The Circulation of North African Dirhams in Northern Mesopotamia – The Dirham Hoard of Tall al-Bīʿa/al-Raqqa (t.p.q. 186/802)

Abstract

The Tall al-Bī ʿ a hoard of ten silver dirhams and one copper coin (t. p. q. 186) probably constitutes a cash deposit drawn from circulation in the urban market of al-Raqqa. It seems to be a negative selection. The hoard reflects the preponderance of the North African dirhams in circulation at the time of Hārūn al-Rashīd. New silver from North African mines and the trade network of the Ibāḍī movement provided for cheap supply whereas a shortage of silver coins in the central lands created a huge demand. The lesser weight and presumably slightly lesser amount of intrinsic silver led to a discrimination of North African dirhams in circulation, especially in saving hoards. The overvaluation allowed the application of Gresham’s law and suggests the acceleration of velocity of circulation. These forces allowed for a rapid movement of North African dirhams to the central lands of Islam.

Sources of early Islamic silver: lead isotope analysis of dirhams

“…Another possible source of silver is dirhams from North Africa. The latter circulated freely in Iraq from the 780s to the early ninth century and it has been postulated that they were melted down, refined and reminted into new issues at the Baghdad mint (Heidemann 2011: 457).…”

Medieval Silver Production Around Sijilmâsa, Morocco

“…Northwards: Fomin () argue that the silver produced in Morocco may have been traded north for consumption throughout the Mediterranean basin, perhaps mostly in Europe. Additionally, North African dirhams are commonly found in the Middle East, too (Heidemann ), and this was perhaps a much more important in terms of global figures because most of the North African coins found in Europe travelled an eastern route originating from the central lands of the Caliphate (Kilger ).…”