Dinar – Morocco
Morocco
Obverse
Reverse
Edge
Mintings
| Year | Mint Mark | Mintage | Quality | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1609 | — | — | ||
| 1611 | — | — | ||
| 1611 | — | — | ||
| 1612 | — | — | ||
| 1613 | — | — | ||
| 1614 | — | — | ||
| 1615 | — | — | ||
| 1616 | — | — | ||
| 1617 | — | — | ||
| 1619 | — | — | ||
| 1620 | — | — | ||
| 1621 | — | — | ||
| 1622 | — | — |
Historical background
In 1609, the currency situation in the Saadian Sultanate of Morocco was complex and strained, reflecting a period of both immense wealth and significant economic pressure. The kingdom was at the zenith of its power, having recently expelled the last Moriscos (Muslims forcibly converted to Christianity) from Spain, an event that brought a final influx of skilled artisans and traders but also removed a source of foreign remittances. The legendary wealth from the trans-Saharan gold trade, controlled from cities like Marrakech, provided a bedrock of precious metal, primarily in the form of gold dust and minted gold benduqi coins. However, this was counterbalanced by the costly military expeditions of Sultan Zidan al-Nasir and the ongoing, expensive conflict with the Iberian powers and the Ottoman Regency of Algiers, which drained the treasury.
The monetary system was a bimetallic one, based on gold and silver, but it faced severe disruption. The most trusted and prestigious coin was the gold benduqi, but its supply was inconsistent due to fluctuations in the trans-Saharan trade routes. The primary silver coin was the dirham, but its weight and purity were often debased by various mints to meet fiscal shortfalls, leading to widespread confusion and loss of public confidence. Furthermore, a plethora of foreign coins circulated, especially Spanish reales and Ottoman akçes, used for international trade in coastal ports like Salé and Safi. This created a fragmented monetary landscape where exchange rates were volatile and regional.
Consequently, the year 1609 fell within a period of monetary instability for Morocco. The state's attempts to finance its military ambitions through currency manipulation and debasement eroded the standard of its coinage. This inflationary pressure, combined with the coexistence of multiple foreign currencies, made commerce and taxation increasingly difficult to manage. The situation highlighted the underlying tension between the Saadian dynasty's vast territorial claims and the practical challenges of maintaining a stable and unified economic system to support them.
The monetary system was a bimetallic one, based on gold and silver, but it faced severe disruption. The most trusted and prestigious coin was the gold benduqi, but its supply was inconsistent due to fluctuations in the trans-Saharan trade routes. The primary silver coin was the dirham, but its weight and purity were often debased by various mints to meet fiscal shortfalls, leading to widespread confusion and loss of public confidence. Furthermore, a plethora of foreign coins circulated, especially Spanish reales and Ottoman akçes, used for international trade in coastal ports like Salé and Safi. This created a fragmented monetary landscape where exchange rates were volatile and regional.
Consequently, the year 1609 fell within a period of monetary instability for Morocco. The state's attempts to finance its military ambitions through currency manipulation and debasement eroded the standard of its coinage. This inflationary pressure, combined with the coexistence of multiple foreign currencies, made commerce and taxation increasingly difficult to manage. The situation highlighted the underlying tension between the Saadian dynasty's vast territorial claims and the practical challenges of maintaining a stable and unified economic system to support them.
✨ Legendary