This is an example of a late Fatimid dinar. Due to the importance that Arab territories played in European trade during the Fatimid period, the dinar became a standard-issue coin throughout the Mediterranean. The Arabic script is written in concentric circles around a central dot, and the entire layout may have some religious significance, namely that the text could be a reference to Ismaili theology and the dot could represent the Fatimid Imam, who was at the center of political and religious life. This pattern can also be seen in the layout of a number of early Islamic cities, including Baghdad.
