Ilkhans (Mongols of Persia). AR dirham 2.76 g, 21 mm). Possibly Tabriz mint. Time of Abaqa (1265-1282 CE/665- 680 AH), date unclear on coin. Obverse: Arabic inscription of the first part of the Kalima in three lines, within square: "La ilah illa/ Allah wahdahu/ la sherik lahu" (There is no god except/ God, He is alone/ [there is] no partner to Him), further inscription around edges giving mint and date (partly missing). Reverse: Arabic in two lines "Qa'an/ al-Adil" (The Just Khan), elaborate hexafoil design around. Album 2132. This coin: Pars Coins Bargain eSale 35, lot 216 (May 30, 2025). The Ilkhans, a branch of the Mongols that ruled mainly in Persia and Iraq, were founded in 1258 by Hulagu, a grandson of Chinghiz Khan and brother of both Mongke Khan and Kublai Khan. Hulagu died in 1265, leaving the throne to his son Abaqa. Maria, a daughter of the Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, had already been sent to Ilkhan territory to be married to Hulagu, but with his death she was married to Abaqa instead. Abaqa fought wars against two other Mongol states, the Golden Horde and the Chagatai Khanate. Abaqa was a Buddhist, and had friendly relations with various Christian territories. He maintained a correspondence with Pope Clement IV in 1267-68 and sent an embassy to Edward I of England. In 1271, Abaqa sent about 10,000 troops to assist Edward I in the unsuccessful Ninth Crusade against the Mamluks in Syria, though the Mongol troops accomplished little and eventually pulled back into their own territory. In 1280 Abaqa again sent troops against the Mamluks. This time the Ilkhan forces were more successful and captured Aleppo, but most of the Crusader States were in a truce with the Mamluks and did not lend support; only the Knights Hospitaliers sent any troops. Eventually, as was often the case, the Mongol troops withdrew to their own territory, promising to return in 1281. In October 1281, a force of 50,000 Ilkhan troops, joined by forces from Armenia and Georgia as well as some Hospitaliers, was defeated by the Mamluks at the Second Battle of Homs in Syria. Abaqa died in 1282, probably from delirium tremens due to alcohol abuse (though there were rumors of poisoning), and was succeeded by his brother Tekudar. Abaqa's widow Maria fled back to Constantinople; her father was considering marrying her off to one of the other Mongol khans, but she instead became a nun. Many of the early coins of the Mongols are anonymous, and this fits the bill, naming only "The Just Khan" as its issuer. While this type does bear mintmark and date on the obverse edges, they are unfortunately partly missing on this specimen, but the coin can be attributed to the time of Abaqa based on style. While Abaqa himself was reportedly a Buddhist, and he showed some friendliness to Christianity, the obverse of this coin is solely Muslim, giving only (the first part of) the standard Muslim profession of faith in addition to date and mintmark. Ilkhan coinage is very complex, with multiple major types for each ruler and over 200 different mints known. Many Ilkhan coins bear geometrical designs, and I quite like the hexafoil that surrounds the reverse inscription. Please post whatever related coins you have.
