How to Identify the Silver Dirham (LACMA M.2002.1.437)

Begin with the physical coin. A dirham of this type is a thin, broad, lightweight silver disc — generally somewhere around 23–28 mm across but only a few grams — noticeably flatter and wider than most later coins. Confirm the metal is silver: it should be non-magnetic, with a white to lightly toned surface. A coin that is thick and heavy, magnetic, yellow-gold, or clearly base metal is a different denomination or not this type at all.

Next, read the layout rather than the words. The defining trait is dense Arabic text in angular Kufic script arranged as a central field of several lines encircled by a running marginal legend, usually divided by a beaded or plain border. There is no portrait, no animal, no Western date and no Latin letters anywhere. On this specimen you can also see decorative devices — pellets, rosettes and leaf-like flourishes — worked in among the text; such ornament is a normal part of the design, not a later addition.

For attribution, focus on the margin. The outer circular legend on an early dirham typically carries the mint formula — a phrase meaning "struck at" followed by a city name — together with the Hijri (AH) year. That marginal inscription is what pins the coin to a specific dynasty, place and date within the 8th century; the central field, by contrast, carries the religious declarations shared across the series. Photographing both faces sharply and having the Kufic read by someone familiar with Islamic epigraphy, or checked against standard references, is the key step.

Be aware of look-alikes. Reformed dirhams were struck across a huge area and a long span, so Umayyad, Abbasid and Spanish Umayyad issues can look very similar at a glance and are separated mainly by their legends and mint names. Do not assume any broad, inscription-covered silver coin is this exact issue without reading the margin. Modern tourist replicas and cast copies also exist.

Apply basic authentication checks. Genuine dirhams are struck from dies, not poured into molds, so watch for warning signs of casting: a seam or mold line around the edge, trapped air bubbles, a soft or grainy "mushy" surface, or lettering that looks blurred and rounded rather than crisply impressed. Off-center strikes and slightly uneven flans are expected and normal for hand-struck coins; casting artifacts and wrong weight or diameter are the real red flags.