Egypt uncovers 28 gold dinars dating back to Abbasid era in Fayoum

CAIRO - 13 November 2020: A collection of 28 gold dinars as well as five small coins were discovered in Fayoum by Egyptian-Russian archaeological mission.

The mission succeeded in unearthing the gold dinars while working at the archaeological site of Deir Al-Banat in Fayoum.

16 gold dinars are dating back to the era of the Caliph Al-Muqtadir Billah (295-317 AH / 908-932 AD) in addition to five parts of gold dinars also from the era of Caliph Al-Muqtadir, while 10 dinars dating back to the era of Caliph Al-Radi Billah (322-329 AH / 934-940 CE) and two dinars belong to the era of Caliph Al-Mu'tasim Billah (218-227 AH / 833-842 AD).

The newly uncovered gold dinars were covered by a linen roll tied to a clay seal. The clay seal house unclear symbols.

Osama Talaat, Head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities; said that this discovery is the most important in the area; especially that it is the first season of the Egyptian-Russian mission in the northern part of Deir Al-Banat archaeological area. 

Talaat added that a group of mummies dating back to the Greco-Roman era, were previously discovered in the same area the matter that indicates that this area was used during multiple ancient eras such as the Greek, Roman, Coptic and the Islamic period.

It is worth mentioning that the Russian mission has been performing excavation work at Deir Al-Banat archeological area since 2003.

During this period the mission managed to uncover several coffins and mummies.