Final answer:
During the early Middle Ages, the use of coins was not omnipresent but played a critical role in facilitating trade through the standardization of currency. Renowned examples include Arabic coins with unified symbols and denominations, and the coinage of the United Dutch East India Company.
Step-by-step explanation:
The so-called Dark Ages is a term often applied to the early Middle Ages, roughly between 500 and 1000 CE. During this period, the use of coins was not as widespread as later periods but was certainly not non-existent. Coins came to play a crucial role in facilitating trade, especially as economies began to shift away from barter systems. In various civilizations, such as the early Islamic kingdoms and the Byzantine Empire, trade flourished and the circulation of coinage was an integral part of this economic activity. The circulation of coinage was primarily recognized for its role in the dissemination of religious and political beliefs, in addition to its function in standardizing currency for trade.
One notable example comes from the Arabic inscriptions on coins from the era of Abd al-Malik, which helped to facilitate trade with a unified currency featuring standardized iconography and denominations. Similarly, the use of currency was critical for the operation of powerful trade organizations, such as The United Dutch East India Company, which even issued its coins for trade in its colonies. Moreover, historical evidence from ancient civilizations, like Lydia and Greece, demonstrates how the introduction of coins greatly streamlined commercial transactions, tax collection, and overall economic growth by providing a reliable and standardized medium of exchange.