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From The History Of Armenian Coins: First Known Coin With Armenian I

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  • From The History Of Armenian Coins: First Known Coin With Armenian I

    FROM THE HISTORY OF ARMENIAN COINS: FIRST KNOWN COIN WITH ARMENIAN INSCRIPTION

    The Bagratid dynasty coins haven't been preserved, which leads to
    belief that Bagratid rulers did not mint their own currency.

    A royal dynasty of Bagratids formed in Armenia in late 9th century
    (885-1045 AD) as the central authority of the Arab Caliphate was
    waning. The rulers declared Ani as a new capital city. The period
    was marked by flowering of culture, expansion of trade, crafts,
    art and architecture in Armenia.

    October 11, 2013

    PanARMENIAN.Net - The Bagratid dynasty coins haven't been preserved,
    which leads to belief that Bagratid rulers did not mint their own
    currency.

    However, among the coins preserved there's a copper coin of King
    Kyurike Bagratid II, Lori branch (1048-1089 AD.)

    Description of coins

    The few King Kurike II coins that have been preserved are truly a
    rarity. In their style and design, the cons remind those of Byzantian
    rulers of the same period. These are the earliest known coins with
    the inscriptions made in Armenian.

    The obverse of the coin features an image of Jesus Christ, the reverse
    carries a multiline Armenian inscription.

    Obverse and reverse of King Kyurike II copper coin

    During the rule of the dynasty of the Bagratids, coins of the Arab
    Caliphate and Byzantine Empire, as well as coins of local Muslim
    dynasties continue circulating in Armenia. Silver dirhem of the Arab
    Caliphate was the main monetary unit not only on the territory of
    Armenia but the whole region. The coin was accepted on vast territories
    beyond the Caliphate's frontiers. Caliphate's copper fels were also
    in wide circulation.

    However, in late 10th century, the dirhems were taken out of
    circulation on the Caliphate-ruled territory to be replaced with low
    grade silver ones, and later on, with silver-plated copper coins. In
    that period, Byzantian gold coin - nomisima - assumes the role of
    the basic monetary unit.

    Description of coins

    Nomisima had a relatively large diameter and was minted on a thin
    gold plate. It was often calyciform with high quality gold used in
    its minting.

    Reverse of gold coin of Byzantine emperor Constantine X

    Byzantian silver hexagrams and copper folles were also put in
    circulation. While silver Byzantian coins were rather rare, gold and
    copper ones were widely circulated on the territory of the Caliphate.

    With the weakening of Caliphate's central authority, certain local
    Muslim dynasties increase their presence in Transcaucasia, with the
    dynasties' rulers minting their own coins to stress their independence.

    The rulers of Shaddadid dynasty minted low quality silver coins
    in 10-11th centuries, with dynasties of Eldiguzid, Zengid, Artuqid
    minting copper coins in the same period and later. In the late 12th
    early 13th centuries coins of Georgian rulers - Queen Tamara, Queen
    Rusudan - enter circulation in northern regions of Armenia.

    In mid-13th century, Mongol Tatars invade the whole territory of
    Arab Caliphate including Transcaucasia, with the Hulaguid dynasty
    rule established. Coins on Mongol rulers came to circulate in Armenia
    in late 13th century, with silver dirhem minted in Transcaucasia as
    the main currency. Hulaguid dynasty coins minted in Ani, Erzurum,
    Akhaltsikhe, Tiflis are among the better known ones.

    Description of coins

    Mongolian Hulaguid dynasty coins are similar to those of Arab Caliphate
    in design: featuring no images they mainly carry inscriptions
    in Arabic or Uygur languages - religious sayings, rulers' titles,
    coinage date and location. Some Hulaguid coins carry Christian symbols,
    specifically, a picture of a cross.

    Observe and reverse of silver dirhems of Hulaguid rulers

    Initially, the so-called anonymous dirhems bearing no names of
    Mongolian rulers were coined. In late 13th early 14th centuries,
    coins carrying the names of Mongolian Khans - Abaqa, Abu Sa'id,
    Mahmud Ghazan, Oljeitu - were minted.

    The material was prepared in cooperation with Gevorg Mughalyan,
    the numismatist of the Central Bank of Armenia.

    Viktoria Araratyan / PanARMENIAN.Net, Varo Rafayelyan / PanARMENIAN
    Photo

    http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/details/171139/

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