While gold dinars and silver dirhams often command attention with their high prices and rigid standards, the bronze fals (plural: falus/fulus) offers a far more diverse look at the administration and society of the Umayyad Caliphate.
1. Why Collect Umayyad Fulus?
In the study of early Islamic monetary protocols, one must distinguish between the "regal" coinage (gold and silver) and the "civic" coinage (copper). While the dinar and dirham were strictly controlled by the central caliphal administration, the copper fals was essentially a municipal affair. This distinction provides the collector with three primary benefits:
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Accessibility: Bronze issues are significantly more affordable than their precious-metal counterparts. Many common types can be acquired for under $10, allowing a student to build a substantial collection without massive capital investment.
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Regional Diversity: Because copper was the responsibility of municipal authorities rather than a centralized imperial decree, falus exhibit a staggering variety of local styles, aesthetics, and regional calligraphy that the standardized silver dirham lacks.
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Provincial Bureaucracy: Unlike gold and silver, early fulus name local governors or provincial finance directors. Collecting fulus is, therefore, a study of provincial bureaucracy and local political conditions that the standardized coinage often overlooks.
To appreciate these coins, the collector must first understand the seismic epigraphic shift that occurred during the late 7th century: the transition from figural models to purely textual Islamic designs.
2. The Great Evolution: Pre-Reform vs. Post-Reform Eras
Early Umayyad coinage was born from the existing traditions of the Byzantine and Sasanian Empires. The evolution from these "models" to an original Islamic aesthetic was not instantaneous but a calculated transformation.
The Coinage Transformation
|
Feature |
Pre-Reform (Arab-Byzantine/Sasanian) |
Post-Reform (Epigraphic) |
|---|---|---|
|
Visual Design |
Figural: Features modified crosses, rulers, or other figural appearances |
Purely Epigraphic: Strictly text-based |
|
Linguistic Content |
Mixed: Greek, Pahlavi, or early Arabic transitional phrases |
Strictly Arabic |
|
Primary Influence |
Byzantine/Sasanian models (e.g., Khusro II or Heraclius) |
Uniquely Islamic imperial standard. |
Note: bronze coinage did not always follow the post-reform characteristics listed here, since they were in most cases minted by local authorities.
Having defined the "what," the collector must recognize that the "where" is equally critical for determining a coin’s value.
3. The Geography of Scarcity: Mints and Rarity
The survival rate of Umayyad bronze varies wildly by geography. The Western provinces (Syria and Egypt) were centers of "Western abundance," while the Eastern mints (Sistan and Iraq) produced issues that remain difficult to locate today.
Collector’s Strategy: Beginners should target the Syrian (e.g., Dimashq) and Egyptian (Misr) mints. Beware of private sellers on marketplaces and only purchase from licensed dealers. Furthermore, respect the nature of hoards; a previously "RRR" (extremely rare) coin can suddenly become "C" (common) if a major find hits the market. Do not chase the impossible at the expense of sound numismatic value.
4. Anatomy of a Fals: Identification and Decipherment
Identifying the "numismatic fabric" of a fals involves locating the obverse and reverse through religious formulas. Because the mint name was omitted on early post-reform gold, its presence on the fals and dirham is its most attractive feature for the student. Keep in mind that many types of bronze falus are mintless in nature.
Identification Checklist
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Verify the Obverse: Look for the field commencing with the Kalima: "la ilah illa Allah" (There is no god but God).
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Locate the Reverse: This side typically bears the second half of the formula: "muhammad rasul Allah" (Muhammad is the messenger of God).
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Decipher the Mint/Date Formula: Look for the marginal string: "bism Allah duriba hadha al-fals bi-[Mint] sana [Year]" (In the name of God, this fals was struck at [Mint] in the year [Year]).
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Isolate Authority Names: Check the fields or margins for names of local governors or finance directors—the marks of provincial bureaucracy.
Note: this is not a standardized method since, as noted earlier, there's far more diversity in design with bronze falus than gold dinars and silver dirhams, as they were not minted by the caliphal central administration for the most part.
Having learned to identify the physical integrity of a coin, the collector must exercise caution and avoid sellers and private individuals on marketplace websites such as eBay (except when the dealer is known). Rely on licensed dealers, well-known and reliable companies, and practice due-diligence in sourcing your next fals.
