1240-1517 Silver “King of Pentacles” Tarot Coin

The Coin That Helped Facilitate The Tarot Deck

For many, Tarot cards inspire visions of a mysterious fortune teller dealing out a series of colorful cards from which she will decern our future. But did you know that the origin of this occult practice has its roots in an Islamic dynasty that for more than 300 years ruled over Egypt, the Levant and Hejaz? These were the Mamluks, a non-Arab, ethnically diverse society that created the greatest Islamic empire of the later Middle Ages. The dynasty’s name comes from the Arabic designation for a slave, mamluk. The ruling class was made up of slave soldiers who had originally been captured among the Turkic peoples in the steppes of southern Russia or among Christians in northern Caucasus. They were highly regarded throughout the Islamic world as defenders of the true faith because they repeatedly stopped the advance of the seemingly invincible Mongols.

The Greatest Islamic Empire Of The Later Middle Ages

With an empire that stretched from southeastern Anatolia to Sudan and Libya, the Mamluks created the greatest Islamic empire of the later Middle Ages, which included control of the holy cities Mecca and Medina. The Mamluk capital, Cairo, became the economic, cultural, and artistic center of the Arab Islamic world and formed the center of trade linking India, southern Europe, the Caucasus, and southern Russia.

The King Of Coins Card In Coin Form

Europeans along these trade routes were introduced to a deck of playing cards developed by the Mamluks that had four suits: sticks, swords, cups, and coins (pentacles). The “coins” of the original Egyptian tarot deck were silver dirhams like this, which circulated throughout the vast Mamluk territory. The deck evolved into modern playing cards and is still used in divination Tarot sets.

The coin available here is a real example of what would have been painted onto those first tarot cards. In fact, each Tarot deck that you’d see today comes with a “King of Pentacles” card. Also referred to as “The King of Coins,” it represents material wealth, financial abundance, and worldly success—which certainly represents the Mamluks, for when they governed Syria and Egypt, those areas experienced a long period of economic growth.

Own A Piece Of Magical Mediterranean History

Each Mamluk Silver Dirham available here is guaranteed Genuine by the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and comes in a protective acyclic holder and beautifully housed in a presentation case along with an informative story card/Certificate of Authenticity. Don’t miss the opportunity to own a piece of Mediterranean history. This King of Pentacles coin will make a wonderful gift for anyone who loves magic, the occult, astrology, and fortunetelling!