Coins & Seals Gallery

The gallery presents a voyage of Islamic history through coinage as an invaluable artefact and a multidimensional expression of art.

The collection of coins are linked to major Muslim dynasties that reflect not only the universal need for currency and economic transaction but represent a testament to accounts and events, as well as the intricately knit layers of sovereignty and identity in Islamic societies.

Coins were also often served as effective tools in circulating religious and political messages, almost every Muslim ruler had found it necessary to issue coins in their names upon coming to power, which would then be minted, regulated and spread through commercial trails. 

Throughout the Islamic world, seals were used for either personal or official purposes and frequently contain religious inscriptions. The most common materials are jade, agate, chalcedony and carnelian. Metal was also used extensively. Seal-like objects that are not carved in reverse were used as amulets.

Seals, like coins, can be admired as intricate works of art in miniature whilst sometimes offering a glimpse into the past, especially when they have a date inscribed.