Fatimid Gold Dinar

The Fatimid gold dinar was struck from gold so pure it often exceeded 95% fineness, a standard that outshone many contemporaries and facilitated trade across the Mediterranean and beyond. For over two centuries, these coins flowed from mints in Cairo and other Egyptian cities, bearing inscriptions that named the caliph and invoked Shi'ite theology. That purity wasn't just for show; it meant these dinars held their value even as empires rose and fell.

We know the basic designs varied little, with weights around 4.25 grams for most issues, though exact mintages remain a mystery—records from that era are scarce, lost to time or conquest. If you're handling one, note the Arabic script and the occasional mint mark, like those from al-Qahira. As for myths, I've heard enough about cursed treasures; these were straightforward currency for taxes and trade.

Some collectors quibble over counterfeits, but that's another story.