of Omar. They were inscribed with the Christian dogma, “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost”. But, undoubtedly, the most comon coins struck by the Crusaders were thin bullion (low-grade silver) coins in denier denominations, resembling those from their homelands and were struck to proclaim their Latin heritage. The cross was the prime symbol on these coins.
After the Arab conquest (638 AD), the victors adopted the prevailing Byzantine administrative practice, and the first Arab coins were issued in the tradition of Byzantine coinage. Only under the administrative reforms of the Ummayad Caliphate of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (685-705 AD) non-Islamic motifs were purged from coinage with Koranic inscriptions replacing them.
CONCLUSION:
The history of early Christianity, as told, is traced from a perspective very few people are aware of – coins. The coins used by the early believers in their daily activities present the ultimate of Christian belief. Thus these coins are important documents reflecting the course of Early Christian history. Frequently coins form an indispensable historical source, particularly where they constitute the sole contemporary evidence for uncharted period of history. Wherever the extent of particular coinage can be assessed more or less accurately we are enabled to draw inference to early Christianity, with their symbolism and motifs.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1) Catalogue and exhibition ‘Christianity on Coins’ – Cecilia Meir, curator, Kadman Numismatic Pavillion, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv.
2) Catalogue “The Kadman Numismatic Museum’.
3) Peake’s Commentary on the Bible – Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd, London.
4) Josephus, “The Jewish War” – translated by G.A. Williamson, Penguin