An Almoravid gold dinar could be worth up to $2,000 today, depending on its condition, relative rarity, and market demand. As it has been nearly 1,000 years since they were struck, the population size has been reduced and many Almoravid dynasty dinars are valued between $500 and $1000.
What was the Almoravid Dynasty?
The Almoravid Dynasty was an Islamic empire that ruled over significant portions of northwestern Africa and the Iberian Peninsula between the 11th and 12th centuries. The Almoravids emerged from the Berbers, a pre-Arabian ethnic group from the North African region. Among numerous cultural advances, the Almoravid dynasty was known for its religious piety and widespread trade. They built a Moroccan empire and established cities like Marrakesh in 1070, which served as the capital of the dynasty.
One of the Almoravid dynasty’s principal achievements was uniting the Berber tribes under a common banner and creating the first Islamic empire led by the Berber people. This stretched from present-day Mauritania to parts of Spain and offered control over instrumental areas of the region, including trans-Saharan trade routes, which yielded great profit from the gold trade.
The Almoravids were also known for their formidable skills as warriors and as talented military tacticians. In one battle at Sagrajas in 1086, the Almoravid dynasty successfully stopped European Christian armies from advancing on al-Andulus.
What was the Almoravid Dynasty Gold Dinar?
Almoravid dinars were medieval coins produced by the Almoravid dynasty with gold from mines south of the Sahara Desert in West Africa. These coins’ design reflected the dynasty’s commitment to their faith and a desire to be viewed as a legitimate government. The obverse of the Almoravid gold dinar depicted the name of the Amir or ruler and often included the location of the mint and the Qur’anic year of production. The reverse featured a declaration of faith from the Quran, which reinforced the identity of the state and the legitimacy of the Amir as a sovereign ruler.
Christian kingdoms in Europe called gold dinars marabotins and maravedis. Although their actual gold content is relatively low at 4.17 grams, their age and historic significance add significant value to the dinar.
Due to their nearly exclusive use of the dinar, the Almoravid gold dinar was one of the most widely circulated coins of its time. It was well known throughout southern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa, as evidenced by various hoards found throughout the centuries. The high purity and consistent weight of the gold dinar made it the preferred coin of many traders, and other nations like Spain even struck their own imitations.
These historic gold coins played a pivotal role in culture and politics and helped facilitate international trade, spreading far beyond the dynasty’s reach.
Gold Dinar Under Ali B. Yusuf
Many of the notable gold dinars produced in this period were issued under the reign of Ali B. Yusuf, who came to power in 1087 C.E. Ali B. Yussuf was the fifth Almoravid Amir, or king. His reign lasted from 1106 until 1143, and he was the son of the fourth Almoravid Amir, Yusuf B. Tashfin. In the common era, the word Amir has largely been replaced by the word king.
The production of gold dinars grew from the time Ali B. Yusuf’s claim to the throne was recognized. Two years before his ascension, dinars were produced bearing his and his father’s names, serving as a reminder of his inheritance. Under the rule of Ali B. Yusuf, gold dinars were produced in the newly established city of Marrakesh, as well as Fes, Tilemsān, and Nūl Lamta.
The largest period of gold dinar production occurred between 1120 and 1130, coinciding with the peak of Almoravid prosperity and architecture. The most active mints of this period were Granada, Seville, and Almeria, which were also key cities for international trade at the time.
Ali B. Yusuf died in 1143, and his son, Tashfin B. Ali, succeeded his father that year. His reign lasted less than two years, after which his infant son, Ibrahim B. Tashfin was briefly declared Amir. Shortly thereafter, Tashfin B. Ali’s brother, Ishaq B. Ali, reigned for what would be the final year of the Almoravid dynasty.
