Dirham-Pendant from Birka

This detailed pendant is a replica of an Arabian silver dirham, found at the grave 750 in Birka, Sweden.

Like the original dirhams of the Viking Age, this Viking Age coin replica is about 0.6 mm thick and equipped with a small eyelet as a pendant, just like the historical model.

Arabic dirham coins were very valued for the purity of their silver and were traded throughout Scandinavia and Europe by the Vikings. These coins often appear in hoards, and were frequently were fashioned into pendants as well.

Like the original, the Birka dirham pendant has a diameter of 2.8 cm and is available in high-quality bronze (also available with silver plating finish).

On the front, the dirham pendant has the writing: بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بواسط في سنة رابع و تسعين لااله الله وحده لا شرك له
(In the name of God, this dirham was minted in Wasit in 94).

On the reverse: محمد رسولالله ارسله بالهدى ودين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله ولو كره المشركون الله احد الله الصمد لم يلد ولد ولم يكن له كفوا احد
(Muhammad is the messenger of God, He sent him with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all religions even when the polytheists hated God).

The dirham was coined by the ruler Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (674 – February 23, 715), commonly known as al-Walid I, he was the sixth Umayyad caliph. The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four great caliphates ruled by the Umayyad dynasty after the death of Muhammad.