a PracticaL treatment and conSerVation Study For a grouP oF SiLVer coinS From dhamar regionaL muSeum

Yemen's earliest history, dating from the stone and bronze ages, has only recently been studied. Islam came to Yemen during the time of prophet Mohamed. The period of the first three orthodox caliphs was one of stability and steady growth of Islam in the Yemen, with the assumption of the caliphate by Ali ibn Abi-Talib in 656 A.D (35 A.H). A civil war broke out between his followers and those of Muawiyah, and Sana'a adhered to the Ali side. Muawiyah had to conquer Sana'a by force in order to establish Umayyad authority there. From there after Sana'a continued to be ruled by governors appointed by the caliph, first Umayyad (41- 132 A.H) and then, after transfer of the caliphate to Baghdad, Abbasid.