Summary

1 Ringgit, Issued by Malaysia, 1980-1981 (1401 AH)
Celebrates the beginning of the 15th century of the Hegira (Hijrah) calendar.
Mint not recorded

Obverse Description

At centre $1; around text in Malaysian Arabic including Western numerals 15 (for 15th century of the Hegira) and 1401 (the date in the lunar Islamic Hejira calendar)

Reverse Description

The Malay numerals 15 superimposed on a mosque (and Kaaba?) all surounded by a spider web

Edge Description

Incuse: BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA (repeated)

Significance

The Hejira (also transliterated as: hijra or hegira) calendar is based on a year of 12 lunar months each of 29 or 30 days, each year averages 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. It began in AD 622, the year that the prophet Muhammad journeyed from Mecca for Medina. Hejira is the Arabic word for a journey. The year 1401 AH (Anno Hejirae) marked the beginning of the 15 Century in the Hejira calandar. This coin was issued in AD 1980 according to the Bank Negara web site, not 1981 as Krause suggests.

The reverse depicts a spiders web because during the hejira the prophet and his companion took shelter in the Cave of Thawr after which a spider spun a web across it's entrance. When enemies from Mecca arrived at the cave they saw the spider's web at the entrance and thought that no one could have entered because the web had not been broken.

More Information