ECU 20 – Marrakesh Branch of Saadi dynasty

In 1607, the currency situation at the Marrakesh branch of the Saadi dynasty's mint (dar al-sikka) was one of both prestige and practical challenge. As the southern capital and a vital hub for trans-Saharan trade, Marrakesh was crucial to the monetary system of Sultan Zidan Abu Maali. The mint primarily struck silver dirhams and gold benduqis (dinars), using bullion sourced from the lucrative trade with Europe and from West African gold caravans arriving via Timbuktu. The quality and consistency of these coins were a direct reflection of Saadi power, intended to project stability and facilitate commerce across their vast domain.

However, the period was marked by significant monetary instability. A severe shortage of precious metals, exacerbated by European rivals intercepting shipments and declining Sudanese gold flows, led to a debasement of the coinage. The silver content of the dirham was often reduced, and the mint likely struggled to produce sufficient volumes of high-value currency. This scarcity prompted the increased circulation of low-value copper falus for everyday transactions, creating a bimetallic (and often trimetallic) system that was cumbersome and prone to fluctuation.

Furthermore, the currency landscape in Marrakesh was complicated by the presence of competing coins. Spanish reales and Ottoman piastres circulated widely due to international trade, while older, degraded coins from previous reigns remained in use. This situation required the Marrakesh mint officials to constantly manage exchange rates and enforce royal decrees on currency values—a difficult task that often led to local inflation and merchant discontent. Thus, while the Marrakesh mint symbolized Saadi sovereignty, in 1607 it operated under the strain of economic pressures that mirrored the dynasty's gradual decline from its peak under Ahmad al-Mansur.