Document Type : .

Authors

• Nasrin Mirakhorloo ¹
• Mahboubeh Sharafi ²

¹ PhD Student, of History, Islamic Azad University,Yadegar -e-Imam Khomeini(RAH)Shahre Rey Branch,, ,Tehran,Iran

² Associate Professor of History, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch,Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Coinage and monetary system during the decline of Ilkhanids and Timurids dynasties shows the continuity of Iranian bureaucracy with Turkish-Mongolian culture and tradition. Some components of this monetary system such as monetary units, titles, phrases and inscriptions have continued but some of them have changed and transformed. The present writing analyzes the signs of continuity and transformation of coinage system by a historical method based on a analytic-descriptive approach and using historical resources and available coins in museums and available pictures and catalogues and tries to answer the following question: given the analysis and comparison of the coins in these periods, how was the process of continuity and transformation and what changes were done in this system by actions of Sultans and kings? The research findings indicate that the coinage system in local governments of Togha Timur and Sarbedaran in eastern territory of Iran were continued based on gold, silver and copper; handwriting, character, titles, rites and names of four Ilkhanids caliphs were inserted like Sunni decoration. Except Ali Moayyed period in which most of writings, inscriptions and phrases of coins such as Oljaito coins were coined with Shiite decoration, using the names of 12 Imams and religious verses are considered as important characteristics of the coins in Ali Moayyed period. In coin system of Timurids, monetary units such as Dinar, Toman, Derham and Miri were continued as Ilkhanids period but monetary units such as Shahrokhi were common with different criteria. In case of using Turkish language with Persian and Arabic languages, some pictures and phrases were changed on the coins.

Keywords

• Timurids
• Coinage System
• Sarbedaran
• Togha Timur
• Continuity and Transformation

Extended Abstract

Continuity and Change in Coinage System from the Decline of Ilkhanids Dynasty to the end of Timurids Dynasty in Eastern Territory of Iran

In the time period between the death of Sultan Abu Saeed and Timur empire in eastern Iran, the competitors were in conflict with each other. They include the princes remained from Genghis Khan Dynasty, governors of local dynasties and affiliated groups of religious movements. In meantime, Tugha Timur governed in western Khorasan and Gorgan; Herat`s Kartids gained governance in northern Khorasan by increasing the influence on Sistan and Kerman; and Sarbedaran also governed in western Khorasan. The social and political changes in this period led to the invasion of Timur to eastern Iran.

Coinage system and monetary exchanges are considered as bureaucracy indicators in Timur period and before it. This system is a regular and common set of material, monetary units, titles motifs, geometric shapes, phrases and inscriptions used in the coins. The coinage system in the mentioned time period were based on metal coins of Ilkhanids period, but the phrases and texts of some coins made some changes in its structure and properties due to political relations between rulers and religious, economic and social conditions of the governments. In order to study the changes or continuity of coinage in this time period, it is necessary to know the process of continuity and change in calligraphy, language, motifs, weight, carat, phrases and slogans used on the coins of decline time of Ilkhanids by looking the Ilkhanids coins and then it is also necessary to compare and study changes in monetary units, language, motifs and other characteristics of coinage system after the defeat of local governments and establishment of Timurids government.

We assume that in decline time of both Ilkhanids and Timurids dynasties, coinage of metal coins with different weights were continued and religious and political legitimacy of rulers played kings played an important r in coinage system, while the religious attitude of societies were also considered and it is evident in different styles of coinage.

Research Background: In case of introduction and description of the coins in terms of weight, material, titles of kings, phrases, inscription and motifs, abundant data are shared. Also, some thematic studies in format of articles have compared and analyzed them. These articles include: "the study of religious policies of Sarbedaran (738-783A.H.)"; "numismatics in the time of Shah Sultan Husayn Bayqara in the historical territory of Great Khorasan (by emphasis on religious approach)"; coinage system and monetary exchanges in Timurids period in eastern territory of Iran". These articles also discuss in brief the historical course of governments. The thesis "change of motifs and religious rals of Iranian coins from Ilkhanids to Safavids periods about the roles of coins and religious approach" is considered as a model for how to perform a research, but in the mentioned researches, the issue of continuity and changes done in the coins in decline period of Ilkhanids and Timurids periods (in the eastern territory of Iran) is not death with comparatively and comprehensively.

The present research is based on a historical method, a analytic-descriptive approach and information of historical written books, pictures of the coins in catalogues and the works which deal with gathering the pictures of coins and also the coins maintained in museums. Therefore, the present writing at first tries to study the necessary data from the historiographical works and historical resources and coins and then to study the issue of continuity and changes resulting from coinage system and conditions of coins in this period.

Research Findings: coinage system of local governments of Timur and Sarbedaran were continued in eastern territory of Iran based on gold, silver and copper. In case of calligraphy, motifs, tles, some religious rituals and using the names of four Ilkhanids caliphs were inserted like Sunni decoration except Ali Moayyed period in which most of writings, inscriptions and phrases of coins such as Oljaito coins were coined with Shiite decoration. Using the names of 12 Imams and religious verses are considered as important characteristics of the coins in Ali Moayyed period. In coin system of Timurids, monetary units such as Dinar, Toman, Derham and Miri were continued as Ilkhanids period but monetary units such as Shahrokhi were common with different criteria. In case of using Turkish language with Persian and Arabic languages, some pictures and phrases were changed on the coins.