Turkoman Figural Bronze
Turkoman "figural" coins have images of humans or animals, in contrast to most Islamic coins which have only lettering. Most were struck c. 1150-1260, during the Crusades, in the region of the upper Euphrates river (the Jazira) or in central Turkey. Many are remarkably large--larger than contemporary Byzantine coins and larger than other contemporary Islamic copper coins.
DRAFT only. Not ready for viewing!
Contents: Three pages:
This page: Types that are in the standard reference work, Spengler and Sayles
Another page: All types that are not in the Spengler and Sayles volumes.
A third page explaining names and legends.
Coin at the upper right: S&S 28, Najm al-Din Alpi. AD 1152-1176. Click the image to go down its place in the list and more information about it.
Skip down to S&S types 1, 6, 11, 19, 30, 35, 39, 59, 66, 68, 79
Go to: Artuqid coins or Zengid coins.
What's new? 2024, Nov. 17: S&S 23.
2024, Sept. 4: S&S 7.
2024, June 8: S&S 22. S&S 26 with two countermarks.
2024, June 2: S&S 14.
Comments.
Spengler and Sayles. Anyone interested in these coin types should consult S&S which has far more information--especially about the meaning of the figures--than this web page.
Images. The images are of coins in a private collection. Image sizes below are all proportional to the sizes of the coins. If the coin is illustrated, the size given is the size of that particular coin. If the type is not illustrated, the size given is the size of a typical coin of that type.
Completeness. Many S&S types are not illustrated or discussed. They might be added later.
Legends. This page adds translations of some of the legends, whereas S&S has only transliterations. Legends are given in full even if the illustrated coin does not show it all. Be aware that other sources may use "k" for our "q" (e.g "Artukid" for "Artuqid") or "U" for "A" (as in "Urtuqid" for "Artuqid") or "a" for "e" (as in "Zangid" for "Zengid"). For more about Turkoman legends and translations of Arabic words, see a page on legends. S&S 31 on this page below is a good example, thoroughly explained.
Credits. Many descriptions and especially the legend translations have been extracted from worksheets written by Gary Leiser to accompany his collection which has been donated to the Hallie Ford Museum of Art at Willamette University, in Salem, Oregon. They are used with permission. He has been very helpful. Similarly, Steve Album (of Stephen Album Rare Coins) has helped many times.
Some descriptions and translations below are from the David Collection [DC] webpages and so noted. They have links to the excellent historical notes that are on the David Collection webpages for each type they have.
Dates. See far below on this page for dates on the coins.
How many types are there? There are 77 figural types in the two S&S volumes. S&S volume I on coins of the Artuqids has S&S types 1 through 58, of which 2 are not figural (types 20 and 41) for a total of 56 figural types in the Artuqid volume. S&S volume II on coins of the Zengids has S&S types 59 through 89, making 31 types, of which 10 types are not figural (types 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 77, 78, 80, 86, and 89) for a total of 21 figural types in the Zengid volume.
Figural types that are not in S&S have their own page.
Artuqids [a.k.a. Urtuqids] of Hisn Kayfa and Amid (Types 1-20, in S&S volume 1)
Fakhr al-Din Qara Arslan, 1148-1174. "Fakhr al-Din" means "Pride of the faith/religion." Types 1-8.
S&S 1. This type was struck by Fakra al-din Qara Arslan, the fourth ruler of the Artuqid dynasty and the first to issue figural types. (S&S 7 explictly gives his lineage.) (There is a Danishmendid figural type which is earlier). Note how the obverse on this Islamic coin copies a Byzantine coin with an image of Christ!
S&S 1
Fakhr al-Din Qara Arslan
AH 543-570. AD 1148-1174
25-24 mm. 5.33 grams. Pierced.
Undated
Facing nimbate bust of Christ with two dots in each limb.
5-line Arabic legend with lines either side.
S&S 5. 27-28 mm. Crowned and facing half-length figure/smaller facing half-length bust with legend all around
Fakhr al-Din Qara Arslan
AH 543-570. AD 1148-1174.
Obverse: Crowned and bearded half-figure facing directly, Arabic inscription to right and left of his head, all surrounded by a circle of dots
Inscription: Struck in the year 559
Reverse: Clean-shaven half-figure facing slightly to left, hair in bun to his left, within a linear circle surrounded by an inscription within a circle of dots
Inscription: al-Malik al-‘Adil (the just king) Fakhr al-Din (pride of the faith) Qara Arslan b. Da’ud b. Artuq
S&S 7. 28-30 mm. This example, 27 mm.
Fakhr al-Din Qara Arslan
AH 543-570. AD 1148-1174.
Struck AH 562 = AD 1166/7
Obverse: Draped half-figure facing directly, long hair falling to each side, Arabic inscription to right and left of his head, all surrounded by a circle of dots
Inscription: "year two [up right] and sixty and five hundred [down left, so "year 562"]"
Reverse: central inscription with second inscription on right and left sides of it, all within a circle of dots
Central inscription: Malik al-Umara’ (king of the amirs) Qara Arslan b. [son of] Da’ud b. [son of] Sukman b. [son of] Artuq
Lateral inscription: al-Imam [down right] al-Mustanjid bi-‘llah [down left] (the caliph, 555-66/1160-70)
Nur al-Din Muhammad, 1175-1185. "Nur al-Din" means "Light of the Faith/Religion." Types 9-11.
S&S 9
Reverse (in Kufic):
Malik al-umara Muhammad King of the Princes [Lord of the commanders] Muhammad
ibn Qara Arslan ibn son of Qara Arslan son of
Da’ud ibn Sukma Da’ud son of Sukma/
n ibn Artuq Nasir n son of Artuq Nasir
amir al-Mu’minin Commander of the Faithful
Upwards on right: al-imam, downwards on left: al-mustadi bi-amr / allah
“the Imam al-Mustadi bi-amr Allah” [See also DC] "The figure is probably a representation of the Archangel Gabriel (Jibra‘il) carrying a scroll, and, as it was struck in the first year of Nur al-Din’s reign, it is thought to have represented Gabriel bringing the message of the new ruler’s accession to his subjects. The scroll has always been an important attribute of Gabriel, as the herald of God. In a region where there was a heterogeneous population of Muslims, Christians and Jews Gabriel would have been a familiar figure to all of them."
When Saladin conquered the west half of the Jazira (the upper Euphrates region), Nur-al-Din Muhammad, an Artuqid ruler, sided with him and in 1183 got the important city of Diyarbakr (modern Amid) as a reward. Ibn Abi Tayy reported the city had 100,000 candles and over a million books.
Obverse: two-headed eagle with stylized spread wings, inscription on the side of each wing
Inscription: Struck in Hisn year 610
Reverse: central inscription with second inscription at the top and at each side, all within a circle of dots
Central inscription: al-Malik al-Salih Mahmud b. Artuq, al-Malik al-‘Adil Abu Bakr (his Ayyubid overlord)
Surrounding inscription: al-Imam al-Nasir li-Din Allah (the caliph, 575-622/1180-1225), Amir al-Mu’minin
Dirham (Bronze, 25 mm, 6.41 g, 5 h), citing Nasir al-Din Mahmud and the Ayyubid overlord al-Kamil I Muhammad (AH 615-635 / AD 1218-1238), Amid, AH 617 = AD 1220/1. Two-headed eagle with spread and stylized wings enclosed within a circle formed by two ovals; in the four inner arcs, 'al-Malik al-Salih Nasir al-Din'; in outer margin, 'Mahmud ibn Muhammad ibn Qara Arslan ibn Artuq'; (all in Kufic). Rev. Hexagram within a solid circle; in inner field, al-Malik / al-Kamil; in the triangles of the hexagram, 'Duriba bi-Amid sanah sab ashara sittami;a; in the outer margin, 'al-Imam al-Nasir al-Din Mahmud'; (all in Kufic). Spengler & Sayles 18.
From the Dr. David Majer Collection of Islamic coins, ex Album 38, 24 September 2020, 489. Ex. Leu 20-21 (2022, July 18), lot 3480.
The Artuqids of Khartpert (Types 21-23, in volume 1)
[They are rare.]
S&S 21. Imad al-Din Abu Bakr ibn Fakhr al-Din Qara Arslan, (581-600 H/1185-1203 AD)
c. 27 mm.
A male figure riding a dragon to left; the figure’s right arm is wrapped around the dragon’s throat and the left arm bent upward. The dragon’s mouth is wide open and its tail is knotted and coiled upwards/
Reverse: malik al-umara’ muhiyy) al-‘adl ‘imad al-din / abu bakr ibn qara arsla / n ibn artuq nasir / al-imam al-nasir li-din allah
“(King of the Princes, Reviver of Equity), Pillar of the Faith Abu Bakr ibn Qara Arslan ibn Artuq, Defender of the Imam, Nasir li-Din Allah”
to right upwards: ithnatayn (wa thamanin) and to left downwards: (wa khamsmi’a)
“two (and eight and five hundred)" [See also DC.]
S&S 22.
S&S 22. Imad al-Din Abu Bakr ibn Fakhr al-Din Qara Arslan. ,
21 mm. 3.77 grams.
AH 581-600. AD 1185-1203.
Diademed head facing left
5-line inscription with lines up and down the right and left
Obverse: Thin Roman-style diademed bust left
Al-Iman al-Nasir li-din Allah (around)
"The Caliph al-Naisr ... God"
Reverse: 3-line legend in square
Malik al-umara "Lord of the commanders"
Abu Bakr bin "Abu Bakr, son of
Qara Arslan "Qara Arslan"
Date 592 (AD 1196) in words beginning on the left and reading counterclockwise from the inside:
sanah "year" / khansami'a "five hundred" / tis'inwa "and ninety" /ithnain wa "and two"
The Artuqids of Mardin (Types 24-58, in volume 1)
Najm al-Din Alpi, 1152-1176.
Obverse: Large male head facing right, long hair, countermark with inscription on cheek of the bust, all within a circle of dots
Inscription on c/m: Najm al-Din
Reverse: Central inscription surrounded by a continuation of it, all within a circle of dots
Inscription: Malik al-Umara (king of the amirs/commanders) Abu ‘l-Muzaffar Alpi b. Temurtash b. Il Ghazi b. Artuq
Obverse: large male bust facing right, long hair, inscription on cheek of the bust, all within a circle of dots
Inscription: Title najm al-din “Star of the Faith” on the figure’s neck = Najm al-Din
Reverse: central inscription surrounded by a continuation of it, all within a circle of dots
Inscription: Malik al-Umara (king of the amirs/princes/commanders) / Abu ‘l-Muzaffar (Father of victory) / Alpi b. (at 3:00) Temurtash b. (at 12:00) Il Ghazi (at 9:00) b. Artuq [See also DC.]
Obverse: Two male busts in profile facing each other, shoulders draped, curly hair, inscriptions at top and bottom, all within a circle of dots
Top inscription: Najm al-Din
Bottom inscription: Malik Diyar Bakr (king [lord] of Diyar Bakr).
In lower left the Artuqid tamgha (seal) “Star of the Faith, Ruler of Diyarbakir”
Reverse: Virgin nimbate on r. and Byzantine emperor on l. both standing, inscription around the figures, all within a circle of dots. (Clearly this was modeled after a Byzantine type.)
Inscription: Abu ‘l-Muzaffar Alpi b. Timurtash b. Il Ghazi b. Artuq (the last word is low between the figures).
"Father of al-Muzaffer Alpi son of Timurtash son of Il-Ghazi son of Artuq." [Plant p. 81] Legends like these can help us know who was minting where and with what authority.
No date and no mint given.
Two diademed male busts in profile, facing each other, with long curly locks falling behind and a dot between the two faces.
in Naskh script, above: najm al-din, below malik diyarbakir,
Reverse: Two standing figures facing each other: to right Virgin nimbate, in traditional Byzantine garb, crowning a Byzantine emperor (to left) wearing in imperial vesture with orb in left hand
in Naskh anticlockwise beginning at 4:30: abu’l-muzaffar alpi / ibn / timurtash il-ghazi / ibn / artuq
“Father of Victory Alpi ibn Timurtash Il-Ghazi ibn Artuq” [See also DC.]
For S&S 28 the reverse design with Mary crowning the emperor was adopted from Byzantine coins.
Τhe prototype for the Turkoman reverse above is on many Byzantine coins beginning with Romanus III (not shown here), 1028-1034, and continuing for over a hundred years under later emperors. This is one of those later examples.
John III, 1222-1254.
Gold hyperperon. 27 mm. 4.35 grams.
Christ seated facing.
Full-length figure of the emperor crowned by the Virgin mary, nimbate.
Sear 2073. Struck at Magnesia.
29 mm. 3.52 grams. Cup-shaped.
Manuel I, 1143-1180
Christ enthroned, IC XC either side.
Manuel stading holding labarum and crowned by the Virgin.
MANVHΛ ΔΕCΠOT
M Θ in upper fields
Sear 1966. DOC IV.II plate XV.13 [This particular example is dated to "1167-1183(?)" which after the Turkoman coin above.]
Obverse: bust of a man facing left, wearing shawl or draped gown, inscription around the figure all within a circle of dots
Inscription: al-Malik al-‘Alim al-‘Adil (the wise and just king) Najm al-Din, Malik Diyar Bakr (king of Diyar Bakr)
Reverse: robed ruler wearing triangular jeweled crown, inscription around the figure and at each side of his head all surrounded by a circle of dots
Inscription: Abu ‘l-Muzaffar Alpi b. Timurtash b. Il Ghazi b. Artuq year 558.
Obverse: From 5:00 to 7:00 in angular simple Kufic al-malik al-‘alim al-‘adil najm al-din malik diyarbakir
“The Enlightened, Just King, Star of the Faith, Ruler of Diyarbakir”
Reverse: from 5:00 to 7:00 in simple Kufic: abu’l-muzaffar alpi ibn timurtash ibn il-ghazi ibn artuq sana
at 3:00 thaman wa khamsin, 9:00 wa khamsmi’a
“Father of Victory, Alpi ibn Timurtash ibn Il-Ghazi ibn Artuq year eight and fifty and five hundred" [See also DC.]
Obverse: two diademed male heads facing directly; inscription around the heads all within a circle of dots
Inscription: There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God, al-Mustanjid bi-‘llah (caliph, 555-66/1160-70), Amir al-Mu’minin
Reverse: female head facing directly, hair arranged in six rolls within a circle of dots surrounded by an inscription within another circle of dots
Inscription: Najm al-Din Malik Diyar Bakr (king of Diyar Bakr) Alpi b. Il Ghazi b. Artuq
On S&S 31 the obverse type has a diademed head looking upward and is sometimes thought to have been modeled on the "eyes-to-heaven" obverse type of Constantine:
Constantine, AD 307-337. Struck c. 328 at Constantinople.[as above]
A third S&S 31.Husam al-Din Yuluq Arslan, 1184-1201. Types 33-36
Obverse: male bust facing directly, wearing crown and mantle, inscription on each side of bust all within a circle of dots
Inscription: Husam al-Din Yuluq Arslan
Reverse: central inscription within a six-pointed star of dots, second inscription around the outside of the star all within a circle of dots
Central inscription: al-Malik al-Nasir Salah al-Dunya wa ‘l-Din Yusuf b. Ayyub (that is, Saladin his Ayyubid overlord)
Surrounding inscription: Struck in the year 581
Obverse: large male bust on right facing left, smaller crowned Byzantine-style figure facing forward, inscription at the top, all surrounded by a circle of dots
Inscription: Husam al-Din Malik Diyar Bakr (King of Diyar Bakr in SE Turkey)
Reverse: central inscription of four lines, plus inscription to the right and left all within a circle of dots
Central inscription: al-Malik al-Nasir Salah al-Din (Saladin) Muhiyy dawlat Amir al-Mu’minin (reviver of the “state” of the Commander of the Faithful, that is, the caliph)
Lateral inscription: Yusuf b. Ayyub, which is a continuation of the name of Saladin (Joseph son of Job)
Obverse: four full-length figures in different positions, one in the center with large veiled head, seated toward the left, faced turned to the front, and draped in a long robe, all within a circle of dots. No inscription.
The middle one is often regarded as being in "an attitude of dejection" and the others "lamenting." If so, it can be interpreted as figures "mourning the death of Saladin." The date of the coin would fit that interpretation.
Reverse: Central inscription of 3 lines (see the next coin for the 5-line version) within a linear circle surrounded by a second inscription: Reverse three lines naming the Abbasid Calif al-Nasir:
al-Iman al-Nas The Islamic Defender
ir lil-din [sic] of the Faith)
Amir al-mu'minin Commander of the believers/faithful
Central inscription: al-Imam al-Nasir li-Din Amir al-Mu’minin (the caliph, 575-622/1180-1225
Surrounding inscription: Husam al-Din Malik Diyar Bakr Yuluq Arslan b. Il Ghazi b. Artuq year 589
This obverse type also is paired with a different reverse from year 590, next, that names the new Ayyubid overlord Saif al-Din Abu Bakr.
Reverse: Central inscription of 5 lines with inscription on each side within a linear circle surrounded by a second inscription all within a circle of dots
The central 3-line inscription is the same as the coin above: al-Imam al-Nasir li-Din Amir al-Mu’minin (the caliph, 575-622/1180-1225)
The top and bottom lines and the sides: al-Malik al-‘Adil Sayf al-Din Abu Bakr b. Ayyub (his Ayyubid overlord, various reigns over various places)
Surrounding inscription: Husam al-Din Malik Diyar Bakr Yuluq Arslan b. Il Ghazi b. Artuq year 589
"Husam of the Faith, King of Diyarbakr, Yuluq Arslan, son of il-Ghazi, son of Artuq, year 589"
Obverse: seated figure holding sword in right hand and severed head in left hand, the Atabek Nur al-Din is recognized in inscription on the left, probably Nur al-Din Arslan Shah, the Zengid Atabek of Mosul (589-607/1193-1210), all within a circle of dots.
Inscription: Nur al-Din Atabek
Reverse: central inscription of three lines surrounded by linear circle surrounded by second inscription surrounded by linear circle surrounded by third inscription surrounded by circle of dots
Central inscription: al-Nasir li-Din Allah Amir al-Mu’minin [the caliph, 575-622/1180-1225]
Inner circular inscription: al-Malik al-Afdal ‘Ali wa ‘l-Malik al-Zahir Ghazi b. al-Malik al-Nasir Yusuf [Saladin]
Outer inscription: Husam al-Din Yuluq Arslan Malik Diyar Bakr b. Il Ghazi b. Artuq, struck in year 596
Variant: If there are four lines in the central inscription, it reads: Allah al-Imam al-Nasir li-Din Amir al-Mu'minin, God, the Imam al-Nasir li-Din Amir al-Mu'minin [the Imam. the Protector of the Faith, the Commander of the Faithful]. The inner and outer circular inscriptions are the same.
Al-Malik al-Afdal ‘Ali and ‘l-Malik al-Zahir Ghazi were brothers and his Ayyubid overlords. They were sons of Saladin who is referred to here as "al-Malik al-Nasir Yusuf."
Obverse: male bust facing forward, wearing mantle, drapery from his right shoulder over drapery from left shoulder, his left hand is visible, inscription around bust the top, all surrounded by a circle of dots
Inscription: Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan
Reverse: central inscription in a six-pointed star with double linear border, second inscription between the angles of the points of the stars, all surrounded by a circle of dots [It is sometimes called a 4-line inscription, but two are very short. Compare with the next coin.]
Central inscription: al-Imam al-Nasir li-Din Amir al-Mu’minin [the word "Allah" is missing and the words Amir al-Mu'minin are abbreviated, otherwise there would need to be three lines instead of two, as below] (the caliph, 575-622/1180-1225)
Second inscription: Struck in 598
S&S 37.2
S&S 37.2 (facing slightly left with three-line reverse inscription and drapery reversed)
30-28 mm. 17.06 grams.
Nasir al-Din Artuq-Arslan
AH 597-637. AD 1201-1239.
Struck AH 598. AD 1201.
Bust facing/legend in double six-pointed star
Bust facing, wild hair, drapery from his left shoulder over drapery from right shoulder, stars in fields left and right, legend:
[down left] Nasir al-Din A [up right] rtuq Arslan
Reverse legend: Allah
al-Iman al-Nasir
li-Din Amir al-mu'minin
al-Malik al-Zahir
Ghazi
Legend outside the star: Duriba sana thaman tis'in khamsa mia
(struck year eight (and) ninety (and) five hundred
Obverse: Centaur archer running to right while shooting backwards at a dragon with open jaws, surrounded by an inscription all surrounded by a linear circle
Inscription: In Mardin in 599
Reverse: central inscription with second, continuing, inscription on each side all surrounded by a linear circle
Central inscription: al-Nasir li-Din Allah Amir al-Mu’minin (the caliph, 575-622/1180-1225), al-Malik al-‘Adil Abu Bakr (the Ayyubid overlord), Malik Diyar Bakr Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan b. Ayyub
Second inscription: Struck in 599
S&S 39
Obverse: man riding a leopard (lion?) facing left, surrounded by an inscription all surrounded by a linear circle
Inscription: al-Malik al-‘Alim al-‘Adil Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan Malik Diyar Bakr (the wise and just king Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan king of Diyar Bakr)
Reverse: three-line central inscription with second inscription at the top and on each side of it and a third inscription around it all surrounded by a linear circle
Central inscription: al-Imam al-Nasir li-Din Allah Amir al-Mu’minin (the caliph, 575-622/1180-1225)
Second inscription: 606
Surrounding inscription: al-Malik al-‘Adil Sayf al-Din Abu Bakr b. Ayyub (his overlord), struck in Mardin year
The Danishmendids issued an earlier type with a lion-rider wielding a sword.
Another S&S 39
Obverse: Male bust almost facing, very slightly to left, hair disheveled, garment fastened with clasp at neckline, surrounded by an inscription all surrounded by a linear circle
Inscription: Nasir al-Dunya wa ‘l-Din Artuq Arslan Malik Diyar Bakr (king of Diyar Bakr)
Reverse: central inscription with inscription on right and left all surrounded by a linear circle
Central inscription: Abu ‘l-Abbas Ahmad al-Nasir li-Din Allah Amir al-Mu’minin (the caliph, 575-622/1180-1225), al-Malik al-‘Adil Abu Bakr b. Ayyub (the Ayyubid overlord)
Lateral inscription: 611
[as above]
Obverse: male bust facing right, hair disheveled, inscription around bust, all within a linear circle
Inscription: al-Malik al-Mansur Nasir al-Dunya wa ‘l-Din Artuq Arslan
Reverse: five-line central inscription with inscription above it and to right and left
Central inscription: al-Nasir li-Din Allah Amir al-Mu’minin (the caliph, 575-622/1180-1225), al-Malik al-Kamil Nasir al-Din Muhammad b. Ayyub (the Ayyubid overlord)
Second inscription: Struck in year 620
S&S 43, another example, 3 mm larger.
32-30 mm. 13.44 grams.
Obverse: ruler seated cross-legged on a square platform, left hand at chest holding an orb, inscription to right and left of figure all within a linear circle
Central inscription: Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan
Reverse: central inscription with second inscription to right and left
Central inscription: bi-‘llah al-Imam al-Mustansir (the caliph, 623-40/1226-42), Amir al-Mu’minin, al-Malik al-Kamil Muhammad (Ayyubid overlord)
Inscription to right and left: Struck in year 628
S&S 47 (cf. S&S 44 above, which is very similar. The head on S&S 44 is usually smaller).
S&S 47
28-24 mm. 9.08 grams.
Nasir al-Din Artuq-Arslan
AH 597-637. AD 1201-1239.
Large head with narrow chin facing forward/5-line legend with smaller lines at top, left and right.
Obverse: large crude head facing forward, almond eyes, curly hair, wearing mantle with clasp in front, surrounded by an inscription all within a linear circle
Inscription: al-Sultan al-Mu’azzam ‘Ala’ al-Dunya wa ‘l-Din Kay Qubadh Qasim Amir al-Mu’minin (this is his Seljuk overlord, Kay Qubadh I) Reverse: five-line central inscription with second inscription at the top and at right and left, all within a linear circle
Central inscription: al-Imam al-Mustansir bi-‘llah (the caliph, 623-40/1226-42), Amir al-Mu’minin, al-Malik al-Mansur Artuq
Second inscription: Struck in Mardin in year 63x [632 or 633 or 634]
Obverse: Sun face surrounded by rays within a beaded square, inscription on each side of square
Inscription: Struck in Mardin in . . .
Reverse: central inscription surrounded by a circular inscription within a circle of dots
Central inscription: There is no god but God alone, He has no partner, Muhamad is the messenger of God
Surrounding inscription: It probably says al-Malik al-Muzaffar Fakhr al-Dunya wa ‘l-Din Qara Arslan b. Artuq ‘Azza nasruhu (may his victory be glorified)
S&S 81
S&S 81.1. Zengid
27-25 mm. 12.67 grams.
Quth al-Din Muhammad b. Zengi
AH 594-615. AD 1197-1219.
Tamga before face.
The earliest issue of AH 596, distinguished by the tamgha.
Dates: Many Turkoman (and other Islamic) coins have the dates on them explicitly, e.g. year 562. Of course, these are AH dates from the Islamic era. Those years do not correspond exactly with AD years. AH years are 3% shorter. This table gives the AD year with the most overlap. So, year 562 falls mostly in AD 1167.
AH | 540 | 550 | 560 | 570 | 580 | 590 | 600 | 610 | 620 | 630 | 640 | 650 | 660 | 670 |
AD | 1145 | 1155 | 1165 | 1175 | 1184 | 1194 | 1204 | 1213 | 1223 | 1233 | 1243 | 1252 | 1262 | 1272 |
For equivalents of AH dates to the nearest day, see Mitcher's World of Islam, p. 43ff.