1 Mazuna – Morocco
Morocco
Context
Year: 1793
Islamic (Hijri) Year: 1207
Issuer: Morocco 
Ruler: Moulay Sulayman
Currency:
(1659—1882)
Demonetized: Yes
Material
References
KM: #Click to copy to clipboardA105
Numista: #157258
Value
Bullion value: $1.93
Obverse
Reverse
Edge
Mintings
| Year | Mint Mark | Mintage | Quality | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1793 | — | — |
Historical background
In 1793, the currency situation in the Kingdom of Morocco under Sultan Moulay Slimane was characterized by a complex and often chaotic bimetallic system, heavily influenced by foreign trade and internal tribal dynamics. The primary coins in circulation were the silver dirham and the gold benduqi (or benduqi dinar), but their weight, purity, and value were not consistently standardized across the realm. This lack of uniformity was exacerbated by the widespread circulation of a multitude of foreign coins, particularly Spanish silver pieces of eight (reales or "riyals"), Portuguese gold moidores, and other European and Ottoman currencies, which entered the country through bustling ports like Essaouira, Tangier, and Salé.
The Sultanate’s mints (dar al-sikka) struggled to maintain control over the monetary supply. Debasement of coinage was a recurring issue, as both the state and unscrupulous money-changers would clip or alloy coins to stretch precious metal reserves. This practice eroded public trust and led to significant fluctuations in exchange rates between gold and silver, disrupting both local markets and long-distance trade. The economy remained largely agrarian and tribal, with many rural areas relying on barter or using standardized quantities of commodities like barley or olive oil as informal units of account, further diminishing the central authority's monetary reach.
Sultan Moulay Slimane, a ruler more inclined towards religious scholarship than economic management, did not pursue major monetary reforms during this period. Consequently, the currency situation reflected the broader political reality: a relatively weak central authority attempting to govern a decentralized country. The reliance on foreign coinage highlighted Morocco’s integration into Atlantic and Mediterranean trade networks, but the internal monetary disarray ultimately constrained economic development and state revenue, leaving the Makhzen (government) financially vulnerable in an era of growing European commercial and political influence.
The Sultanate’s mints (dar al-sikka) struggled to maintain control over the monetary supply. Debasement of coinage was a recurring issue, as both the state and unscrupulous money-changers would clip or alloy coins to stretch precious metal reserves. This practice eroded public trust and led to significant fluctuations in exchange rates between gold and silver, disrupting both local markets and long-distance trade. The economy remained largely agrarian and tribal, with many rural areas relying on barter or using standardized quantities of commodities like barley or olive oil as informal units of account, further diminishing the central authority's monetary reach.
Sultan Moulay Slimane, a ruler more inclined towards religious scholarship than economic management, did not pursue major monetary reforms during this period. Consequently, the currency situation reflected the broader political reality: a relatively weak central authority attempting to govern a decentralized country. The reliance on foreign coinage highlighted Morocco’s integration into Atlantic and Mediterranean trade networks, but the internal monetary disarray ultimately constrained economic development and state revenue, leaving the Makhzen (government) financially vulnerable in an era of growing European commercial and political influence.
✨ Legendary