Ancient gold coin used 1200 years ago, discovered in Saudi Arabia
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The four-gram gold coin was found by a team of archaeologists from the Department of Tourism and Antiquities at the Hail University
Archaeologists have unearthed a 1200-year-old gold coin supposedly used during the Abbasid Caliphate in the Arabian region. The four-gram gold coin was found by a team of archaeologists from the Department of Tourism and Antiquities at the Hail University during an archaeological excavation in the ancient town of Fayd, east of the city of Hail.
Mohammad Al-Shehri, dean of the College of Arts under the University, said it was presumed that the coin was used around 797 AD during the fifth Abbasid Caliph Harun Al Rashid (786–809 AD).
A Quranic verse in Kufic Arabic calligraphy that says 'It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion' is engraved in a circle on one side of the coin. While the other side shows 'Mohammed is the messenger of Allah' as its inscription with 'Ja'afar' written in a small font.
The letter 'Ja'afar' probably meant for Ja'far ibn Yahya Barmaki, vizier during Harun al-Rashid's rule, according to Tourism and Antiquities department head, Abdullah al-Umran, of Al-Hail university.
Archeologists also found several other relics such as vessels, tools and few other coins that are expected to have been used during Abbasid time. The department is currently excavating in the region looking out for more ancient remnants.