Saudi Arabia: Gold dinar from reign of Caliph Harun Al Rashid found in Hail

Dubai: A team of Saudi archaeologists have found a gold dinar dating back to the era of fifth Abbasid Caliph Harun Al Rashid (786–809 AD), in the ancient town of Fayd in Hail, local media reported.

Weighing four grams, the dinar, which dates back to 797 AD, carries the Quranic statement “There is no God but Allah” written in Kufic Arabic calligraphy, and a verse from the holy Quran read that reads: “It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion”, on one side. The other side carries “Mohammed is the messengerof Allah”.

The team, which is affiliated to the Department of Tourism and Antiquities at the University of Hail, operates under the supervision of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

Two years ago, archaeologists found traces of underwater aqueducts dating back to the early Islamic period in the ancient town. They also discovered Islamic coins and an ancient mosque and a number of architectural units that contained many rooms and architectural details that were buried between the exterior and interior walls of the city’s ancient fort. Fayd is one of Saudi Arabia’s most ancient archaeological and historical cities, which lies about 120km  east of Hail.

The gold dinar is an Islamic medieval gold coin first issued in 699 AD by Caliph Abdul Malik Ibn Marwan. The weight of the dinar is 1 mithqal (3.64 grams). The word dinar comes from the Latin word denarius, which was a silver coin.