1 Falus – Morocco
Morocco
Context
References
KM: #Click to copy to clipboard30.1
Numista: #157473
Obverse
Reverse
Edge
Mintings
| Year | Mint Mark | Mintage | Quality | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1759 | — | — | ||
| 1760 | — | — | ||
| 1761 | — | — | ||
| 1771 | — | — | ||
| 1772 | — | — | ||
| 1776 | — | — | ||
| 1777 | — | — | ||
| 1780 | — | — | ||
| 1782 | — | — | ||
| 1787 | — | — |
Historical background
In 1759, the currency situation in the Alaouite Sultanate of Morocco under Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah was characterized by significant instability and complexity, rooted in both internal governance and external pressures. The primary monetary units were the silver dirham and the gold benduqi, but their value and purity were highly inconsistent due to decentralized minting practices across various cities and tribal regions. This lack of standardization, combined with frequent debasement to finance state expenditures, led to widespread confusion in trade and a severe erosion of public trust in the coinage. Furthermore, the Sultanate’s treasury was often depleted from military campaigns to reunify the country and secure its coasts, exacerbating the temptation to manipulate currency values.
Externally, Morocco’s currency system was under constant pressure from European commercial and colonial interests. A flood of foreign coins, particularly Spanish reales (pieces of eight) and Portuguese gold, circulated widely, especially in the northern ports and trading centers like Salé and Essaouira. These foreign coins, often of more reliable silver content, were frequently preferred in both domestic and international trade, undermining the Sultan’s monetary authority. This phenomenon highlighted Morocco’s integration into Atlantic and Mediterranean trade networks, but on terms that made its economy vulnerable to external monetary flows and the ambitions of European powers.
Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah recognized these problems and initiated reforms aimed at centralizing minting operations and standardizing coinage to restore fiscal stability and sovereign control. His efforts included establishing stricter control over the mints in cities like Marrakesh and Fes, and issuing coins with more uniform weight and purity. While these measures marked an important step toward a unified monetary system, their full impact was gradual and limited by the ongoing challenges of tribal autonomy, economic fragmentation, and persistent foreign economic influence that would continue to shape Morocco’s currency landscape for decades.
Externally, Morocco’s currency system was under constant pressure from European commercial and colonial interests. A flood of foreign coins, particularly Spanish reales (pieces of eight) and Portuguese gold, circulated widely, especially in the northern ports and trading centers like Salé and Essaouira. These foreign coins, often of more reliable silver content, were frequently preferred in both domestic and international trade, undermining the Sultan’s monetary authority. This phenomenon highlighted Morocco’s integration into Atlantic and Mediterranean trade networks, but on terms that made its economy vulnerable to external monetary flows and the ambitions of European powers.
Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah recognized these problems and initiated reforms aimed at centralizing minting operations and standardizing coinage to restore fiscal stability and sovereign control. His efforts included establishing stricter control over the mints in cities like Marrakesh and Fes, and issuing coins with more uniform weight and purity. While these measures marked an important step toward a unified monetary system, their full impact was gradual and limited by the ongoing challenges of tribal autonomy, economic fragmentation, and persistent foreign economic influence that would continue to shape Morocco’s currency landscape for decades.
✨ Legendary