Islamic flat weights (a.k.a."brick" weights) 
The Islamic weights discussed on this page are small flat weights from the 9th-13th centuries. Most weights of these low denominations do not have inscriptions, but this page emphasizes those which have Arabic inscriptions. Inscriptions can shed light on who issued them, where, and when.
At the upper right is a half-dirham weight (3 dots and rectangular), 9 mm on a side and 1.43 grams. The second weight is a half-dinar weight (3 dots and circular), 11 mm diameter and 2.05 grams. A US cent is much larger at 19 mm in diameter (see the red image below).
This page shows many Islamic weights with legends, most of which are difficult to read because they are tiny to begin with (with letters between 1 and 2 mm tall) and often poorly struck, worn, or corroded.
I solicit attempts at translations (
) As readers propose translations, I will add them to the page, with credits. At first, because this page is only in preliminary draft form, I will credit suggestions without using full names, rather abbreviations.
What's new? 2025, July 24: #1141 which looks like it might be legible. #61140, a third dinar.
2025, July 18: Many minor changes in exposition and organization since July 3.
2025, July 3: Parts of many legends added by AR1. Search for "AR1".
2025, July 2: Much revised and I am begining to add translations supplied by readers. Three with the same legend grouped together. Two with the same legend grouped together. A translation added.
2025, June 7: A first draft of this page has begun, but it is far from complete and not ready for viewing except by potential contributors.
Here is a 6 1/2" by 9 1/2" tray with some of these weights. The interior side of the squares is 37 mm and the US cent in the middle is 19 mm, so you can see these are small.
Denominations in the tray
Rectangles are denominated in dirhams
Discs are denominated in dinars
(The weights are discussed individually below.)
| 2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1/2 |
| 1/3 |
1/3 |
US cent |
1/2 |
1/3 |
| 5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| 2 |
1 |
1 |
1/2 |
1/2 |
There are two simultaneous weight standards. Weights on the dirham standard are based on a dirham (a silver coin) of c. 2.94 grams, and the dinar standard based on a dinar (a gold coin) of c. 4.16 grams. All weights on the dinar standard are circular and squat (a shape called "discoid"). In contrast, dirham-standard weights come in various shapes. Larger dirham denominations are polyhedral (and have their own page. The weight in row 3, column 1 of the red tray is a 5-dirham polyhedral weight). Smaller dirhem denominations are rectangular and flat (They are too small to make with polyhedral shapes). This page emphasizes smaller denominations (2, 1 and fractions) and has special emphasis on weights with legends.
Theoretical Masses of Islamic Weights
| denomination |
dirham
grams |
comment |
dinar
grams |
comment |
| 5, 10, 20 |
2.94@ |
polygonal--not flat
(see their page) |
4.1@ |
circular and thicker,
but still flat. "Discoid" |
| 2 |
5.88 |
often marked with
two bird's eyes (but this is not a rule) |
8.3 |
circular and thicker,
but still flat. "Discoid" |
1
the standard |
2.94 |
often marked with one bird's eye |
4.16 |
a flat squat circular shape
called "discoid" |
1/2
(3 dots) |
1.97 |
Fractional denominations are usually slightly underweight |
2.08 |
Fractional denominations are usually slightly underweight |
1/3
(2 dots) |
0.98 |
Fractional denominations are usually underweight |
1.39 |
Fractional denominations are usually underweight |
1/6
(1 dot) |
0.49 |
rarely seen |
0.69 |
rarely seen |
Terminology. Weights (the metal objects) have weights (masses, expressed in grams). Context should make clear which meaning of "weight" is intended.
CNG says: The Mithqāl (= dinar) weight standard [was] set to 10/7 of a dirham in Islamic law. (10/7) x 2.94 grams = 4.2 grams.
Questions. We would like to be able to identify them. Who issued them? When? Where? We would like to know what they were used for and how. When they have lettering (most weights don't) what do they say? Do legends identify the ruler at the time as coin legends do?
Comment on scholarship. Unfortunately, during the entire 20th century and during this century until very recently these were regarded as not collectable and therefore valueless, so they have often been thrown away making them unavailable for study. Without a market for them they have not seemed worth studying. Scholars, museum curators and even archaeologists have given them almost no attention. Consequently, there are few publications that add much to our knowlege of them. The advent c. 2023 of auctions where low-value items can be sold inexpensively has brought many to light since then. Collectors will help us learn more about them. However, for now, most of the questions above remain unanswered. I will attempt to assemble most of what is known here and I hope to (with the help of willing Arabic readers) provide translations of the legends. The legends will help identify the weights. I will update this page as information comes to me () .
For published work, see the page of references.
Dirham-standard. Dirham-standard weights are more common than dinar-standard weights (discussed below). Higher denomination dirham-standard weights (5, 10, 20 and higher) have 3-dimensional "polyhedral" shapes and are the subject of their own page. A few weights of denomination 2 are also polyhedral, but most of denomination 2 are flat and rectangular. Almost all weights of denomination 1-dirham are flat and all its fractions are flat.
First is a sample of the various denominations: 2, 1, 1/2, and 1/3 dirham.
#24140
A 2-dirham weight. "Flat" a.k.a. "Brick shaped."
5.73 grams (2.865 grams/dirham). 12.7 by 10.3 mm and 5.8 mm thick.
I suppose two bird's eyes served to mark this is a two-dirham weight, just as one bird's eye marks the next weight, a 1-dirham weight, however the third next weight has the same mass but four bird's eyes.
#24213
1-dirham weight
2.885 grams. 11.4 by 11.0 mm. 2.6 mm thick.
One bird's eye for one dirham.
Often the number of "bird's eyes" corresponds to the denomination, but sometimes it does not (next).
#2528
A 2-dirham weight.
5.79 grams (2.89 grams/dirham).
12.1 by 11.7 mm and 5.5 mm thick.
I can't explain why the number of bird's eyes is four.
Some weights have no markings indicating their mass.
#2514
A 1-dirham weight.
2.99 grams. 9.8 by 9.6 by 5.2 mm.
(The yellow is part of a pencil used to prop it up.)
No design. Nothing indicates that it is 1-dirham.
Weights with lettering.
Not all flat weights have legends, but many do. This page emphasizes the weights that have legends. Holland (1986, p. 176) says that legends are (like coin devices) punched with an engraved die and therefore in relief.
#24176
A 2-dirham weight. Brick shaped. Here called "flat" (as opposed to "polyhedral.")
5.70 grams (2.85 grams/dirham). 12.1 by 11.7 mm and 5.3 mm thick.
(The yellow is part of a pencil used to prop it up.)
Two bird's eyes for two dirhams.
Four lines of legend:
In the name of God [la llah illa Allah]
Muhammad is the prophet of God [Mohammed rasul Allah]
Al-Qadir Billah (Abbasid caliph in Baghdad from 991 to 1031)
Commander of the believers [Amir al-Mu’minin]
The first two lines are the usual two parts of the Kalima and the next two give the name and title of the caliph.
Ref: AR3
#24177
A 1-dirham weight.
2.88 grams. 9.7 by 9.7 mm and 4.1 mm thick.
One bird's eye and a three-line legend.
First line uncertain followed by
Sayf
al-Dawla ("Sword of the state" who ruled at Mosul 942-967.)
Ref: AR3
#24202
Another 1-dirham weight with the same legend.
2.89 grams. 10.2 x 10.0 x 3.7 mm.
Ref: AR3
Dinar-standard (discoid weights).
#1085 [Repeated from page 1]
8.28 grams. 2-dinar. (4.14 grams/dinar)
15.3 by 4.9 mm.
On each side a line with two vertical strokes at each end.
#1102
4.13 grams. 1 dinar weight.
11 mm diameter. 5.8 mm thick. Thicker than most weights of this diameter.
Legend not yet translated.
[Also on the main page.]
#1096
4.14 grams. A one-dinar weight. Rare for having six punch marks on the reverse. 6/6 = 1.
14.4 by 3.2 mm thick.
The obverse has a circular legend enclosing a short two-line legend.
mithqal, around it perhaps, . . . ordered the manufacture of . . .
Ref: AR1[Also on the main page.]
#1106
4.00 grams (a little light). 1 dinar
10.2 by 6.4 mm thick. (Quite thick.)
Is the obverse photo rightside up?
(mithqal) wafi
Ref: AR1
#1132
2.10 grams. Half dinar. (4.20 grams/dinar)
11.3 by 2.8 mm thick.
Two clear punchmarks and a very weak third (near 10:30)
Unlike many half-dinar weights, this one is not underweight.
#1101 1/2 dinar. (3 dots)
2.04 grams. (4.08grams/dinar)
11 mm by 2.7 mm thick.
2-line legend within diamond on square.
(mithqal) wafi
Ref: AR1
Credits. Translations on this page are mostly from readers who agreed to help. Some are from academic publications and some from the trade.
I do not read Arabic. My contribution is assembling the images on this page and then, as translations from other sources are matched to particular weights, putting that information on this page.
"Ref" abbreviates "Reference" so "Ref: AR1" means the information comes from the source I am temporarily calling "AR1".
AR1 = Arabic reader 1 = GL
AR2 = Arabic reader 2 = JG
AR3 = Arabic reader 3 = SA
H8 = Holland, chapter 8
HAJN = Holland, MN31 = Museum Notes 31.
References: References for Islamic weights are on their own page.
Footnotes:
Go to the main page on Islamic polyhedral weights.
Go to the main Table of Contents for this whole educational site.
#1158 (also on 
