Oriental Numismatic Society

The Oriental Numismatic Society is a world-wide network of those interested in Oriental coins and money (collectors, scholars, and enthusiasts).

The Society publishes the Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society, an international journal that is released quarterly to our members worldwide.

The different regional sections of the Society hold meetings around the world at which members can meet and hear talks by collectors, scholars and enthusiasts working on a variety of numismatic topics.

Society Activities

Upcoming Meetings

ONS Quarterly Lecture Series online/worldwide Saturday, 19th July, 2025, 4 pm London time / 11 am New York time.

Stuart Sears Appealing to God’s Mercy: A Call for Intervention on a Dirham of Ibn al-Ash’ath

Your regional secretary will send you a Zoom link.

A previously unknown dirham issue of Ibn al-Ash’ath provides the first and so far the only evidence for the revision of the Islamist legends on the Umayyad caliph ‘Abd al-Malik’s Reformed dirhams. The latter coins, introduced generally in 697-99 CE, carry a declaration of God’s unity on the obverse and an excerpt from the surat al-Ikhlas on the reverse. Ibn al-Ash’ath’s issue replaces the surat al-Ikhlas with an appeal to God’s mercy. Although it lacks a name legend, the issue may be attributed to Ibn al-Ash’ath based on its mint and date. It was struck in al-Sus in 699-700 CE (80 H). Ibn al-Ash’ath fielded an army in this city during this year before campaigning in Sijistan. The appeal implicitly seeks the intervention of the caliph ‘Abd al-Malik against the stern demands of the governor general of the East, al-Hajjaj b. Yusuf. Ibn al-Ash’ath subsequently led a revolt against al-Hajjaj that challenged Umayyad control of the East.

UK meeting, [20 September 2025] and the Annual General Meeting.

Steve Cribb Memorial Award

A new members’ choice award for the best paper in JONS has been established. ONS members are invited to vote on their favorite article of the year.

The Award is named in honour of Steve Cribb, one of the earliest members of the society, who joined within a month of Michael Broome founding it in 1970. Steve was a coin collector. Parts of his collection, over 8,000 items, including Chinese coins, Chinese paper money, co-op tokens and religious medals, are now preserved in the British Museum. The winner of this annual award will receive an award certificate and a prize of £100.

Oriental Numismatic News

The ONS has awarded the 2023 Ashoka Prize to Barbara Mears.