1 Dinar – Morocco
Morocco
Context
References
KM: #Click to copy to clipboard28.3
Numista: #157543
Value
Bullion value: $587.13
Obverse
Reverse
Edge
Mintings
| Year | Mint Mark | Mintage | Quality | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1701 | — | — | ||
| 1703 | — | — | ||
| 1719 | — | — | ||
| 1722 | — | — |
Historical background
In 1701, the currency system of Morocco was a complex and fragmented reflection of its political and economic state under the Alaouite Sultan Moulay Ismail. The Sultanate, while powerful, was constantly engaged in military campaigns to consolidate control over the country and defend against Ottoman and European encroachments. This perpetual state of war placed immense strain on the treasury, leading to fiscal instability and frequent debasement of the coinage. The primary unit was the silver dirham, but its weight and purity were not standardized across the realm, varying between mints in cities like Fez, Marrakech, and the imperial capital of Meknes.
Circulation was a mixture of domestic and foreign coins, creating a multi-currency environment. Alongside the local silver dirham and gold benduqi, a plethora of foreign coins circulated widely due to Morocco's active trade and piracy. Spanish pieces of eight, Portuguese cruzados, and other European silver coins were commonly used, especially in coastal trading ports, for their reliable silver content. This reliance on foreign specie highlighted both Morocco's integration into Atlantic and Mediterranean trade networks and the weakness of its own central minting authority, as trusted foreign coins often held more value in commerce than the debased local currency.
The monetary situation was directly tied to the Sultan's autocratic control. Moulay Ismail often manipulated the currency to finance his ambitious projects and large professional army, the Abid al-Bukhari. Sudden recalls and re-minting of coins at lower silver content were not uncommon, causing uncertainty for merchants and the populace. Consequently, much significant trade, particularly with European merchants, was conducted through barter or based on the weight of precious metals rather than nominal coin values. This unstable and heterogeneous system underscored a centralized yet extractive state power struggling to impose true economic uniformity across a diverse and often rebellious kingdom.
Circulation was a mixture of domestic and foreign coins, creating a multi-currency environment. Alongside the local silver dirham and gold benduqi, a plethora of foreign coins circulated widely due to Morocco's active trade and piracy. Spanish pieces of eight, Portuguese cruzados, and other European silver coins were commonly used, especially in coastal trading ports, for their reliable silver content. This reliance on foreign specie highlighted both Morocco's integration into Atlantic and Mediterranean trade networks and the weakness of its own central minting authority, as trusted foreign coins often held more value in commerce than the debased local currency.
The monetary situation was directly tied to the Sultan's autocratic control. Moulay Ismail often manipulated the currency to finance his ambitious projects and large professional army, the Abid al-Bukhari. Sudden recalls and re-minting of coins at lower silver content were not uncommon, causing uncertainty for merchants and the populace. Consequently, much significant trade, particularly with European merchants, was conducted through barter or based on the weight of precious metals rather than nominal coin values. This unstable and heterogeneous system underscored a centralized yet extractive state power struggling to impose true economic uniformity across a diverse and often rebellious kingdom.
✨ Legendary