Kabir – Yemeni Zaidi State
Yemen
Context
Year: 1894
Islamic (Hijri) Year: 1311
Country: Yemen 
Issuer: Yemeni Zaidi State
Currency:
Demonetized: Yes
References
KM: #Click to copy to clipboard407.1
Numista: #195807
Value
Bullion value: $1.44
Obverse
Reverse
Edge
Mintings
| Year | Mint Mark | Mintage | Quality | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1894 | — | — |
Historical background
In 1894, the currency situation within the Zaidi Imamate of Yemen (often anachronistically called the "Yemeni Zaidi State") was characterized by monetary fragmentation and the circulation of a diverse mix of coins, reflecting both local sovereignty and deep integration into regional trade networks. The Imams in San'a, notably Imam al-Mansur Muhammad bin Yahya Hamid ad-Din, minted their own silver riyals, which served as a symbol of political authority. However, these locally struck coins competed with a plethora of foreign currencies, most prominently the Austrian Maria Theresa thaler (riyal nimsawi), the Ottoman qirsh, and various Indian and British rupees. This multiplicity created a complex and often unstable exchange environment.
The economy was fundamentally silver-based, with the Maria Theresa thaler acting as the dominant de facto standard for larger transactions and external trade due to its consistent weight and purity, which made it trusted across the Red Sea and Indian Ocean regions. The Imam's own coinage, while important for internal legitimacy and local trade, often fluctuated in value against these stronger foreign currencies. This system was largely pre-modern, with no central banking authority, leaving money changers (sarrafs) in the suqs as crucial intermediaries who set daily exchange rates and facilitated commerce.
This monetary heterogeneity was a direct manifestation of Yemen's political and economic position at the time. While the Ottoman Empire had been expelled from the highlands in the 1870s, re-establishing Zaidi control, their currency remained in circulation, especially in areas with lingering commercial ties. Furthermore, the British presence in Aden and the coastal regions influenced the flow of Indian rupees. Thus, the currency landscape of 1894 was one of competing spheres of influence, where the Imam's minting rights asserted independence, but the actual circulation of money revealed a territory deeply embedded in and dependent upon international bullion flows and trade routes.
The economy was fundamentally silver-based, with the Maria Theresa thaler acting as the dominant de facto standard for larger transactions and external trade due to its consistent weight and purity, which made it trusted across the Red Sea and Indian Ocean regions. The Imam's own coinage, while important for internal legitimacy and local trade, often fluctuated in value against these stronger foreign currencies. This system was largely pre-modern, with no central banking authority, leaving money changers (sarrafs) in the suqs as crucial intermediaries who set daily exchange rates and facilitated commerce.
This monetary heterogeneity was a direct manifestation of Yemen's political and economic position at the time. While the Ottoman Empire had been expelled from the highlands in the 1870s, re-establishing Zaidi control, their currency remained in circulation, especially in areas with lingering commercial ties. Furthermore, the British presence in Aden and the coastal regions influenced the flow of Indian rupees. Thus, the currency landscape of 1894 was one of competing spheres of influence, where the Imam's minting rights asserted independence, but the actual circulation of money revealed a territory deeply embedded in and dependent upon international bullion flows and trade routes.
✨ Legendary