Copper Dirham of Nasr al-Din Artuq Arslan, minted at Mardin

Artists

Description

Obv.: In center of linear circle, ruler, nimbate seated cross-legged, in his left hand an orb; stars in upper left and upper right field. Rev.: kufic legend. This copper coin was struck at the Mardin mint dated 63[?] H. (the final digit in the date is illegible, equivalent to c. 1230s) during the reign of Nasr al-Din Artuk Arslan (r. 1201-39). The obverse features a figure seated in a cross-legged position on a square-backed throne. His left hand holds an orb and his right hand rests on his thigh. A kufic legend runs about two-thirds of the way around the coin, giving the royal and personal titles and names of the new Rum Seljuk overlord Kay Khusraw II, and the additional title Qasim amir al-Muminin. On the reverse is written in five lines a kufic legend, that gives the royal and religious titles and name of the `Abbasid caliph al-Mustansir on the first through third lines, and the title and name of the Artukid ruler on the fourth and fifth lines; mint name in the margin above, and the date in the left and right margins.

Dimensions

6.51 g