{"product_id":"medieval-change-cut-dirham-c-750-to-1300-ce-iberian-peninsula","title":"Medieval Change, Cut Dirham - c. 750 to 1300 CE - Iberian Peninsula","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"hh-backorder-notice\" data-hh-notice=\"small-box\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePLEASE READ:\u003c\/strong\u003e Our shipment of small display boxes has been delayed. \u003cstrong\u003eSmall display boxes are currently out of stock and are expected to arrive around October 1st.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can still \u003cstrong\u003epre-order items that include a small display box.\u003c\/strong\u003e These items will \u003cstrong\u003enot ship until the display boxes arrive.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePre-orders receive $5 off each delayed item.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn-stock items in the same order will ship immediately as usual.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBoth the \"one piece\" and the \"three to four piece\" options will have the same total weight (just over 1 gram).\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThese medieval Islamic dirhams were cut into pieces for a very practical reason: making change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the Middle Ages, providing change posed a considerable challenge to merchants due to the lack of smaller coin denominations. Because of this, it became common to \u003cstrong\u003ephysically cut coins into smaller pieces\u003c\/strong\u003e to meet the exact values of transactions. In England, for example, a silver penny could be cut into halves or quarters to create halfpennies and farthings. The cut pieces continued to be considered legal tender, and their value was proportionate to the size of the piece relative to the original coin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis practice was also common during the era of \u003cstrong\u003eAl-Andalus (711 - 1492 CE)\u003c\/strong\u003e on the \u003cstrong\u003eIberian Peninsula\u003c\/strong\u003e, when Islamic rule introduced an array of cultural and economic changes in modern day Spain, Portugal, and parts of France. Silver dirhams, the dominant coin of this period, were routinely cut to create smaller denominations, enabling transactions of lesser value.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was a practice born out of necessity, in a time preceding more sophisticated minting methods and a wider variety of coin denominations. It allowed greater flexibility in commerce, despite being a somewhat crude method. However, it also opened avenues for fraudulent activities such as clipping or shaving coins for the precious metals. Small pieces of metal could be clipped off of coins without altering the face value, which could then be melted down into ingots and sold. As minting technology progressed and more coin denominations were introduced, the need for cutting coins gradually diminished, and the practice eventually phased out.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Certificate of Authenticity accompanies all items purchased at History Hoard.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"History Hoard","offers":[{"title":"Include display case (+$0.00) \/ Three to Four","offer_id":67691351376003,"sku":"qlc1791347363362","price":12.39,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Include display case (+$0.00) \/ One","offer_id":67691351408771,"sku":"alu1791347363363","price":14.51,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"No display - just the coin and certificate\/info card (save $15.00 each) \/ Three to Four","offer_id":67691351441539,"sku":"lrr1791347363364","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"No display - just the coin and certificate\/info card (save $15.00 each) \/ One","offer_id":67691351474307,"sku":"jmc1791347363365","price":13.08,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0646\/8504\/7939\/files\/medieval-change-cut-dirham---c-750-to-1300-ce---iberian-peninsula_1.jpg?v=1791347370","url":"https:\/\/www.zavuneri.com\/products\/medieval-change-cut-dirham-c-750-to-1300-ce-iberian-peninsula","provider":"Zavuneri","version":"1.0","type":"link"}