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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/
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/