The Western Islamic World
In the Islamic West (Spain, Sicily and North Africa), diverse coin designs, such
as the Fatimid circle design, were often used to signal independence from the
Abbisid Caliphate of the East.
Aghlabid gold quarter dinar (879)
of Ibrahim II from North Africa.
Fatimid gold dinar of al-Mustansir
(1050), from Egypt. The Egyptian dynasty embraced Shi'ite Islam and refused to
recognize the Sunni Caliph.
Spanish gold mancuso (1023), produced
by Bonnom, an important Jewish banker, for Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona.
This imitates the popular gold dinar.
Almoravid gold dinar (1142) of
Tashfin ibn 'Ali, from Spain. The Almoravid rulers of Spain signaled their reserve
toward the Caliph by describing him on their coins as the anonymous "'Abbasid Imam."