Umayyad Dirham (Minted in Damascus, 96 AH) – Reign of al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik
<p>Damascus sat at the throne of the Umayyad caliphate as the seat of sovereign decision-making and the empire's beating heart, issuing the financial directives and central minting standards for every province.</p><p>This dirham left the capital's central mint in 96 AH, a witness to the close of Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik's reign and the continued, efficient operation of the caliphate's main monetary artery.</p><p>The issue embodies the central authority's control over weight and minting standards, carrying forward the financial course begun by Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan to anchor the state through a unified currency.</p>
96 AH