Umayyad "Sitting Lion" Fals from Tiberias — A Rare Early Islamic Bronze

Own One of the Most Distinctive Animal Coins of the Early Islamic World

A real bronze fals struck at Tiberias during the Umayyad Caliphate, featuring the famous "Sitting Lion" design—one of the most recognizable and sought-after animal types in early Islamic coinage.

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🏛 Struck over 1,300 years ago during the Umayyad Caliphate
🦁 Features the famous seated lion design of early Islamic coinage
🌍 Minted at Tiberias, one of the great cities of the Holy Land

📷 Photos show the exact coin you will receive.

Own This Piece of History

Why This Coin Matters

Few early Islamic bronze coins are as distinctive as the Umayyad "Sitting Lion" fals.

This remarkable coin was struck at Tiberias, an important city in the Jordan Valley that had previously flourished under Roman and Byzantine rule before becoming a major administrative center of the Umayyad Caliphate. During the 7th and 8th centuries, Tiberias stood at the crossroads of the Mediterranean and the Near East, where Jewish, Christian, and Islamic communities lived side by side.

The coin belongs to the post-reform coinage of the Umayyad Caliphate, produced after the sweeping monetary reforms introduced by Caliph Abd al-Malik. While gold and silver coinage became largely epigraphic following these reforms, some regional bronze issues continued to feature symbolic imagery inherited from earlier artistic traditions.

The reverse displays the celebrated seated lion, one of the most recognizable animal designs in early Islamic numismatics. Although its precise meaning remains uncertain, the lion likely symbolized strength, authority, and legitimate rule while reflecting artistic influences that bridged the Byzantine and Near Eastern worlds.

Coins like this circulated during the formative years of Islamic civilization, when Arabic administration, commerce, and culture expanded across an empire stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to Central Asia. They represent a fascinating moment when new Islamic traditions emerged alongside the artistic heritage of the civilizations that came before.

Today, the "Sitting Lion" fals is prized by collectors for its rarity, historical importance, and striking design. Unlike the inscription-only coinage that would later dominate the Islamic world, it preserves one of the last great figural traditions of early Islamic bronze coinage.

Perfect For

• Early Islamic coin collectors
• Medieval history enthusiasts
• Collectors of Holy Land artifacts
• Collectors of animal-themed coinage
• Anyone seeking a rare and visually distinctive historical artifact

What You'll Receive

• The exact Umayyad "Sitting Lion" bronze fals pictured
• Civilization: Umayyad Caliphate
• Mint: Tiberias
• Century: 8th Century AD
• Denomination: Bronze Fals
• Approximately 1,300 years old
• Guaranteed authentic

Continue the Story

The Umayyad Caliphate created one of history's largest empires, connecting the cultures of the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Central Asia while laying the foundations of the medieval Islamic world.

Explore our other medieval Islamic coins to discover the caliphs, dynasties, and cities that shaped one of history's greatest civilizations.

Buy with Confidence

• Guaranteed authentic ancient coin
• Carefully sourced and verified
• 30-day return policy
• Secure shipping from the U.S.

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Learn More

Continue the story in the Kinzer Coins Journal: What Is a Fals? The Everyday Copper Coin of the Medieval Islamic World.