The Mayyafariqin City, a Hub of Coin Minting during the Marwanid Emirate, A Historical Study, Artistic Analysis, (Selected Example)

Abstract

Mayyafariqin city is one of the most important cities in the Jazira region, serving as a significant center for coin minting and the capital of the Marwanids emirate. Recognized as a crucial economic hub, this study focuses on Mayyafariqin as a minting center during the Marwanids era. Before the establishment of the Marwanids emirate, the city was not known for minting; however, the emirs realized the city's strategic importance and established mint facilities there. Therefore, we have attempted to uncover a significant aspect of Marwanids urban life, illustrating its financial independence.

Methodology Followed: Content analysis has been used. The research materials were coins minted in the city during the Marwanids emirate, from which seven samples were selected. Detailed analyses were conducted based on the documented sources, focusing on the era, composition, weight, dimensions, and types of inscriptions on the coins.

After compiling data and information from various sources, the most crucial results we have reached include: Coins generally play a significant role in historical writing, confirming historical events that are either unmentioned or incorrectly recorded in the sources.  Despite the Marwanids emirate's strong political and economic position, they only minted silver coins (dirhams), and did not mint gold (dinars) or copper (fils) coins.