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Falus - Sidi Mohammed IV 2nd Standard, Fes
| Issuer | Sultanate of Morocco |
|---|---|
| Year | 1864-1873 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Falus |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Central field dominated by a large, boldly cast six-pointed star (Seal of Solomon), enclosed within a raised circular border. The star design is rendered in low relief with a flat central roundel, characteristic of the crude cast technique employed at the Fes mint during the reign of Sultan Sidi Mohammed IV. The irregular flan, typical of Moroccan cast bronze coinage of this period, gives the rim an uneven, organic appearance. The overall design is simple and geometric, reflecting the aniconic decorative tradition of Moroccan Islamic coinage. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse is divided horizontally into two registers by a raised line. The upper register bears the Arabic mint name legend in crude cast lettering, while the lower register displays a stylized floral or rosette ornament composed of circular pellets arranged around a central boss, enclosed within a raised border. The overall execution is characteristic of the rough cast bronze falus produced at the Fes mint, with an irregular flan edge and porous surfaces resulting from the casting process. |
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| Additional information |
Sidi Mohammed IV's bronze falus issues present a cataloging headache that has never been fully resolved — the distinction between KM#160a.1 and 160a.2 rests on subtle die differences that were themselves products of decentralized minting at Fes, where die-cutting quality and tool consistency varied considerably between batches. Morocco's mints in this period operated under the Makhzen's loose administrative oversight rather than any standardized production regime, meaning two coins struck in the same year could differ measurably in fabric and module without either being an error.
The reign ended with Mohammed IV's death in 1873, shortly after Morocco had begun facing sustained European commercial pressure under treaty obligations following the 1856 Anglo-Moroccan treaty.