z e n g i d

A mid to late 12th and early 13th century kingdom, occupying roughly the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, north of Bagdad and south of Lake Van in modern Iraq and eastern Turkey. Overrun by the Mongols in 1260 AD.

• Many Zengid coins have astrological images. S/S 59, 60 and 66 have a bust with two winged creatures above, representing the Sun). The al Jazira coin with the facing male bust, S/S 85, also represents the Sun. S/S 63, 67, 71, 87 and 88 all have figures holding a large crescent, representing the Moon.

• The prototype for the image on S/S 61and 62 appears to be a silver tetradrachm from the city of Side in Pamphylia (southern Turkey) struck during the second century B.C.

• The double-headed eagle on S/S 79 and 83 is a very ancient image; double-headed eagles appear at pre-Hittite sites in Cappadocia (2300-2000 BC), Ur and ancient Greece. It seemed to have an astrological significance for the Zengids, representing Mercury in the zodiacal signs Gemini and Virgo. The two-headed eagle also represented the active and passive principals in the alchemical operation of transmutation (Mercury) during the Middle Ages.

During the brief period that these coins below span (1159-1252 AD), the building of Notre Dame in Paris is begun, the Oxford and Cambridge universities are founded, Thomas a Becket is murdered (and canonized), Saladin crushes the Christian crusader army at Hittin and takes Jerusalem, Richard the Lion-hearted becomes king of England, Francis of Assisi issues the first rules of his brotherhood, the Magna Carta is written, Roger Bacon is born, Louis IX (Saint Louis) becomes king of France, Genghis Khan dies, leprosy is imported to Europe by the Crusaders, and Kublai Khan becomes goveror of China.

r e f e r e n c e s

Zengid Atabegs of Mosul

Qutb al-Din Mawdud (1149 - 1170 AD)

S/S 59

Qutb al-Din Mawdud (1149 - 1170 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 555 (1160 AD)
S/S 59.1
29 mm.
13.87 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Male bust with Turkish features facing slightly left, hair in knot at forehead; two winged creatures above. Kufic legend right and left (date, beginning on the right).
Reverse: Four line Kufic legend; legend in field.

Qutb al-Din Mawdud (1149 - 1170 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 555 (1160 AD)
S/S 59.1
30 mm.
12.03 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Male bust with Turkish features facing slightly left, hair in knot at forehead; two winged creatures above. Kufic legend right and left (date, beginning on the right).
Reverse: Four line Kufic legend; legend in field.
Note: Struck over earlier issue. The attribution to this date is tentative.

Qutb al-Din Mawdud (1149 - 1170 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 555 (1160 AD)
S/S 59.1
29 x 28 mm.
12.51 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Male bust with Turkish features facing slightly left, hair in knot at forehead; two winged creatures above. Kufic legend right and left (date, beginning on the right).
Reverse: Four line Kufic legend; legend in field.

Qutb al-Din Mawdud (1149 - 1170 AD)
AE Dirham
Mint: no mint
AH year: [___]
S/S 59 type
29 x 28 mm.
12.51 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse:
Reverse:

Qutb al-Din Mawdud (1149 - 1170 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 557 (1161 / 1162 AD)
S/S 59.3
29 mm.
11.64 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Male bust with Turkish features facing slightly left, hair in knot at forehead; two winged creatures above. Kufic legend right and left (date, beginning on the left).
Reverse: Four line Kufic legend; legend in field.

Qutb al-Din Mawdud (1149 - 1170 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 564 (1168 / 1169 AD)
S/S 59.6 (this coin [obverse only])
30 mm.
13.15 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Male bust with Turkish features facing slightly left, hair in knot at forehead; two winged creatures above. Kufic legend right and left (date, beginning on the left).
Reverse: Four line Kufic legend; legend in field.
Note: Ancient Coin Collecting VI, page 144 (this coin).

Saif al-Din Ghazi II (1170 - 1180 AD)

S/S 60

Saif al-Din Ghazi II (1170 - 1180 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 567 (1171 / 1172 AD)
S/S 60.3
28 mm.
11.44 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Male bust with Turkish features facing slightly left, hair in knot at forehead; two winged creatures above. Kufic legend right and left (date, beginning on the left).
Reverse: Four line Kufic legend; legend in field.
Note: Courtesy Richard Bilak collection.

Saif al-Din Ghazi II (1170 - 1180 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 568 (1172 / 1173 AD)
S/S 60.4
30 mm.
10.43 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Male bust with Turkish features facing slightly left, hair in knot at forehead; two winged creatures above. Kufic legend right and left (date, beginning on the left).
Reverse: Four line Kufic legend; legend in field.

Saif al-Din Ghazi II (1170 - 1180 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 571 (1175 / 1176 AD)
S/S 60.7
26 mm.
9.25 gm.
Die position=9h
Obverse: Male bust with Turkish features facing slightly left, hair in knot at forehead; two winged creatures above. Kufic legend right and left (date, beginning on the left).
Reverse: Four line Kufic legend; legend in field.
Note:This coin appears to have been gilded.

Saif al-Din Ghazi II (1170 - 1180 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 572 (1176 / 1177 AD)
S/S 60.8
31 mm.
12.22 gm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Male bust with Turkish features facing slightly left, hair in knot at forehead; two winged creatures above. Kufic legend right and left (date, beginning on the left).
Reverse: Four line Kufic legend; legend in field.

S/S 61

Saif al-Din Ghazi II (1170 - 1180 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 575 (1179 / 1180 AD), al Jazira mint
S/S 61.1 (this coin)
31 mm.
15.36 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Male head left wearing crested helmet.
Reverse: Reverse 1; three line Kufic legend.
Note: Design borrowed from a 2nd century tetradrachm from the city of Side in Pamphylia (modern southern Turkey).

Saif al-Din Ghazi II (1170 - 1180 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 575 (1179 / 1180 AD), al Jazira mint
S/S 61.1
30 mm.
16.28 gm.
Die position=7h
Obverse: Male head left wearing crested helmet.
Reverse: Reverse 1; three line Kufic legend.

Saif al-Din Ghazi II (1170 - 1180 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 575 (1179 / 1180 AD), al Jazira mint
S/S 61.2
30 x 29 mm.
16.47 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Male head left wearing crested helmet.
Reverse: Reverse 2; four line Kufic legend.
Note: Courtesy Richard Bilak collection.

Saif al-Din Ghazi II (1170 - 1180 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 575 (1179 / 1180 AD), al Jazira mint
S/S 61.2
31 mm.
18.55 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Male head left wearing crested helmet.
Reverse: Reverse 2; four line Kufic legend.
Note: Heaviest known specimen.

Saif al-Din Ghazi II (1170 - 1180 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 575 (1179 / 1180 AD), al Jazira mint
S/S 61.2
29 mm.
16.49 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Male head left wearing crested helmet.
Reverse: Reverse 2; four line Kufic legend.

'Izz ad-Din Mas'ud I (1180 - 1193 AD)

S/S 62

'Izz ad-Din Mas'ud I (1180 - 1193 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 577 (1181 / 1182 AD), al Jazira mint
S/S 62
30 x 31 mm.
15.34 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Male head left wearing crested helmet.
Reverse: Reverse variety 2; four line Kufic legend.

S/S 63

Nur al-Din Arslan Shah (1193 - 1211 AD)

S/S 64

Nur al-Din Arslan Shah (1193 - 1211 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 594 (1197 / 1198 AD), Nisibin mint
S/S 64
30 x 28 mm.
14.15 gm.
Die position=5h
Obverse: Turkish bust facing within beaded frame; stars at each corner. Marginal Naskhi legends.
Reverse: Four line central Naskhi legend; marginal legends.
Note: Courtesy Richard Bilak collection.

Nur al-Din Arslan Shah (1193 - 1211 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 594 (1197 / 1198 AD), Nisibin mint
S/S 64
30 x 28 mm.
14.19 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Turkish bust facing within beaded frame; stars at each corner. Marginal Naskhi legends.
Reverse: Four line central Naskhi legend; marginal legends.

'Izz ad-Din Mas'ud II (1211 - 1218 AD)

S/S 65

'Izz ad-Din Mas'ud II (1211 - 1218 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 607 (1210 / 1211 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 65.1
29 mm.
14.13 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Diademed and draped classical male bust left; star in left field. Naskhi legend.
Reverse: Six line central Naskhi legend; marginal legends.
Note:Heaviest known specimen (?)

'Izz ad-Din Mas'ud II (1211 - 1218 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 607 (1210 / 1211 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 65.1
24 mm.
8.17 gm.
Die position=7h
Obverse: Diademed and draped classical male bust leftwearing necklace; no star in left field. Naskhi legend.
Reverse: Six line central Naskhi legend; marginal legends.
Note:Later, crude die; very light specimen. Overstruck on (?).

'Izz ad-Din Mas'ud II (1211 - 1218 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 607 (1210 / 1211 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 65.1
25 mm.
10.42 gm.
Die position=5h
Obverse: Diademed and draped classical male bust left; star in left field. Naskhi legend.
Reverse: Six line central Naskhi legend; marginal legends.

'Izz ad-Din Mas'ud II (1211 - 1218 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 607 (1210 / 1211 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 65.1
28 x 27 mm.
13.29 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Diademed and draped classical male bust left; star in left field. Naskhi legend.
Reverse: Six line central Naskhi legend; marginal legends.

Nasir al-Din Mahmud (1219 - 1234 AD)

S/S 66

Nasir al-Din Mahmud (1219 - 1234 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 620 (1223 / 1224 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 66
31 mm.
15.66 gm.
Die position=5h
Obverse: Male bust with Turkish features facing slightly left, hair in knot at top of head; two winged creatures above. Kufic legend right and left (date and mint).
Reverse: Five line Kufic legend; marginal legend in fields.
Note: Holed.

Nasir al-Din Mahmud (1219 - 1234 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 620 (1223 / 1224 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 66
30 mm.
14.62 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Male bust with Turkish features facing slightly left, hair in knot at top of head; two winged creatures above. Kufic legend right and left (date and mint).
Reverse: Five line Kufic legend; marginal legend in fields.

Nasir al-Din Mahmud (1219 - 1234 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 620 (1223 / 1224 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 66
30 mm.
14.45 gm.
Die position=7h
Obverse: Male bust with Turkish features facing slightly left, hair in knot at top of head; two winged creatures above. Kufic legend right and left (date and mint).
Reverse: Five line Kufic legend; marginal legend in fields.
Note: Scyphate.

S/S 67

Nasir al-Din Mahmud (1219 - 1234 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 627 (1229 / 1230 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 67
24 mm.
7.10 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Crowned Turkish female figure holding large crescent; legend giving mint and date. Stars to either side.
Reverse: Five line Naskhi legend; ornament above the 's' in Rasul.
Note: Courtesy Richard Bilak collection.

Nasir al-Din Mahmud (1219 - 1234 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 627 (1229 / 1230 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 67
25 mm.
8.14 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Crowned Turkish female figure holding large crescent; legend giving mint and date. Stars to either side.
Reverse: Five line Naskhi legend; ornament above the 's' in Rasul.

Lu'lu'id of Mosul

Badr al-Din Lu'Lu' (1234 - 1259 AD)

S/S 68

Badr al-Din Lu'Lu' (1234 - 1259 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 631 (1233 / 1234 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 68
25 mm.
7.90 gm.
Die position=8h
Obverse: Diademed classical head facing left, within beaded square. Naskhi legend.
Reverse: Four line central and marginal Naskhi legend.

Badr al-Din Lu'Lu' (1234 - 1259 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 631 (1233 / 1234 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 68
27 x 26 mm.
7.05 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Diademed classical head facing left, within beaded square. Naskhi legend.
Reverse: Four line central and marginal Naskhi legend.
Note: Struck over S/S 69 (?).

Badr al-Din Lu'Lu' (1234 - 1259 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 631 (1233 / 1234 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 68
23 mm.
7.16 gm.
Die position=9h
Obverse: Diademed classical head facing left, within beaded square. Naskhi legend.
Reverse: Four line central and marginal Naskhi legend.

Badr al-Din Lu'Lu' (1234 - 1259 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 631 (1233 / 1234 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 68
24 x 25 mm.
7.93 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Diademed classical head facing left, within beaded square. Naskhi legend.
Reverse: Four line central and marginal Naskhi legend.
Note: Courtesy Richard Bilak collection.

Badr al-Din Lu'Lu' (1234 - 1259 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 631 (1233 / 1234 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 68
24 mm.
6.37 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Diademed classical head facing left, within beaded square. Naskhi legend.
Reverse: Four line central and marginal Naskhi legend. Traces of the undertype aligned 3h.
Note: Struck over S/S 67, Nasir al-Din Mahmud.

Badr al-Din Lu'Lu' (1234 - 1259 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 631 (1233 / 1234 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 68
25 mm.
6.73 gm.
Die position=7h
Obverse: Diademed classical head facing left, within beaded square. Naskhi legend.
Reverse: Four line central and marginal Naskhi legend.
Note: Struck over S/S 67 (?).

S/S 69

S/S 70

Badr al-Din Lu'Lu' (1234 - 1259 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 649 (1251 / 1252 AD), al Jazira mint
S/S 70
25 mm.
9.86 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Four line Kufic legend; marginal legend.
Reverse: Four line Kufic legend; marginal legend.

Badr al-Din Lu'Lu' (1234 - 1259 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 649 (1251 / 1252 AD), al Jazira mint
S/S 70
27 x 28 mm.
8.24 gm.
Die position=8h
Obverse: Four line Kufic legend; marginal legend.
Reverse: Four line Kufic legend; marginal legend.
Note: Courtesy Richard Bilak collection.

Badr al-Din Lu'Lu' (1234 - 1259 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 649 (1251 / 1252 AD), al Jazira mint
S/S 70
27 mm.
7.82 gm.
Die position=8h
Obverse: Four line Kufic legend; marginal legend.
Reverse: Four line Kufic legend; marginal legend.

Badr al-Din Lu'Lu' (1234 - 1259 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 649 (1251 / 1252 AD), al Jazira mint
S/S 70
27 x 26 mm.
9.75 gm.
Die position=8h
Obverse: Four line Kufic legend; marginal legend.
Reverse: Four line Kufic legend; marginal legend.

S/S 71

Badr al-Din Lu'Lu' (1234 - 1259 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 654 or 657 (1256 - 1259 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 71 type
24 mm.
7.65 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Crowned Turkish female figure holding large crescent; legend giving mint and date. No stars to either side.
Reverse: Five line Naskhi legend; no ornament above the 's' in Rasul.
Note: Still working on the date...

Badr al-Din Lu'Lu' (1234 - 1259 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 654 or 657 (1256 - 1259 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 71 type
24 x 23 mm.
7.74 gm.
Die position=9h
Obverse: Crowned Turkish female figure holding large crescent; legend giving mint and date. No stars to either side.
Reverse: Five line Naskhi legend; no ornament above the 's' in Rasul.
Note: Still working on the date...

S/S 72

Badr al-Din Lu'Lu' (1234 - 1259 AD)
AE Dirham
AH 656 or 657 (1258 - 1259 AD), al Mawsil mint
S/S 72.2 or 3 type
24 mm.
7.40 gm.
Die position=7h
Obverse: Five line Kufic legend.
Reverse: Five line Kufic legend (short form).
Note: Struck over S/S 67.

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