Kufi is the oldest of the various Arabic calligraphic scripts. Its name is derived from the city of Kufa in Mesopotamia. The first copies of the Qur'an were written in Kufi style on parchment. Angular, characterized by square and short horizontal strokes, long verticals, and bold, compact circles, Kufi script also developed many serifs and other small decorations added to each character.
Kufi is commonly seen on Seljuk coins and monuments and on early Ottoman coins. Its static aspect made it suitable for monumental inscriptions and led to its use as a decorative element in public and domestic buildings. It is still employed in Islamic countries, though it has undergone a number of alterations over the years and displays many regional differences.
