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Ghazan (or Arghun) Khan


Sulla80

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I am struggling with the full identification of this coin, as I haven't found another one like it (in the details).  This coin is minted in the name of Ghazan khan, son of Arghun khan who was descended from Ghenghis khan, and whose great uncle Kublai khan sent a bride, Kokechin, to replace Arghun's deceased wife.  Marco Polo claims (Chapter 9, Travels) that he was entrusted to escort the bride over an 18 month journey and she arrived safely.  When they found that Alghun khan (the intended husband) was dead by that time - with Kublai khan's permission, his son, Ghazan khan, married Kokechin instead.

image.png.f1d030b195a9ba6b54d944ea47be8596.png

Iran, Ilkhans, pictorial AR dirham (3.22g, 17mm) in the name of Ghazan Khan (690-703 AH/1284-1291), struck at Astarabad (located in Northern Iran)

Obv: the ruler name in Uighur and Arabic; a hawk with sun behind

Rev: Shia Muslim Shahada for Allah, prophet Muhamad and Imam Ali

Ref: variant of Album-2149 Album-2168C; Zeno 13407

Note: this coin seems to be on the high end of weight range for the type

I am still uncertain about the dating of this coin.  I think it pre-dates Ghazan's official reign in 695. Gaykhatu was Arghun's successor in AH 690 and in 695 Baydu rebelled. At this point Ghazan converted to Islam in 695 to gain support from Amir Nawrūz and take control of the Ilkhanate from Baydu.

Another question is there some meaning to this symbol behind the bird or is it just decorative? (other variants have a date or text in this spot e.g. Zeno 22412 or Zeno 8621 )
image.png.58c59e36a999a3c101ffa9d3e5c56cd8.png
any additional information from NumisForum experts is appreciated.

Edited by Sulla80
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Album 2149.2 has a range of 2.2 to 'more than 3.2, with an average of about 2.75' (which would be 2.2-3.3), so it is within the range. Album dates it to 691-693, and says it cites 'both Arghun & Ghazan in Arabic on obverse'.

The description also implies a lot of variation in design, which is typical of Mongol coins - it's difficult to find coins that are the same when it comes to details. One such detail is that symbol behind the bird, which I think is an eternal knot or knot of happiness. They're very common on Mongol coins and appear in seemingly random places on some variants but not others.

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This appears to be Album 2168C (RR), Ghazan Mahmud (alone 694-703). The only date known for this type is 697, always from Astarabad. The mint and date are located in the reverse margin, not visible on your coin. The Arabic legend from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock reads padishah zadeh Ghazan 'adil. The arabesque is located where the name Arghun was placed on Album 2149.2. Album states the weight should be 2.52gm. The weights of the few at Zeno range from 2.14 to 2.57. I'm not sure what to make of your 3.22. It may be that the coins were tariffed above their intrinsic value in which case individual weights would have been of little consequence to the mint as long as a certain amount of bullion resulted in the specified number of struck coins. Congratulations! A very rare coin. https://www.zeno.ru/showgallery.php?cat=13407

 

Edited by DLTcoins
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44 minutes ago, DLTcoins said:

This appears to be Album 2168C (RR), Ghazan Mahmud (alone 694-703). The only date known for this type is 697, always from Astarabad. The mint and date are located in the reverse margin, not visible on your coin. The Arabic legend from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock reads padishah zadeh Ghazan 'adil. The arabesque is located where the name Arghun was placed on Album 2149.2. Album states the weight should be 2.52gm. The weights of the few at Zeno range from 2.14 to 2.57. I'm not sure what to make of your 3.22. It may be that the coins were tariffed above their intrinsic value in which case individual weights would have been of little consequence to the mint as long as a certain amount of bullion resulted in the specified number of struck coins. Congratulations! A very rare coin. https://www.zeno.ru/showgallery.php?cat=13407

 

That's definitely it. It's a pity Album doesn't have images, as it would be a lot easier. Maybe some sort of Album-Zeno page would help!

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29 minutes ago, John Conduitt said:

That's definitely it. It's a pity Album doesn't have images, as it would be a lot easier. Maybe some sort of Album-Zeno page would help!

When Steve was working on the 3rd edition, he said that he considered adding plates but decided that the time involved would be better spent adding new varieties. The Oriental Numismatic Society and Zeno have agreed to work together to create a definitive catalogue and database of all coins and currency within the purview of the ONS, perhaps utilizing image recognition. Such a project is not something that can be accomplished quickly, however. For the time being, searching Zeno by Album number can be useful. The free pdf version of Steve's 'Checklist', downloadable at his website, works well with a simple text search. Lastly, googling Album numbers, mints, dates, etc frequently brings up useful images from dealer and auction websites.

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Thank you, @DLTcoinsand @John Conduitt, I am always amazed at the speed with which answers can be magically found ☺️  I have seen this particular arabesque  described as "a Saadet knot" with the explanation that saadet in turkish means happiness/welfare.

Album: https://www.stevealbum.com/pdfs/ChecklistOfIslamicCoins3rdEdition2011Free.pdf + zeno tends to work quite well most of the time.

 

Edited by Sulla80
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The amount of expertise provided by @DLTcoins and @John Conduitt is truly impressive!

All I can add is an example of Album 2149.2 for comparison: note the name "Arghun" placed where your coin has the knot:

1061008525_OrientMAIlkhanatArghunARdirhamFalkeSonneAstarabadA-2149.2..png.788d2c8985a2c069b05523c0c5844b7e.png

Ilkhanate, under Arghun with Ghazan as viceroy, AR dirham, 1291–1292 AD (690–691 AH), Astarabad mint. Obv: Uyghur protocol in three lines, two above hawk and one below: "[qaghanu]/ nereber/ deletkeguluksen(?)" ('of the Khaqan / in the name of / struck'); Arabic name of the ruler Arghun in central l. field; citing his heir Ghazan in r. field; hawk r., sunface rising behind. Rev: Shiite kalima in three lines in square: "la ilah illa allah / muhammad rasul allah / ali waliun allah", partial mint and date formula for Astarabad in margins. Ref: Album 2149.2. 17.5mm, 2.93g.

Edited by Ursus
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7 hours ago, Sulla80 said:

Thank you, @DLTcoinsand @John Conduitt, I am always amazed at the speed with which answers can be magically found ☺️  I have seen this particular arabesque  described as "a Saadet knot" with the explanation that saadet in turkish means happiness/welfare.

Album: https://www.stevealbum.com/pdfs/ChecklistOfIslamicCoins3rdEdition2011Free.pdf + zeno tends to work quite well most of the time.

It's not a bad solution, although I collect Golden Horde coins (not the Ilkhanate) and the reference by Sagdeeva, which includes line drawings of the coins, transforms identification. It's in Russian and is not at all comprehensive, but it's invaluable for someone who doesn't read Arabic beyond the dates. You can just scroll through it looking for similar coins, and it's more structured than trying to use Zeno. You don't need Album at all for dangs (dirhams).

Numista cites Sagdeeva combined with Zeno, and includes the line drawings e.g. https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces318890.html although Numista is far from well-populated yet.

Edited by John Conduitt
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This small illustration of ringdoves in the tree trunk and lotus blossom incorporates the influence of Chinese naturalism. The text was translated into Persian from Arabic for the Ilkhanid ruler Ghazan Khan (reigned 1295–1304). This page from a Persian Manafi‘ al-Hayawan (The Benefits of Animals) of Abu Said Ubaid-Allah ibn Jibrail ibn Bakhtishu (died 1058–68), c. 1300. Iran, Maragah, Ilkhanid period (1256–1353). Public domain via archive.org.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Update: Baydu Khan was the cousin of Ghazan who overthrew Ghazan's uncle in 1295 BCE.  Both Ghazan and Baydu were descendants of the founder of the Ilkhanid dynasty.  Baydu only reigned 4 months before Ghazan overthrew him, this coin issued by Baydu:

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Ilkhan, Baydu, 1295, AR dirhem (17mm, 2.67g), Uncertain date and mint.

Obv: Kalima (Muslim profession of faith) within a square, mint and date around (only partially seen)

Rev: inscription in a mixture of Arabic and Uighur: Kaganu nereber Baydunun delegteguluk son ("Struck in the name of the Khan, Baidu")

Notes: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/a-bride-from-kublai-khan

And a question: This coin came with a reference to:  MWOI cf.1588 - what is this source?

Edited by Sulla80
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Don't know why I missed this interesting and informative thread when it came out.  I also have an example of the Arghun coin for comparison:

image.jpeg.679f87f0b1ab42ee88a5ed9e2ad33894.jpeg

The "MWOI" reference is to Mitchiner's "World of Islam", the third volume of his "Oriental Coins and Their Values" series.  It is in the same format as the better-known Ancient and Classical World (MACW) and Non-Islamic States & Western Colonies (MNI) volumes.  It is photo-illustrated (about 4000 photos), which is a big plus.  However, it is not nearly as comprehensive as one might hope- some series receive extensive coverage, others little or none.  Some photos aren't clear, and crucially, I've heard from more experienced collectors that there are some important mistakes in attribution that sneaked into the published text.  An okay reference if you happen to have it, but I wouldn't expend too much effort seeking out a copy.

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Here are three more coins of Ghazan Mahmud Khan - any help with mints and dates is appreciated.  These are particularly interesting for being trilingual: Arabic, Uyghur, and Chinese (Phags-Pa script)

In order (first to last): a rare 1/2 dirham 1.08g Album 2174, 1 dirham 2.11g Album 2173. 2 dirham4.28g Album 2172.

my notes on the history of these Ilkhanid coins (admittedly sparse and growing) are here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/a-bride-from-kublai-khan

604001786_GhazanMahmud3.jpg.bc86227deb076049a36eb61e232516e7.jpg

 

111474944_GhazanMahmud2.jpg.f6a35b8049ddebc4519ed1e3f2dffc39.jpg

 

1626178796_GhazhanMahmud1.jpg.0b8dc04939335d40a58a9862a3b20370.jpg

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