are struck, showing the uneven relief and irregular flan of hand production; be wary of cast copies with soft, blurry detail, casting seams, or air bubbles, and of pieces with artificially applied patina hiding tooled or modern surfaces. When the legend cannot be read clearly, compare the coin against a specialist catalog of Mamluk coinage or seek an expert opinion before accepting a firm attribution.
Frequently asked questions
How do I confirm the coin names Barquq?
Read the Arabic legends for the sultan's name and titles, especially the honorific al-Zahir associated with Barquq. Matching that name against a Mamluk coinage reference is the key step; appearance alone is not enough.
Where is the mint on the coin?
The mint is named within the reverse legend. On this type it reads Damascus. Reading or matching the mint name against a reference is essential for a precise attribution.
How can I tell it apart from other Mamluk copper coins?
Many Mamluk sultans struck similar all-Arabic copper fulus, so the specific ruler's name plus the mint in the legend are what identify it as a fals of Barquq from Damascus rather than a related issue. Barquq's silver dirhams are a separate denomination.
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.