Reflections in a ball of gold (1)

Sultan Mûsâ of Mâli is depicted on the Catalan Atlas (1375) : examine his royal insignia. What is the significance of the golden ball he holds in his hand and presents to the world ? Text and translation of the legend into Catalan. Investigation of the golden nugget, part of the royal insignia of Ghâna and Mâli, based on Arabic sources. Ibn Khaldûn's account of Mârî Djâta II's squandering of the royal treasure of Mâli (1360-1370). Ostentation and dispendiosity : comparison between Mûsâ and Mârî Djâta. African gold in the Middle Ages : examining the many facets of the  question: deposits, ornaments and goldsmithing, processing and transport, coinage. The Cluny treasure unearthed in 2017 ; data from Islamic numismatics. Gold : unresolved issues.