Obverse
Reverse
Edge
Mintings
| Year | Mint Mark | Mintage | Quality | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1636 | — | — | ||
| 1637 | — | — |
Historical background
In 1636, Morocco was under the rule of the Saadi dynasty, a period marked by relative internal stability following the pivotal Battle of the Three Kings in 1578. The dynasty’s power, however, was in a slow decline from its earlier zenith. The country’s currency system was a complex and practical reflection of its strategic position at the crossroads of trans-Saharan trade, Atlantic exchange, and Mediterranean commerce. The primary currency was the silver dirham, a small coin that served as the backbone of the domestic economy for local markets and taxation. Alongside it, the gold benduqi (from the Venetian sequin) circulated for larger transactions and state finance, its value intrinsically tied to the fluctuating influx of gold from West African trade routes controlled by Moroccan sultans.
This monetary landscape was notably pluralistic due to Morocco’s deep integration into global trade networks. Spanish reales and Portuguese cruzados, acquired through both commerce and conflict along the coast, were widely used, especially in northern and port cities. Ottoman coins and other European currencies also filtered in through Mediterranean exchange. This created a de facto multi-currency system where merchants and moneychangers (sarrāf) constantly evaluated coins based on their metallic weight and fineness rather than a fixed state-mandated exchange rate. The Al-Muwahhidun dinar, a legacy coin from a previous dynasty, still persisted in accounting for large sums, illustrating the layered nature of the monetary tradition.
The Sultanate’s main challenge was not a shortage of currency but rather controlling its quality and flow. Periods of weak central authority often led to the clipping and debasement of silver dirhams, causing inflation and market distrust. Furthermore, the outflow of precious metals—silver to the Ottoman East and gold to European trading partners—posed a persistent economic drain. In 1636, the monetary system functioned adequately for daily life and trade, but it was inherently vulnerable, reliant on the Sultan’s ability to secure trade routes, manage the mint, and maintain the integrity of the coinage that bore his name, all within an increasingly competitive Atlantic and Mediterranean world.
This monetary landscape was notably pluralistic due to Morocco’s deep integration into global trade networks. Spanish reales and Portuguese cruzados, acquired through both commerce and conflict along the coast, were widely used, especially in northern and port cities. Ottoman coins and other European currencies also filtered in through Mediterranean exchange. This created a de facto multi-currency system where merchants and moneychangers (sarrāf) constantly evaluated coins based on their metallic weight and fineness rather than a fixed state-mandated exchange rate. The Al-Muwahhidun dinar, a legacy coin from a previous dynasty, still persisted in accounting for large sums, illustrating the layered nature of the monetary tradition.
The Sultanate’s main challenge was not a shortage of currency but rather controlling its quality and flow. Periods of weak central authority often led to the clipping and debasement of silver dirhams, causing inflation and market distrust. Furthermore, the outflow of precious metals—silver to the Ottoman East and gold to European trading partners—posed a persistent economic drain. In 1636, the monetary system functioned adequately for daily life and trade, but it was inherently vulnerable, reliant on the Sultan’s ability to secure trade routes, manage the mint, and maintain the integrity of the coinage that bore his name, all within an increasingly competitive Atlantic and Mediterranean world.
✨ Legendary