The word, shape, and image in early Islamic numismatics within cultural heritage context

Abstract EN

Material objects^[1] are one of the most important basic resources which must be analyzed and used in the historical, anthropological, and cultural heritage studies.

Among the most important of these cultural material objects are numismatics and monetary system studies.

To analyze the material context of these objects and assimilate its interpretations in history and heritage studies, a deep search for a set of axes must be extensively explored, such as refuting historical ties and relationships, unpacking evidence, analyzing documents, and examining study resources.

The numismatic art has crystallized in the Islamic world and relied heavily on the aesthetic aspects of both the designed figures and the proportional distribution of text and symbols on the limited space available.

The current research is shedding light on three main parameters to analyze the coins that were used in the early Islamic decades as material cultural objects, which are Text, Image, and Shape, specifically during the first century of the Hijri calendar, and analyzing these three criteria to highlight the image and identity of society in this Historical period.