The Standing Caliph Coins of Al-Jazīra: Some Problems and Suggestions

Within the series of the Umayyad Standing Caliph coins minted in Syria at the end of the seventh century, the coins ofal-Jazīra hold an extraordinary position. After a short introduction to the Standing Caliph coinage the authors focus on those of al-Jazīra and try to explain their unusual features. Stylistic comparisons lead to the surprising conclusion that there are strong links between the Standing Caliph coins ofal-Jazīra in Mesopotamia and of Filasṭīn, the former Byzantine province of Palaestina Prima, in spite of the 700 kilometres between the two areas.