In another thread, @svessien mentioned the difficulty of discerning between two types if you don't know Arabic. He says: If you are interested in Artuqid coins, that is, the large pictorial bronzes of the 12th-13th century in Eastern Anatolia and Northern Iraq, here's the book you should acquire: Turkoman Figural Bronze Coins and their Iconography by William F. Spengler and Wayne G. Sayles, vol. I: The Artuqids (1992). You can find it for about $60-80 (I saw one without dust jacket for $35). Coins from this catalog are marked SS or S/S followed by the type number. Album 1830.4 is SS 40. You may find it on Zeno (just use 'Mardin' and '1830' as search terms). Album 1830.6 is SS 42. I didn't see this on Zeno. You see, the difference is clear. I have a few of these, this type of coin often is quite expressive. I'm sure most of you know people that look like this man: AE dirham Artuqids of Mardin, 620 AH = 1223 AD. Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan (597-637h/1201-1239 AD). Obv.: Roman-style, bare head right; name and titles of Artuq Arslan around. Rev.: Names of Abbasid Caliph al-Nasir and Ayyubid overlord al-Kamil Muhammad in five lines; mint and AH date in margins. 26 mm, 13.92 gr. Whelan Type VI; S&S Type 43; Album 1830.7. In the book by Spengler and Sayles you always find theories about the reasons of the figures, quite interesting. In the case of this coin, they think it might go back to a Roman coin of the emperor Tiberius. I'm sure many of you have nice Artuqids, so... post them, please!
Thank you again @Pellinore Islamic coins is a brand new area for me, as is Byzantine coins. It would be a shame as a coin collector, however, to skip over the islamic world which has been (and is) so significant. The coins are awesome too. I only have one:
I heartily second the recommendation of the books by Wayne G. Sayles and William F. Spengler, "Turkoman Figural Bronze Coins and their Iconography" (Volume 1 covers the Artuqids, Volume 2 covers the Zengids). It's full of detailed transcriptions and translations of all legends, historical information, and art history analysis of the types, including tracing back where many of the images copied older coins. Some from my collection: Artuqids of Mardin. Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan (1201-1239 AD). Spengler/Sayles 43. Zengid Atabegs of Aleppo. Our al-Din Mahmud b. Zengi (1146-1174 AD). Spengler/Sayles 73. Zengid Atabegs of Aleppo. Al-Salih Isma'il (1174-1181 AD). Spengler/Sayles 76.
I second that SS is essential if you like this series. I haven't collected them for a few years. I have around 40 different types. What I like most about SS is they give the history of the coin type they think it was imitating on many of these. Good info that makes your coins all the more interesting. They were supposed to have a third book, going over some more esoteric issuers of these, but unfortunately it was never published.
Here are a couple of dirhems purchased through MA Shops: Dirhem ARTUQIDEN VON MARDIN HUSAM AD-DIN YULUG ARSLAN (580 - 597 H. / 1184 - 1201) S&S33, Edhem 53 11.20 grams, 30 mm. Dirhem 1201-1239 Islam Artukiden von Mardin Nasr al-Din Artuq Arslan, AD 1201-1239 9.10 grams I really like both coins, the lower one in particular, with centaur firing an arrow at a beast emerging from his tail.
Clearly a centaur solution to digestive problems! Or perhaps it’s a sign of paranoia? I really like both of your coins too, and Artuqid coins in general. Somewhat crude, but with great variation in themes, and nice style.
Just found this AE dirham in my old folders. Najm-EL-Din, Artuqid. I was also provided with more info concerning this coin: Halbi Mardin.
Here Spengler-Sayles is again helpful, for at the end of the book is an overview of all the picture sides of the general types, and it stands out as SS 30. You can quite clearly read the name of the caliph Al-Mustanjid on the right side of the second picture of your coin, so it is Type SS 30.1 and dates from 560-566 AH, which is 1165-1171 AD. The book identifies the prototype of the double portrait as a solidus of Justinus II and Tiberius II (578 AD) and that of the double portrait as a Medusa obol of Eastern Anatolia (SS mention Sear 5524, but that doesn't fit with my Sear). Both ancient coins just were used as inspirations for the modern 12th century designer of the coins, what you see isn't Medusa. The theory is that this obverse-reverse combination points to astrology: the portrait of Medusa > Virgo, the double portrait > Gemini, being respectively the Night House and the Day House of the planet Mercury. We should not underestimate that astrology has been of immense importance to the people of ancient times and the Middle Ages. The planet Mercury probably had special interest for Sultan Najm al-din Alpi. The unpublished third volume of the iconography of the Turkoman Figural Bronze Coins probably should have related to these amazing connections. Spengler's death in 2005 was probably one of the reasons why the volume was not published. Sayles (one of the founders of The Celator) is still alive.
Although I have only two of these coins (the other one written up here: Artuqids of Mardin), I found these interesting enough to buy the book as I was writing up the first coin. Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan, AE 1/2 Dirham, AH 597-637 (AD 1201-1239) Obv: Male head facing slightly left, hair disheveled, garment fastened with a clasp at neckline to the right, surrounded by circular legends in angular transitional Kufic, ﺮﻜﺑﺭﺎﻳﺩ ﻚﻠﻣ ﻥﻼﺳﺭﺍ ﻖﺗﺭﺍ ﻦﻳﺪﻟﺍﻭ ﺎﻴﻧﺪﻟﺮﺻﺎﻧ Translation: "Nasır al-Dunya wa al-din Artuk Arslan Malik Diyarbekr" Rev: Script in five lines ﺏﻮﻳﺍ ﻦﺑ ﺮﻜﺑﻮﺑﺍ ﻝﺩﺎﻌﻟﺍ ﻚﻠﻤﻟﺍﻦﻴﻨﻣﺆﻤﻟﺍﺮﻴﻣﺍﻪﻠﻟﺍ ﻦﻳﺪﻟﺮﺻﺎﻨﻟﺍ ﺪﻤﺣﺍ ﺱﺎﺒﻌﻟﺍﻮﺑﺍ Translation: "Abu 'l-'Abbas Ahmad al-Nasır li-din Allah Amir al-mu'minin al-Malik al-'Adil abu Bakr bin Ayyub" Size: 22mm, 6.24g Ref: Spengler-Sayles Type 40 p132 Spengler-Sayles suggest (and stop well short of concluding) that the obverse could be a representation of the sun personified, as the rulers of Mardin had an affinity for solar representations on their coins. Whatever the image represents - this particular seems to me to be well executed, good style, excellent condition with an even dark brown/green patina.
Glad to see all these historical coins being classified in details within catalogs issued and revised by renown experts in the field of Numismatics and ancient coins. Here's a second coin I also found in my old folders. The obverse shows an eagle with two heads.It's an AE Dirham struck under Nassir El Din (Artuqid). The photo in the folder is titled Abbasid -Mahmud- Ayyub.
So I found similar coins in myself, but maybe this is an imitation of those that are presented here by you.
I picked up another Artuqid coin recently. I’m really starting to like Islamic coins, which I deemed uninteresting for so many years. It’s been good to get some inspiration on this forum. Artuqids of Mardin, Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan (AH 597-637/AD 1201-1239), AE dirham Obverse: Draped male bust facing slightly left, stars flanking Reverse: Three line Kufic legend citing the ‘Abbasid Caliph al-Nasir and the Ayyubid overlord al-Zahir Ghazi within double hexagram. Reference: SS 37, Album 1830.1. Weight: 7.20g Diameter: 32mm Condition: good Fine
The interesting designs on Artuqid and some Zengid bronzes make them a good entrée into Islamic coins! Artuqids: Husam al-Din Yuluq Arslan (1184-1200) Traditionally thought to represent mourning for Saladin, Spengler and Sayles have argued that scene represents Virgo surrounded by planets and relates to an astronomical event of AD 1186 that was thought to portend calamitous events (corroborated by the death of Saladin in 589). Zengid: Badr al-Din Lu'lu (1233-1259) Mosul was spared destruction in the Mongol invasion (the sack of Baghdad was in 1258) because Lu'Lu' helped Hulagu in his campaigns in Syria.
I recently Purchased S&S volumes I and II from Wayne Sayles V Coins store. I think both books brand new were around $70.00, this thread is very informative, I did pick up several coins from the books but this Zengid coin is in the best condition and very beautiful in hand. Zangids of Mosul, Sayf al-Din Ghazi II Æ Dirham. al-Mawsil mint, dated AH 567 = AD 1171. Draped bust facing slightly left, two winged creatures above, date across fields / Name and titles of Saif al-Din Ghazi II in five lines; genealogy in outer margins. Album 1861.1.; S&S Type 60.1; Whelan Type I. 12.92g, 29mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; light oxidations to rev., dark patina. I really am drawn to this coin , it is in Volume II #60
Here are two more coins for this thread. The first one is a recent arrival, and it is notable for its obverse detail and brutal theme. Artuquids of Mardin, AD 596 (1199-1200) Husam al-Din Yuluq Arslan AE dirham Obverse: Turkish soldier seated cross-legged, holding raised sword and severed helmeted head by crest. Reverse: Names of the caliph, Ayyubid overload and Husam al-Din Yuluq Arslan around. Album 1829 29 mm, 2 h. 14.7 grams While this coin is usually readily available, most examples have flat detail on the obverse and varying qualities of strike. This coin leaves little to the imagination, down to the chainmail armor of the soldier. The severed head is likely that of a Crusader. The second coin is a former bronze disease patient (reverse side), now apparently in remission for about a year after treatment. Artuquids of Mardin, AD 597-637 (1200-1239) Nasir-al-Din Yuluq Arslan AE dirham Obverse: Bareheaded male bust facing slightly three-quarters, name and titles of Nasi-al-Din Yuluq Arslan in margin. Reverse: Names and titles of Abbasid caliph Ayyubid overlord in five lines; above Artuqid tamgha flanked by stars; date in outer margins. Album 1829 28 mm, 3 h. 11.3 grams This coin has a nice obverse, albeit somewhat off center. The reverse, which actually looks better in hand, is recovering and should tone down with time.
I won this at auction at the beginning of the year, it arrived today. The coin is based on Constantine the Great solidus, the even left VICTORIA CONSTANTINI AVG on the obverse. Nice large sized Bronze. 32mm This series of Islamic coins has been very addictive for me, many of the examples have beautiful art unlike anything before and others like this show a direct link to Roman and Byzantine coinage. ISLAMIC. Anatolia & al-Jazira (Post-Seljuk). Artuqids (Kayfa & Amid). Fakhr al-Din Qara Arslan (AH 543-570 / AD 1148-1174). Ae Dirham. Obv: Victory advancing right, holding tablet. Rev: Name, title, and genealogy of Fakhr al-Din Qara Arslan in four lines and outer margins. Whelan Type V, 127-8; S&S Type 3; Album 1820.3; ICV 1175. Weight: 10.81 g. Diameter: 32 mm.
Yes, Atuquid coinage is a fascinating blend of Western and Islamic design elements and themes, very distinct from the iconoclastic coinage normally associated with the Islamic dynasties.
I’ve got a new Artuquid coin. It is: Anatolia & al-Jazira (Post-Seljuk). Artuqids (Kayfa & Amid). Fakhr al-Din Qara Arslan, AH 543-570 / AD 1148-1174. AE Dirhem, Hisn Kayfa or Amid mint, struck AH 556 (AD 1160/1). Bare-headed and draped half-length male bust facing slightly to left, holding globe in right hand, scepter across torso in left; abjad date to left. Rev.Arabic inscription in four lines, stating the name and titles of Fakhr al-Din Qara Arslan; arabesque below. Album 1820.4. ICV 1176. S&S Type 4. Dark reddish-brown patina with green overtones. Bronze, 29 mm, 17.15 g, 6 h. Nearly very fine. I also found a very nice virtual museum for Islamic coins, history and architecture. Highly recommended! https://www.davidmus.dk/en/collections/islamic/dynasties/late-abbasids