Mithqāl

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The Mithqāl ( Arabic مثقال, DMG miṯqāl  'weighing weight'), also called Miskal , Mitkal , Mitikal , Metikal , Metecallo or Medikal in European representations , was a fine Arabic coin and commodity weight that was based on the Roman-Byzantine solidus and, together with the dirham, the basis of the entire Islamic weight system formed. According to Islamic law , the ratio of mithqāl and dirham is 10: 7, but in practice it is 3: 2. The weight of the canonical mithqāl was 4.465 grams. Depending on the place and time, however, a multitude of different mithqāl weights have developed. The metical , the current currency of Mozambique , is derived from the Mithqāl. Etymologically, the Mithqāl is related to the shekel .

As a coin weight

In Iraq were in the Middle Ages to the mithqáls Gold 20 Qirat of three Habba , the mithqáls silver 12 Qirat of four Habba. 1 Mithqāl therefore corresponded to 4.233 g. In Arabia, Egypt and Syria, however, 1 mithqāl was always 24 qīrāt. For the Maghreb , Walther Hinz assumes a weight of 4.722 g for the Mithqāl.

According to other information, the following relationships between the individual weight units were valid in the Maghreb:

  • Gold weight (gold dust and unprocessed gold) in Tripoli 1 Mithqāl aqdasī = 0.24414 Lot (Prussia) = 4.0691 grams
  • Gold weight (coins and gold implements) in Tripoli 1 Mithqāl Mu'minī = 24 Charrūba = 0.2747 Lot (Prussia) = 4.5784 grams
    • 6 2/3 Mithqāl Mu'minī = 1 Ūqīya
    • Mithqāl Mu'minī was also used as a jewel weight.

As goods weight

The weight of the canonical Mithqāl was according to the calculations of Walther Hinz at 4,465 g. This was true in Iraq until the 17th century. In the other countries, however, this canonical Mithqāl took a back seat to the special weights customary there.

Egypt

The Egyptian Mithqāl weighed 4.68 g. Official documents measure it with this value to this day.

Syria

In Damascus the mithqāl had a slightly smaller value, namely 4.62 grams. According to other information, the following applies in Damascus in trade: 1 Metecallo = 0.28025 Lot ( Prussia 1 L. = 16.667 grams ) = 4.671 grams

Anatolia

In Anatolia the Mithqāl weighed as much as 17/25 Egyptian qīrāt since the Ottoman period, i.e. H. 4.81 grams. According to other information:

  • in Smyrna and Tschesme 1 metikal = 0.28912 lot (Prussia) = 4.819 grams
  • in Turkey 1 medical = 0.2893 lot (Prussia) = 4.822 grams

Iran

In Iran, the mithqāl initially had a weight value of 4.3 g. Hinz suspects that the old silver weight of the Sassanid Empire was taken over. For the period from the 16th century onwards, Hinz uses an average value of 4.6 grams.

Southern Russia

The canonical Mithqāl of 4.46 grams was valid for the Kipchak people . In Shirvan (now a historical area of Azerbaijan ), a Russian province that was Persian until 1812, and in Tbilisi :

  • 1 Miskal = 24 Nuchut (small pea) / Nakuht / Carat = 1 17/175 Solotnik (Russian) = 105.3257 Doli (Russian) = 4.68013 grams The measure was also suitable for pearls , gold thread and silk . Nuchut was considered the basic measure.

Maghreb

According to Walther Hinz, only the canonical Mithqāl of 4.722 grams was valid in North Africa and al-Andalus .

East Africa

In Portuguese East Africa, a Mithqāl was used in Sofala in the 16th century , which roughly corresponded to the Ottoman. In the city of Mozambique the mithqáls had 4.41 grams, so it was close to the canonical value.

literature

  • YES. Decourdemanche: "Étude métrologique et numismatique sur les misqals et les dirhems arabes" in Revue Numismatique 12 (1908) 209-239.
  • Eduard Döring: Handbook of coin, exchange, measure and weight. J. Hölscher, Koblenz 1854, p. 468.
  • Walther Hinz : Islamic measures and weights: converted into the metric system. EJ Brill, Leiden / Cologne 1970. pp. 1-8.
  • Marion Johnson, "The Nineteenth-Century Gold 'Mithqal' in West and North Africa" ​​in The Journal of African History 9/4 (1968) 547-569.
  • Christian Noback , Friedrich Eduard Noback : Complete paperback of the coin, measure and weight relationships. Volume 2, FA Brockhaus, Leipzig 1851, pp. 1106, 1266.
  • Silver: The coins, measurements and weights of all countries in the world are calculated individually according to their values ​​and proportions to all German coins, measurements and weights, along with details of the trading venues and their billing ratios. Moritz Ruhl, Leipzig 1861, p. 254.
  • Gustav Wagner, Friedrich Anton Strackerjan: Compendium of the coin, measure, weight and exchange rate relationships of all states and trading cities on earth. BG Teubner, Leipzig 1855, p. 278

supporting documents

  1. ↑ Hinz: Islamic Measures and Weights . 1970, p. 1.
  2. ↑ Hinz: Islamic Measures and Weights . 1970, p. 2.
  3. ↑ Hinz: Islamic Measures and Weights . 1970, p. 4f.
  4. ↑ Hinz: Islamic Measures and Weights . 1970, p. 4.
  5. ↑ Hinz: Islamic Measures and Weights . 1970, p. 4.
  6. ↑ Hinz: Islamic Measures and Weights . 1970, p. 5f.
  7. ↑ Hinz: Islamic Measures and Weights . 1970, p. 7.
  8. ↑ Hinz: Islamic Measures and Weights . 1970, p. 8.
  9. ↑ Hinz: Islamic Measures and Weights . 1970, p. 8.