Silver Dirham of Seljuq of Rum Sultan Kaykhusraw II
Turkiye
ca. 1241-02
A silver Dirham coin issued by Sultan Ghiyas ad-Din Kayakhusraw II, the ruler of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. The obverse shows a Lion advancing to the right, accompanied by stars around it, and above which is a radiant sun with a human face. Above this is a legend referring to the Abbasid caliph in Baghdad 'Imam al-Musta'sim Bi'llah' (Reign: 1242-1258 CE). The coin's reverse bears inscriptions of Kayakhusraw II's titles in the centre, with the coin's minting place and date around the margin.
The sultanate of Rum got its name from a corruption of the word 'Rome,' as its territory in Asia Minor had been captured from the Byzantine Empire, then known as the Roman Empire.
Several theories have emerged to explain why the coin was minted with the imagery of the sun and lion. One contemporary account states that the sultan added this imagery to honour his beloved wife, Princess Rusudan, daughter of Queen Tamara of Georgia. Unable to depict her portrait on the coin, he instead chose to represent her zodiac sign, Leo. Another interpretation suggests that Rusudan is symbolised as the radiant sun, while Kaykhusraw II is portrayed as the powerful lion. Regardless of the interpretation, in the astrology of that era, the Sun in Leo symbolised both power and majesty.
Additional information
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