1 Dirham – Morocco
Morocco
Context
Year: 1770
Islamic (Hijri) Year: 1183
Issuer: Morocco 
Ruler: Sidi Muhammad III
Currency:
(1659—1882)
Demonetized: Yes
References
KM: #Click to copy to clipboardC32.19
Numista: #157524
Value
Bullion value: $8.33
Obverse
Reverse
Edge
Mintings
| Year | Mint Mark | Mintage | Quality | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1770 | — | — |
Historical background
In 1770, the Moroccan monetary system was a complex and fragmented landscape, reflecting both its deep historical trade networks and the political instability of the era. The country operated on a bimetallic system, centered on the silver dirham and the gold benduqi (or mithqal), but their weights, purity, and values varied significantly between regions and even cities. This lack of standardization was compounded by the widespread circulation of a multitude of foreign coins, a legacy of Morocco's key position on Mediterranean and trans-Saharan trade routes. Spanish reales (pieces of eight), Portuguese cruzados, Ottoman coins, and various European currencies all circulated freely, often valued more for their reliable metal content than the shaky domestic coinage.
This monetary chaos was directly tied to the political context of the Alawite Sultanate. Following the death of the powerful Sultan Moulay Ismail in 1727, Morocco entered a period of prolonged succession crises and tribal rebellions known as the "Fitna" or anarchy. Central authority eroded, and with it, the Sultan's control over the minting of currency. While the official mint (Dar al-Sikka) in cities like Marrakech and Fes continued operations, its output was irregular. More critically, local governors and powerful tribes often struck their own crude, debased coins, further undermining trust in the currency and disrupting commerce.
Consequently, the economy in 1770 was characterized by a high degree of uncertainty and localized valuation. Merchants and money changers (sarrafs) wielded significant power, determining exchange rates day-by-day and taking substantial cuts. This environment hindered large-scale trade and state revenue collection, perpetuating the cycle of weak central authority. It was not until the reign of Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah (1757-1790), who was actively working to restore stability during this period, that serious efforts to reform and unify the currency would begin to take hold, aiming to reassert royal monopoly over minting and expel foreign coins.
This monetary chaos was directly tied to the political context of the Alawite Sultanate. Following the death of the powerful Sultan Moulay Ismail in 1727, Morocco entered a period of prolonged succession crises and tribal rebellions known as the "Fitna" or anarchy. Central authority eroded, and with it, the Sultan's control over the minting of currency. While the official mint (Dar al-Sikka) in cities like Marrakech and Fes continued operations, its output was irregular. More critically, local governors and powerful tribes often struck their own crude, debased coins, further undermining trust in the currency and disrupting commerce.
Consequently, the economy in 1770 was characterized by a high degree of uncertainty and localized valuation. Merchants and money changers (sarrafs) wielded significant power, determining exchange rates day-by-day and taking substantial cuts. This environment hindered large-scale trade and state revenue collection, perpetuating the cycle of weak central authority. It was not until the reign of Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah (1757-1790), who was actively working to restore stability during this period, that serious efforts to reform and unify the currency would begin to take hold, aiming to reassert royal monopoly over minting and expel foreign coins.
✨ Legendary