NMS


 

Record

Coin (obverse), dirham of Isma'il ben Ahmad

< 1 of 1 > Back

From Storr Rock, Skye

Coin (obverse), dirham of Isma'il ben Ahmad
Add to album

This silver coin is part of a hoard of hacksilver and Anglo-Saxon and Arabic coins buried at Storr Rock in Skye around 935 to 940. The mixture of coins from far-flung areas and silver bullion indicates that the hoard belonged to a Viking trader or settler.

The dirham was minted for Isma'il ben Ahmad, an Arabic ruler of Tashkent (modern day Uzbekistan). The coin was minted in 899 or 900, but was over 40 years old when buried in the hoard.

The Viking world stretched from the Middle East to eastern Canada, with traders moving objects throughout these areas. One route led from the Arabic empire into Russia and across the Baltic to Scandinavia, and from there to the west.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.


< 1 of 1 > Back