HISTORY & ART THROUGH COINS
The Coptic Museum of Canada’s collection of over 250 coins spans from 300 BC to the 21st century AD.
Coins not only have a monetary value, they are a physical connection to the past, telling tales of power, culture and civilization. They record history, the evolution of the history of a nation or an empire and its stated values. They can give clues about the future and can explain why things are the way they are today. Coins may also be appreciated for their artistic value.
2008.1.17
Alexander III The Great
AR (silver) tetradrachm,
Date: 336-323 BC
Diameter: 23.7 mm. Weight: 17.02 grams
Obverse: The head of Heracles in lion skin
Reverse: Zeus enthroned holding eagle and sceptre (staff symbolizing authority)
2008.1.9
Ancient Israel, Alexandre Jannaeus
Date: 103 -76 BC
Copper (AE)
Diameter : 12mm Weight: 3.1 grams
Obverse: palm frond symbol
Reverse: thunderbolt
These coins are believed to be the ones referred in the New Testament as the “Widow’s Mite”.
Mark: 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-5
2008.1.7
Roman Egypt, Diocletian
Date: 241 AD
Potin, tetradrachm
Diameter: 13.25 mm Weight: 7.5 grams
Obverse: Bust of Diocletian facing right
Reverse: Zeus holding scepter right hand and eagle in left
2008.1.27
Indo-Parthian, Gondophares
Date: 20 – Circa 55 AD
Bronze Unit Diameter: 4.6 mm Weight: 2.6 grams
Obverse: Diademed bust of Gondophares facing left
Reverse: Winged Nike standing right, holding wreath and palm
2008.1.29
Byzantine Gold Solidus Of Phocas
Date: 602 – 610 AD
Diameter: 18 mm Weight: 4.35 grams
Obverse: Bust of Emperor Phocas, wearing a crown and holding globus cruciger
(Latin for cross bearing globe).
Reverse: Inscription: VICTORIA AVGG, angel standing, holding a staff
2008.1.30
Sasanian Dynasty,Khusru II
Date: Circa 590 – 628 AD
AR (silver) Drachm
Diameter: 30 mm Weight: 4.2 gram
Obverse: Bearded bust of Khosrau II wearing crown with a pair of wings topped with a star in a crescent and double margins as borders
Reverse: Fire altar with a triple margin border.
2008.1.33
Umayyad Egyptian Post Reform Fulus
Date: Circa 7th Century
AE (bronze) fulus
Diameter: 13.4 mm Weight: 1.8 grams
Obverse: La Ilaha Illa Allah Wahdahu
Reverse: Muhammad Rasul Allah, (Muhammad is the messenger of Allah)
![2008.1.39 Abbasid, Al Mansour
Date: 137 AH/ 755 AD
AR (silver) Dirham
Diameter: 22.1 mm Weight: 2.8 grams
Obverse: “There is no God except Allah. He is Alone. [there is] no partner to Him”; margin: mint and date
Reverse: “Muhammad is the me](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/605934e3f850364a947588b4/7f500bf1-5e00-4b2f-a49c-4dfb088324aa/image018.jpg)
2008.1.39
Abbasid, Al Mansour
Date: 137 AH/ 755 AD
AR (silver) Dirham
Diameter: 22.1 mm Weight: 2.8 grams
Obverse: “There is no God except Allah. He is Alone. [there is] no partner to Him”; margin: mint and date
Reverse: “Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”; margin: Sura 9:33
2008.1.54
Coinage Of The Crusaders.
Imitating Ayyubids Of Aleppo, Al-Zahir Ghazi
Date: Circa 13th Century
AR (silver) Dirham
Diameter: 20 mm Weight: 2.88 grams
Obverse and Reverse: Arabic inscriptions within a star-shaped pattern
2008.1.59
Mamluk, Al-Zaher Baybars
Date: 658-676 AH / 1280 – 1298 AD
AR (silver) Dirham
Diameter: 21.3 mm Weight: 7.56 grams
Obverse: Heraldic lion below inscription is the signature of the ruler
2008.1.64
Muhammad Ali Dynasty, Sultan Husayn Kamil
Date: 1335 AH / 1917 AD
Silver
Diameter: 26 mm Weight: 13 gram
Obverse: Sultan Husayn Kamil, 1333 AH
Reverse: The Sultan of Egypt 10 Piastres, 1917 AD/ 1335 AH
2008.3.4
Muhammad Ali Dynasty, King Fuad I
Date: 1342 AH/ 1924 AD
Copper-Nickle
Diameter: 17.5 mm Weight: 5 grams
Obverse: Portrait of King Fuad facing right, text on right hand side: Fuad I, King of Egypt
Reverse: The Kingdom of Egypt, 10 milliemes, 1924 AD/ 1342 AH
2008.1.66
Muhammad Ali Dynasty, King Farouq
Date: 1358 AH/ 1939 AD
Silver
Diameter: 20 mm Weight: 7 grams
Obverse: Portrait of King Farouq facing left, Farouq I, King of Egypt
Reverse: The Kingdom of Egypt, 5 piasters 1358 AH/ 1939 AD
2008.10.1
21st Century Coin, Cleopatra VII
Date: 1438 AH/ 2007 AD
Diameter: 2.5 cm Weight: 6.5grams
Obverse: Portrait of Cleopatra VII facing left, 1438 AH/ 2007 AD
Reverse: The Arab Republic of Egypt, 50 Piastres
2009.11.1
United Arab Republic (UAR)
Date: 1387AH /1967AD
Silver
Diameter: 40mm Weight: 25grams
Obverse: Power Station Aswan Dam
Reverse: 1 guineh