Until the currency reforms of AH 77-79 (697-699 AD), the areas recently conquered by Muhammad and the early Rashidun and Ummayad caliphs were struck in a style which closely resembled the pre-existing currencies in the region.
In the provinces conquered from the Byzantine Empire - Syria, Mesopotamia and westwards - this style has later come to be known as 'Arab-Byzantine' coinage.
The Arab-Byzantine issues closely resembles the Byzantine coinage of the times; standing emperors on the obverse, and monograms, "crosses" on stairs, or stylized M's on the reverse.
In the provinces conquered from the Byzantine Empire - Syria, Mesopotamia and westwards - this style has later come to be known as 'Arab-Byzantine' coinage.
The Arab-Byzantine issues closely resembles the Byzantine coinage of the times; standing emperors on the obverse, and monograms, "crosses" on stairs, or stylized M's on the reverse.
