| Iran, Eastern Province (Nishapur) |
| Gold, Diam. 24 mm. |
Nuh Ibn Mansour, 993 - 994 AD |
| Collection of the American Numismatic Society, 1922.99.56 W: 4.840 |
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Dominating the politics of eastern Iran and central Asia in the ninth and tenth centuries, the Samanids were vigorous upholders of Sunni orthodoxy, ' and their coins reflect their religious convictions. On the obverse in the outer margin is a portion of the surah al-Rum (Romans)
. . . Allah's is the command in the former case and in the latter-and in that day believers will rejoice In Allah's helps ....
(al-Rum, V30:4-5)
In the center is the shahada and the name of the local governor of Nishapur. On the reverse the outer margin contains an affirmation of Mohammed's role as Allah's Messenger, while in the center are repeated the words "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, " followed by the name of the 'Abbasid caliph al-Ta'i' (974 - 991 AD), whom the Samanids had recognized as overlord, and the name of the Samanid ruler, Nuh Ibn Mansur (976-997 AD). |
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| Iran, Isfahan |
| Gold, Diam. 27 mm. |
Mahmud Ibn Malikshah, I093 - I094 AD |
| Collection of the American Numismatic Society, 1922.211.119 W: 4.478 |
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As newly converted Muslims, the Seljuq Turks migrated into the eastern Islamic world in the late tenth century to serve as mercenary soldiers for established powers there. They took power themselves, and in (1055) AD their principal leader, Tughril, captured Baghdad, displaced the Buyids, and declared him self the sultan and protector of the (Abbasid caliph). Orthodox Sunni in their beliefs, the Seljuqs vigorously expanded, forcing the Isma'ili Shiites to retrench, driving Christian forces out of Anatolia and the Caucasus, and humbling the powerful IlKhanids. At the peak of their power in 1092 when Malik Shah died, the Seljuqs experienced disastrous fratricidal conflicts in the ensuing years. The reign of Nasir al-Din Mahmud I lasted only two years (1092-1094, and this coin gives some idea of the complex political relationships of the time. Its circular legends reiterate Sunni belief and do not differ from those of other dynasties, like the Abbasids above, who saw themselves as defenders of orthodoxy. On the obverse is the (Abbasid caliph's name, al-Muqtadi (1075-1094)), along with the name and titles of the sultan, Mahmud Ibn Malikshah, at the time only five years old and holding only nominal authority. His relative, Isma'il Ibn Alp Sunqur, held real power and is appropriately named on the reverse side with a more resounding title than Mahmud. |
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