Subgroup: Georgian imitations to Arabic dirhems
Type: Subgroup: Georgian imitations to Arabic dirhems
Description, picture:
Silver.
Weights range from 1,2 to 2,78 gr. d=21-26 mm.
Obverse: Distorted Arabic legends, twofold linear circle or twofold circle of the dots.
Reverse: Distorted Arabic legends, and circle. Some scholars see there the Georgian letters too.
Silver.
Weights range from 1,2 to 2,78 gr. d=21-26 mm.
Obverse: Distorted Arabic legends, twofold linear circle or twofold circle of the dots.
Reverse: Distorted Arabic legends, and circle. Some scholars see there the Georgian letters too.
Scholarly commentary:
“Arabic dirhems struck at Tbilisi and their imitations” is the name of a coin group. The earliest among them are the Umayyad dirhems. Chronologically they are followed by ῾Abbāsid dirhems and dirhems of Ja῾farid emirs of Tbilisi. Then Georgian imitations to Arabic dirhems appeared.
The 7th c. important political changes in the Middle East had their impact on economy and money circulation. The Arabian Caliphate took control over Iran and the Eastern provinces of Byzantine Empire. From the first half of the 8th century Arabs became dominant in Georgia.
The first Arabic coin of Tbilisi mint was struck in A.H. 85 (=704), during the rule of ῾Abd al-Malik (685-705) and, as all other dirhems of Caliphate, it was also anonymous. Four samples of Umayyad dirhems of Tbilisi mint are known. One is kept in the Berlin Museum, next – in the National Museum of Qatar, third one – in the Ashmolean Museum, and fourth one – in the private collection. Hence in 704 Tbilisi was under Arabian control.
Obverse: Central Arabic legend in three lines:
لا اله الا/الله وحده/ لا شريك له
There is no god but Allāh alone, he has no associate.
Around:
بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بتفليس سنة خمس و ثمنين
In the name of Allāh, this dirhem was struck at Tbilisi in the year 85 (=704).
Threefold circle of the dots around.
Reverse: Central Arabic legend in four lines:
لله احد الله/ الصمد لم يلد/ و لم يولد و لم يكن/ له كفوا احد
He is Allāh the one, Allāh the Eternal. He begot no one, nor was he begotten. He has no associate.
Twofold circle of the dots and around:
محمد رسول الله ارسله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و لو كره المشر كون
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, to show that it is above all [other] religions, even though the idolaters hate it.
All agree that money issue at Tbilisi in the 8th c. was political gesture rather than economic measure. The coins were not proposed for intensive circulation.
After that Tbilisi mint was not active for almost 125 years.
According to data, Tbilisi mint became active again in A.H. 210 (=825/26). The first ῾Abbāsid dirhem of Tbilisi mint is dated by this year.
Obverse: Central Arabic legend in three lines:
لا اله الا/الله وحده/ لا شريك له
There is no god but Allāh alone, he has no associate.
Arabic legend around it:
بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بتفليس سنة عشر و مائتين
In the name of Allāh, this dirhem was struck at Tbilisi in the year 210 (=825/26).
Twofold circle of the dots.
Reverse: Central Arabic legend in three lines:
محمد/ رسول/ الله
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh.
Twofold circle of the dots and around:
محمد رسول الله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و لو كره المشر كون
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, to show that it is above all [other] religions, even though the idolaters hate it.
After that, during A.H. 211-247, more than 30 years passed and the coins of Tbilisi mint are still unknown. Further discoveries will reveal whether or not these circumstances are accidental.
Six specimens of ῾Abbāsid dirhems of Tbilisi mint struck in A.H. 248 (=862/63) are known: three of them are kept in the Hermitage, Saint-Petersburg, two – in the Moscow State Historical Museum and one is kept in Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia. Description of the coin is as follows:
Obverse: Central Arabic legend in three lines:
لا اله الا/الله وحده/ لا شريك له
There is no god but Allāh alone, he has no associate.
Arabic legend around it:
بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بتفليس سنة ثمان و اربعين و مائتين
In the name of Allāh, this dirhem was struck at Tbilisi in the year 248 (=862/63).
A linear circle and marginal legend:
لله الامر من قبل و من بعد و يوميذ يقرح المومنون بنصر الله
Allāh is in command, first and last. On that day the believers will rejoice at Allāh’s help.
Reverse: Central Arabic legend in five lines:
لله / محمد/ رسول/ لله/ المستعين بالله
To Allāh. Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh. al-Musta῾in bi-llāh.
Twofold linear circle around and the Arabic legend:
محمد رسول الله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و لو كره المشر كون
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, to show that it is above all [other] religions, even though the idolaters hate it.
After that the ῾Abbāsid dirhems of Tbilisi mint bear the name of Caliph. Date of issue is changed every time and the Islamic formulas are mainly repeated. The table below presents list of the principal issues struck in A.H. 249-335 in the name of the ῾Abbāsid Caliphs at Tbilisi mint.
Emir of Tbilisi was the governor who issued the coins in the name of ῾Abbāsid Caliphs. The office of emir was established in East Georgia from the mid-8th century. Three dynasties of Tbilisi emirs are known: Shu῾aybids, Shaybānids and Ja῾farids. The first two issued the coins only in the name of the Caliphs, that meant their complete loyalty to the central government.
The representatives of Ja῾farid dynasty struck the coins in their own name. Their dirhems show the date, when the struggle for the independence of Tbilisi emirate was finished; also – the genealogical tree of Ja῾farid dynasty (ex. names of Manṣūr ibn Ja῾far and Ja῾far ibn Manṣūr are known only from the coins).
Arabian dynasty of the Ja῾farids (Banū Ja῾far) was established approx. in the 80s of the 9th century and ruled Tbilisi for two centuries.
The first emir of the Ja῾farid dynasty striking coin is Manṣūr ibn Ja῾far.
Obverse: Central Arabic legend in three lines:
لا اله الا/الله وحده/ لا شريك له
There is no god but Allāh alone, he has no associate.
Around it:
بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بتفليس سنة اثنى و اربعين و ثلثمائة
In the name of Allāh, this dirhem was struck at Tbilisi in the year 342 (=953/54).
Marginal legend:
لله الامر من قبل و من بعد و يوميذ يقرح المومنون بنصر الله
Allāh is in command, first and last. On that day the believers will rejoice at Allāh’s help.
Twofold linear circle.
Reverse: Central Arabic legend in five lines:
لله/ محمد/رسول الله/ المطيع لله/ منصور بن جعفر
To Allāh. Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh. al-Muṭi῾ li-llāh. Manṣūr ibn Ja῾far.
Twofold linear circle, and Arabic legend outside it:
محمد رسول الله ارسله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و لو كره المشر كون
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, to show that it is above all [other] religions, even though the idolaters hate it.
The table below presents all the principal coin issues of A.H. 342-418, struck in the name of the Ja῾farid emirs of Tbilisi.
.
Probably, the coins were struck also by the feudal houses of Shida Kartli region in East Georgia. These coins are known as Georgian imitations to Arabic dirhems. Chronologically and typologically, these silver pieces are closely related to ῾Abbāsid and Ja῾farid dirhems of Tbilisi mint.
A large number of Georgian imitations to Arabic dirhems was found. Minor differences between those samples lead to general description.
Bagrat III’s (975-1014) coin also imitates the Arabic dirhems. This unique piece was found in 1863 in the surroundings of Tbilisi. It was bought by I. Bartholomei and sent to Hermitage. The description of this coin is as follows:
Half drama. Weight – 1,78 gr.
Obverse: Central Arabic legend in three lines:
لا اله الا/الله وحده/ لا شريك له
There is no god but Allāh alone, he has no associate.
Distorted Arabic legend around.
Reverse: Central Arabic legend:
محمد رسول الله
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, Georgian Asomtavruli legend in abbreviation aroud it: ႵႤႠႣႤႡႢႰႲႠႴႾႦႧႠႫႤႴႤ (Christ, exalt Bagrat, king of the Abkhasians).
In 975 Bagrat became king in Shida Kartli. In 978 he is also king of the Abkhasians (i.e. West Georgia). Bagrat left his mother, Gurandukht, in Kartli and himself moved to West Georgia. But when the king decided to return back, the local nobles tried to resist him. Bagrat III restored his rights in Kartli. It happened in 980. Perhaps, in the same year he issued his coin at his residence in Kartli – Uplistsikhe. If Bagrat struck the coin later, then he had to have the titles like Kuropalates, king of the Kartvelians, Ranians and Kakhetians (Rani and Kakheti are very Eastern provinces of Georgia).
The synthesis of the type (Arabic dirhem, popular in East Georgia) and legend (“... king of the Abkhasians...”, i.e. West Georgia) attests to political unity with Bagrat III as a king.
“Arabic dirhems struck at Tbilisi and their imitations” is the name of a coin group. The earliest among them are the Umayyad dirhems. Chronologically they are followed by ῾Abbāsid dirhems and dirhems of Ja῾farid emirs of Tbilisi. Then Georgian imitations to Arabic dirhems appeared.
The 7th c. important political changes in the Middle East had their impact on economy and money circulation. The Arabian Caliphate took control over Iran and the Eastern provinces of Byzantine Empire. From the first half of the 8th century Arabs became dominant in Georgia.
The first Arabic coin of Tbilisi mint was struck in A.H. 85 (=704), during the rule of ῾Abd al-Malik (685-705) and, as all other dirhems of Caliphate, it was also anonymous. Four samples of Umayyad dirhems of Tbilisi mint are known. One is kept in the Berlin Museum, next – in the National Museum of Qatar, third one – in the Ashmolean Museum, and fourth one – in the private collection. Hence in 704 Tbilisi was under Arabian control.
Obverse: Central Arabic legend in three lines:
لا اله الا/الله وحده/ لا شريك له
There is no god but Allāh alone, he has no associate.
Around:
بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بتفليس سنة خمس و ثمنين
In the name of Allāh, this dirhem was struck at Tbilisi in the year 85 (=704).
Threefold circle of the dots around.
Reverse: Central Arabic legend in four lines:
لله احد الله/ الصمد لم يلد/ و لم يولد و لم يكن/ له كفوا احد
He is Allāh the one, Allāh the Eternal. He begot no one, nor was he begotten. He has no associate.
Twofold circle of the dots and around:
محمد رسول الله ارسله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و لو كره المشر كون
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, to show that it is above all [other] religions, even though the idolaters hate it.
All agree that money issue at Tbilisi in the 8th c. was political gesture rather than economic measure. The coins were not proposed for intensive circulation.
After that Tbilisi mint was not active for almost 125 years.
According to data, Tbilisi mint became active again in A.H. 210 (=825/26). The first ῾Abbāsid dirhem of Tbilisi mint is dated by this year.
Obverse: Central Arabic legend in three lines:
لا اله الا/الله وحده/ لا شريك له
There is no god but Allāh alone, he has no associate.
Arabic legend around it:
بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بتفليس سنة عشر و مائتين
In the name of Allāh, this dirhem was struck at Tbilisi in the year 210 (=825/26).
Twofold circle of the dots.
Reverse: Central Arabic legend in three lines:
محمد/ رسول/ الله
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh.
Twofold circle of the dots and around:
محمد رسول الله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و لو كره المشر كون
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, to show that it is above all [other] religions, even though the idolaters hate it.
After that, during A.H. 211-247, more than 30 years passed and the coins of Tbilisi mint are still unknown. Further discoveries will reveal whether or not these circumstances are accidental.
Six specimens of ῾Abbāsid dirhems of Tbilisi mint struck in A.H. 248 (=862/63) are known: three of them are kept in the Hermitage, Saint-Petersburg, two – in the Moscow State Historical Museum and one is kept in Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia. Description of the coin is as follows:
Obverse: Central Arabic legend in three lines:
لا اله الا/الله وحده/ لا شريك له
There is no god but Allāh alone, he has no associate.
Arabic legend around it:
بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بتفليس سنة ثمان و اربعين و مائتين
In the name of Allāh, this dirhem was struck at Tbilisi in the year 248 (=862/63).
A linear circle and marginal legend:
لله الامر من قبل و من بعد و يوميذ يقرح المومنون بنصر الله
Allāh is in command, first and last. On that day the believers will rejoice at Allāh’s help.
Reverse: Central Arabic legend in five lines:
لله / محمد/ رسول/ لله/ المستعين بالله
To Allāh. Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh. al-Musta῾in bi-llāh.
Twofold linear circle around and the Arabic legend:
محمد رسول الله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و لو كره المشر كون
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, to show that it is above all [other] religions, even though the idolaters hate it.
After that the ῾Abbāsid dirhems of Tbilisi mint bear the name of Caliph. Date of issue is changed every time and the Islamic formulas are mainly repeated. The table below presents list of the principal issues struck in A.H. 249-335 in the name of the ῾Abbāsid Caliphs at Tbilisi mint.
| Caliph | Weight | Size | Metal | Date |
| al-Musta῾in bi-llāh | 3,06 gr. | silver | A.H. 249 (=863/64) | |
| al-Musta῾in bi-llāh | silver | A.H. 250 (=864/65) | ||
| al-Mu῾taḍid bi-llāh | silver | A.H. 287 (=900) | ||
| al-Muktafı bi-llāh | ≈2,96-3,62 gr. | d≈25 mm. | silver | A.H. 294 (=906/7) |
| al-Muḳtadir bi-llāh and Abuʾl-῾Abbās | 3,3 gr. | d=26-27 mm. | silver | A.H. 297 (=909/10) |
| al-Muḳtadir bi-llāh and [Abuʾl-῾Abbās] | 3,24 gr. | d=26-27 mm. | silver | A.H. 298 (=910/11) |
| Without description | 3,2 gr. | d=23 mm. | silver | A.H. 304? (=916/17) |
| Without description | silver | A.H. 306 (=918/19) | ||
| al-Muḳtadir bi-llāh and Abuʾl-῾Abbās | d≈24 mm. | silver | A.H. 307 (=919/20) | |
| al-Muḳtadir bi-llāh | 2,90- 2,95 gr. | d≈23,5 mm. | silver | A.H. 311 (=923/24) |
| al-Muḳtadir bi-llāh | 2,06-3,43 gr. | d≈23-24 mm. | silver | A.H. 312 (=924/25) |
| Without description | silver | A.H. 314 (=926/27) | ||
| Without description | silver | A.H. 321 (=932/33) | ||
| al-Rāḍi bi-llāh | silver | A.H. 323 (=934/35) | ||
| al-Muttaki li-llāh | d≈24 mm. | silver | A.H. 330 (=941/42) | |
| al-Muttaki li-llāh | 2,75-2,85 gr. | d≈25 mm. | silver | A.H. 331(=942/43) |
| Without description | silver | A.H. 332 (=943/44) | ||
| al-Mustakfi bi-llāh | silver | A.H. 333/4 (=944/46) | ||
| al-Muṭi῾ li-llāh | silver | A.H. 335(=946/47) | ||
Emir of Tbilisi was the governor who issued the coins in the name of ῾Abbāsid Caliphs. The office of emir was established in East Georgia from the mid-8th century. Three dynasties of Tbilisi emirs are known: Shu῾aybids, Shaybānids and Ja῾farids. The first two issued the coins only in the name of the Caliphs, that meant their complete loyalty to the central government.
The representatives of Ja῾farid dynasty struck the coins in their own name. Their dirhems show the date, when the struggle for the independence of Tbilisi emirate was finished; also – the genealogical tree of Ja῾farid dynasty (ex. names of Manṣūr ibn Ja῾far and Ja῾far ibn Manṣūr are known only from the coins).
Arabian dynasty of the Ja῾farids (Banū Ja῾far) was established approx. in the 80s of the 9th century and ruled Tbilisi for two centuries.
The first emir of the Ja῾farid dynasty striking coin is Manṣūr ibn Ja῾far.
Obverse: Central Arabic legend in three lines:
لا اله الا/الله وحده/ لا شريك له
There is no god but Allāh alone, he has no associate.
Around it:
بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بتفليس سنة اثنى و اربعين و ثلثمائة
In the name of Allāh, this dirhem was struck at Tbilisi in the year 342 (=953/54).
Marginal legend:
لله الامر من قبل و من بعد و يوميذ يقرح المومنون بنصر الله
Allāh is in command, first and last. On that day the believers will rejoice at Allāh’s help.
Twofold linear circle.
Reverse: Central Arabic legend in five lines:
لله/ محمد/رسول الله/ المطيع لله/ منصور بن جعفر
To Allāh. Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh. al-Muṭi῾ li-llāh. Manṣūr ibn Ja῾far.
Twofold linear circle, and Arabic legend outside it:
محمد رسول الله ارسله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و لو كره المشر كون
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, to show that it is above all [other] religions, even though the idolaters hate it.
The table below presents all the principal coin issues of A.H. 342-418, struck in the name of the Ja῾farid emirs of Tbilisi.
.
| Caliph; Emir | Weight | Size | Metal | Date |
| al-Muṭi῾ li-llāh; Manṣūr ibn Ja῾far | 3,53 gr. | d=29-31 mm. | silver | A.H. 342 (=953/54) |
| al-Muṭi῾ li-llāh; Manṣūr ibn Ja῾far | ≈2,5-3,12 gr. | d≈30-31 mm. | silver | A.H. 343 (=954/55) |
| at-Ṭāʾi῾ li-llāh; Ja῾far ibn Manṣūr | 2,76-3,51 gr. | d≈28 mm. | silver | A.H. 364 (=974/75) |
| at-Ṭāʾi῾ li-llāh; Ja῾far ibn Manṣūr | 2,67 gr. | d=29 mm. | silver | A.H. 366 (=976/77) |
| at-Ṭāʾi῾ li-llāh; Ja῾far ibn Manṣūr | ≈2,18 gr. | d≈19-20 mm. | silver | A.H. 367 (=977/78) |
| at-Ṭāʾi῾ li-llāh; Ja῾far ibn Manṣūr | 2,10-3,04 gr. | d=26-28 mm. | silver | A.H. 370 (=980/81) |
| at-Ṭāʾi῾ li-llāh; ῾Ali ibn Ja῾far | ≈3,84-4,62 gr. | d≈27-28 mm. | silver | A.H. 386 (=996/97) |
| al-Ḳādir bi-llāh; ῾Ali ibn Ja῾far | 4,12 gr. | d=23 mm. | silver | A.H. 394 (=1003/4) or A.H. 404 (=1013/14 |
| al-Ḳādir bi-llāh; ῾Ali ibn Ja῾far | ≈3,4-5,29 gr. | d≈22-28 mm. | silver plated | A.H. 413 (=1022/23) |
| al-Ḳādir bi-llāh; ῾Ali ibn Ja῾far | ≈3,94-6,36 gr. | d≈23-27 mm. | silver plated | A.H. 418 (=1027/28) |
Probably, the coins were struck also by the feudal houses of Shida Kartli region in East Georgia. These coins are known as Georgian imitations to Arabic dirhems. Chronologically and typologically, these silver pieces are closely related to ῾Abbāsid and Ja῾farid dirhems of Tbilisi mint.
A large number of Georgian imitations to Arabic dirhems was found. Minor differences between those samples lead to general description.
Bagrat III’s (975-1014) coin also imitates the Arabic dirhems. This unique piece was found in 1863 in the surroundings of Tbilisi. It was bought by I. Bartholomei and sent to Hermitage. The description of this coin is as follows:
Half drama. Weight – 1,78 gr.
Obverse: Central Arabic legend in three lines:
لا اله الا/الله وحده/ لا شريك له
There is no god but Allāh alone, he has no associate.
Distorted Arabic legend around.
Reverse: Central Arabic legend:
محمد رسول الله
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, Georgian Asomtavruli legend in abbreviation aroud it: ႵႤႠႣႤႡႢႰႲႠႴႾႦႧႠႫႤႴႤ (Christ, exalt Bagrat, king of the Abkhasians).
In 975 Bagrat became king in Shida Kartli. In 978 he is also king of the Abkhasians (i.e. West Georgia). Bagrat left his mother, Gurandukht, in Kartli and himself moved to West Georgia. But when the king decided to return back, the local nobles tried to resist him. Bagrat III restored his rights in Kartli. It happened in 980. Perhaps, in the same year he issued his coin at his residence in Kartli – Uplistsikhe. If Bagrat struck the coin later, then he had to have the titles like Kuropalates, king of the Kartvelians, Ranians and Kakhetians (Rani and Kakheti are very Eastern provinces of Georgia).
The synthesis of the type (Arabic dirhem, popular in East Georgia) and legend (“... king of the Abkhasians...”, i.e. West Georgia) attests to political unity with Bagrat III as a king.
Mint: Unknown.
Nominal: Half dirhem (?), dirhem.
Date: Second half of 10th c. (?).
Collection: Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia – 1 sample; Sokhumi Museum – 105 samples, №№2-106; Hermitage – 12 samples, №1271, №1364, №№11614-11616, №№14210-14216; Collection of American Numismatic Society – 3 samples.
Bibliography:
M. Antadze. Kvakhvreli Hoard. Bulletin (“Moambe”) of State Museum of Georgia. Vol. XXXVIII. Tb. 1986 (in Georg.).
G. Dundua. Money in Georgia (Georg. and Engl. parallel texts) Tb. 2003 (2nd Edition) (T. Dundua, N. Javakhishvili and A. Eristavi as co-authors); Georgian Numismatics. I. Tb. 2006 (T. Dundua as co-author) (in Georg.); Georgian Numismatic Dictionary. Tb. 2009 (Ir. Jalaghania as co-author) (in Georg.).
T. Dundua. 10th-12th cc. Georgian Coins and Some Issues of the Georgian History. Proceedings of Tbilisi State University (History, Archaeology, Art History and Ethnography). Vol. 310. Tb. 1992 (in Georg.); Georgia and the West According to Numismatic Material. Books I-II. Tb. 1995 (in Georg.); Georgian Ethnocultural Evolution and the West According to Numismatic Material. Tb. 1997 (in Georg.).
Ir. Jalaghania. Topography of the Kufic Coins in Georgia. Tb. 1972 (in Georg.); Monetary Hoards of Georgia. I. Tb. 1976 (in Georg.).
G. Japaridze. Mints of ῾Abbāsid Caliphate. Essays on Social-Economic History of the Middle East – Selected Articles. Tb. 1968 (in Georg.); Essays on History of Georgian Metrology (9th-19th cc.). Tb. 1973 (in Georg.); Coins of ῾Ali ibn Ja῾far, Emir of Tbilisi. Problems of Transcaucasian History – Selected Articles. Tb. 1991 (in Georg.).
D. Kapanadze. 10th c. Dirhem of Tbilisi Mint Struck by ῾Ali b. Ja῾far. Bulletin (“Moambe”) of State Museum of Georgia. Vol. XII. Tb. 1944 (in Georg.); New Data of the Georgian Numismatics. Issues of History of Caucasian Nations – Selected Articles. Tb. 1966 (in Georg.); Georgian Numismatics. Tb. 1969 (in Georg.).
М. П. Баратаев. Нумизматические факты Грузинского царства. 1844.
И. Л. Джалаганиа. Иноземная монета в денежном обращении Грузии V-XIII вв. Тб. 1979; Клад подражаний арабским дирхемам из Цебельды. Археологические исследования в Цебельде (результаты раскопок 1977 г.). Тб. 1983 (O. Bgazhba and Y. Voronov as co-authors).
Д. Г. Капанадзе. Грузинская нумизматика. М. 1955; Клад монет начала ХI в. Тбилисского эмира Али ибн Джафара. Эпиграфика Востока. Т. ХIV. 1961.
Е. А. Пахомов. Монеты Грузии. ч. I. СПб. 1910; Монеты Грузии. ч. I-II. Тб. 1970; Монетные клады Азербайджана и других республик, краев и областей Кавказа. Вып. I-IX. Баку. 1926-66.
T. Dundua. Georgia within the European Integration as Seen in Coinage Catalogue of Georgian Coins. Tb. 1999.
M. G. Klat. Catalogue of the Post-Reform Dirhams: the Umayyad Dynasty. London. 2002.
D. M. Lang. Studies in the Numismatic History of Georgia in Transcaucasia. New York. 1955.
V. Langlois. Essai de classification des suites monétaires de la Géorgie depuis l`antiquité jusqu`à nos jours. Paris. 1860.
N. D. Nicol. Sylloge of Islamic Coins in the Ashmolean. Vol. 2. Early Post-Reform Coinage. Oxford. 2009.
M. Antadze. Kvakhvreli Hoard. Bulletin (“Moambe”) of State Museum of Georgia. Vol. XXXVIII. Tb. 1986 (in Georg.).
G. Dundua. Money in Georgia (Georg. and Engl. parallel texts) Tb. 2003 (2nd Edition) (T. Dundua, N. Javakhishvili and A. Eristavi as co-authors); Georgian Numismatics. I. Tb. 2006 (T. Dundua as co-author) (in Georg.); Georgian Numismatic Dictionary. Tb. 2009 (Ir. Jalaghania as co-author) (in Georg.).
T. Dundua. 10th-12th cc. Georgian Coins and Some Issues of the Georgian History. Proceedings of Tbilisi State University (History, Archaeology, Art History and Ethnography). Vol. 310. Tb. 1992 (in Georg.); Georgia and the West According to Numismatic Material. Books I-II. Tb. 1995 (in Georg.); Georgian Ethnocultural Evolution and the West According to Numismatic Material. Tb. 1997 (in Georg.).
Ir. Jalaghania. Topography of the Kufic Coins in Georgia. Tb. 1972 (in Georg.); Monetary Hoards of Georgia. I. Tb. 1976 (in Georg.).
G. Japaridze. Mints of ῾Abbāsid Caliphate. Essays on Social-Economic History of the Middle East – Selected Articles. Tb. 1968 (in Georg.); Essays on History of Georgian Metrology (9th-19th cc.). Tb. 1973 (in Georg.); Coins of ῾Ali ibn Ja῾far, Emir of Tbilisi. Problems of Transcaucasian History – Selected Articles. Tb. 1991 (in Georg.).
D. Kapanadze. 10th c. Dirhem of Tbilisi Mint Struck by ῾Ali b. Ja῾far. Bulletin (“Moambe”) of State Museum of Georgia. Vol. XII. Tb. 1944 (in Georg.); New Data of the Georgian Numismatics. Issues of History of Caucasian Nations – Selected Articles. Tb. 1966 (in Georg.); Georgian Numismatics. Tb. 1969 (in Georg.).
М. П. Баратаев. Нумизматические факты Грузинского царства. 1844.
И. Л. Джалаганиа. Иноземная монета в денежном обращении Грузии V-XIII вв. Тб. 1979; Клад подражаний арабским дирхемам из Цебельды. Археологические исследования в Цебельде (результаты раскопок 1977 г.). Тб. 1983 (O. Bgazhba and Y. Voronov as co-authors).
Д. Г. Капанадзе. Грузинская нумизматика. М. 1955; Клад монет начала ХI в. Тбилисского эмира Али ибн Джафара. Эпиграфика Востока. Т. ХIV. 1961.
Е. А. Пахомов. Монеты Грузии. ч. I. СПб. 1910; Монеты Грузии. ч. I-II. Тб. 1970; Монетные клады Азербайджана и других республик, краев и областей Кавказа. Вып. I-IX. Баку. 1926-66.
T. Dundua. Georgia within the European Integration as Seen in Coinage Catalogue of Georgian Coins. Tb. 1999.
M. G. Klat. Catalogue of the Post-Reform Dirhams: the Umayyad Dynasty. London. 2002.
D. M. Lang. Studies in the Numismatic History of Georgia in Transcaucasia. New York. 1955.
V. Langlois. Essai de classification des suites monétaires de la Géorgie depuis l`antiquité jusqu`à nos jours. Paris. 1860.
N. D. Nicol. Sylloge of Islamic Coins in the Ashmolean. Vol. 2. Early Post-Reform Coinage. Oxford. 2009.
Imported coins found in Georgia:
The 7th-10th cc. foreign coins from East Georgia
1. In 1960 in Akhmeta district (Bakhtrioni mountain) Khusrau II’s (591-628) Sassanian drachm was found together with 8th c. Arabic dirhems.
2. In 1937 in Pshavela village (Telavi district) hoard of Kufic coins (150 samples) was discovered including also the following coins: Khusrau II’s coin and, one more, Arab-Sassanian coin struck in 672. The latest coin from this hoard was issued in 807/8, hence the hoard was buried in the beginning of the 9th c.
3. In 1962 in Mtisdziri village (Kvareli district) hoard of 8th-9th cc. Arabic coins (300 samples) was found including the Sassanian drachms, one belongs to Ohrmazd IV (579-589) and another – to Khusrau II. The chronological frame of the hoard is the end of the 6th c.-the first quarter of the 9th c.
4. In 1924 in Leliani village (Lagodekhi district) hoard of 171 silver coins was discovered. Together with Kufic money, it includes the following coins: a) Khusrau II’s drachm; b) Arab-Sassanian dirhem of the end of the 7th c. and c) six coins struck in the province of Tabaristan.
5. In 1921 near Kavshiri village (Lagodekhi district) hoard of Sassanian and Kufic silver coins (only 38 samples are preserved) was found. It includes: a) Khusrau II’s drachm and b) dirhem struck in Tabaristan in the 8th c.
6. In 1924 near Apheni village (Lagodekhi district) hoard of the Sassanian and Kufic coins was found (394 samples). The hoard is mixed and it contains: a) Ohrmazd IV’s drachm – 1 sample; b) Khusrau II’s drachms – 16 samples; c) Arab-Sassanian dirhems issued in the 7th-8th cc. – 20 samples. The earliest coin from the hoard belongs to the period of Ohrmazd IV and the latest one was issued in A.H. 218 (833/34).
7. In 1949 in Diliphi (Dlivi) village (former Bogdanovka, nowadays Ninotsminda district) hoard of the Kufic coins was found (hoard was dispersed, only 14 samples and 19 fragments are preserved). It includes also: a) Khusrau II’s drachm and b) two Arab-Sassanian dirhems struck in the 8th c. The chronological frame of the hoard is 620-833/34.
8. In 1900 in Chikaani village (Kvareli district) hoard was found, but majority of the coins were dispersed (only 11 samples are preserved). The surviving part consists also of the following coins: a) Khusrau II’s drachm and b) Tabaristanian silver coin issued in 778; the earliest coin of the hoard was struck in 591 and the latest one – in 861/62.
9. In 1960 in Pichkhovani village (Akhmeta district) hoard of Kufic coins (108 samples) was found. It consists of the following coins too: a) Khusrau II’s drachm – 1 sample and b) Arab-Sassanian coins issued in the 7th-8th cc. – 2 samples; among the coins of the hoard the earliest one was issued in 590, and the latest one – not later than 901/2. The hoard was buried in the first quarter of the 10th c.
10. In 1924 during the construction of Zemoavchala power station at the Kura river, among the other Kufic coins, the rare Umayyad dirhem was discovered, dated by 700/1.
11. In 1963 in Mtskheta near the Cross monastery Umayyad dirhem of 717/18 was found.
12. In 1937 in the outskirts of Lagodekhi Umayyad silver coin dated by 718/19 was found.
13. In 1964 in Mataani village (Akhmeta district) two Umayyad dirhems dated by 718/19 or 721/22 were found.
14. In the second quarter of the 19th c. in the outskirts of Tbilisi Umayyad dirhems were discovered, one was issued in 721/22.
15. Pshaveli hoard (see №2) consists of the following Kufic coins: Umayyad dirhems of the mid-8th century – 4 samples, dirhem of Umayyads in Spain – 1 sample (770/71), ῾Abbāsid dirhems – 118 samples, Aghlabid dirhems of the 8th-9th cc. – 2 samples (802, 804/5). The latest coin of this hoard was issued by Caliph Hārūn al-Rashid (786-809) in 807/8.
16. Mtisdziri hoard (see №3) consists of Umayyad coins (the 8th c.) – 15 samples, coins of the Umayyads in Spain (782/83) – 1 sample; the bulk of this hoard are the ῾Abbāsid dirhems of the 8th-9th cc. – 282 samples. The latest coin was struck in 819/20.
17. Leliani hoard (see №4) consists of 12 Umayyad dirhems of the 8th c. and ῾Abbāsid silver coins, the latest one is dated by 819.
18. Kavshiri hoard (see №5) includes Umayyad coins of the first half of the 8th c. – 7 samples and the ῾Abbāsid dirhems. The latest coin of the hoard is dated by 828/29.
19. The most of the coins of Apheni hoard (see №6) were issued in the name of Caliph Hārūn al-Rashid (786-809). The hoard was buried after 833/34.
20. Diliphi (Dlivi) hoard (see №7) consists of the Umayyad dirhems – 5 samples and ῾Abbāsid dirhems – 25 samples. The latest one was struck in 833/34.
21. 11 samples are known from Chikaani hoard (see №8), 5 are the ῾Abbāsid dirhems. The latest one was issued in 861/62.
22. Pichkhovani hoard (see №9) consists of the Umayyad coins – 8 samples, coins of the Umayyads in Spain – 1 sample (785-86), coins of the Idrisids – 2 samples and 90 ῾Abbāsid dirhems. The latest coin from this hoard was struck not later than 901/2.
23. In 1857 in Borchalo district of Tbilisi governorate Kufic dirhems (about 200 samples) were discovered. Chronological frame for this hoard is the last quarter of the 9th c.-the first half of the 10th c. Hence, this is one of the latest hoards of the Arabic money discovered in Georgia.
24. In 1961 on the territory of Tbilisi botanical garden hoard was discovered consisting of small fragments of the Kufic coins with total weight 428,16 gr. (several samples are well preserved). Some were identified as: a) fragment of the coin of Byzantine Emperor John Tzimisces (969-976); b) ῾Abbāsid coins issued in 939/40 – 2 samples, fragment of the ῾Abbāsid dirhem dated by 990/91; c) coin of Ja῾far ibn Manṣūr issued in 977/78. The date for the hoard burial seems to be end of 10th c.-the beginning of the 11th c. This hoard of the Kufic coins is the latest one for Georgia.
1. Tiberius III Apsimar’s (698-705) coin was found in Bichvinta.
2. Coin of the same Emperor was found in the ruins of Sokhumi fortress.
3. Constantine V’s (741-775) and his son Leo’s coin was discovered in the outskirts of Gudauta.
4. Leo V’s (813-820) copper coin was found in Kobuleti.
5. Theophilus’ (829-842) copper coin was discovered in Bobokvati (Kobuleti district).
6. Coin of the same Emperor was found in Kobuleti.
7. Basil I’s (867-886) and Basil I and Constantine’s two copper coins were found in Bobokvati.
8. Leo VI’s (886-912) several silver coins were discovered in Opiza (Batumi district).
9. Leo VI’s two copper coins were among other coins in the hoard found in Ochamchire, which seems to be a result of mixture of several monetary complexes.
10. Copper coin of the same Emperor was found in Psirtskha village (Gudauta district).
11. Copper coin of the same Emperor was found in Tsikhisdziri.
12. Copper coin of the same Emperor was found in Kobuleti.
13. Copper coin of the same Emperor was found in Bobokvati.
14. Copper coin of the same Emperor was found in Sokhumi.
15. In the “hoard” discovered in 1903 in Ochamchire there was Constantine VII’s (913-959) copper coin.
16. On the Mount Iveria (Akhali Atoni, Gudauta district) Constantine VII’s copper coin was discovered.
17. In 1902 in Kobuleti outskirts Constantine VII’s copper coin was found.
18. In 1926 in Kobuleti Romanus I’s (920-944) copper coin was discovered.
19. In 1962-1963 in Bobokvati Romanus I’s two copper coins were discovered.
20. Found in 1903 Ochamchire “hoard” contains Romanus I’s two copper coins.
21. In 1956 in Bobokvati village Constantine VII’s and Romanus I’s copper coin was found.
22. In 1930 in Tsikhisdziri John Tzimisces’ (969-976) copper coin was found.
23. In 1958 in Akhali Atoni John Tzimisces’ copper money was discovered.
24. Copper coin of the same Emperor was found in Bobokvati.
25. In 1962-1963 in Bobokvati John Tzimisces’ copper coin was found.
26. Found in 1903 the “hoard” of Ochamchire contains three copper coins of John Tzimisces.
27. In Kldeeti village (Zestaponi district) John Tzimisces’ copper coin was found.
28. In 1957-1958 on the territory of Anakopia fortress (Akhali Atoni) 13 copper coins of the first half of the 10th c. were discovered.
29. Romanus I’s two folles were found in Sokhumi and also – John Tzimisces’ copper coin.
30. In 1935 in Akhali Atoni John Tzimisces’ copper coin was discovered.
31. In Achandara village (Gudauta district) coin of the same Emperor was discovered.
32. In 1955 in Sokhumi Constantine VII’s two and John Tzimisces’ five copper coins were found.
33. In 1950 in Merdjevi village (Sachkhere district) Umayyad dirhem dated by 718/19 was discovered.
34. In 1965 in Savane village (Sachkhere district), at the “Alavidze quarter”, during the cultivation of the land, clay vessel with the silver coins was found. Only 68 samples are preserved. One is Umayyad dirhem and the rest are the ῾Abbāsid dirhems. The chronological frame for the coins is 740/41-792/93.
The 7th-10th cc. foreign coins from East Georgia
1. In 1960 in Akhmeta district (Bakhtrioni mountain) Khusrau II’s (591-628) Sassanian drachm was found together with 8th c. Arabic dirhems.
2. In 1937 in Pshavela village (Telavi district) hoard of Kufic coins (150 samples) was discovered including also the following coins: Khusrau II’s coin and, one more, Arab-Sassanian coin struck in 672. The latest coin from this hoard was issued in 807/8, hence the hoard was buried in the beginning of the 9th c.
3. In 1962 in Mtisdziri village (Kvareli district) hoard of 8th-9th cc. Arabic coins (300 samples) was found including the Sassanian drachms, one belongs to Ohrmazd IV (579-589) and another – to Khusrau II. The chronological frame of the hoard is the end of the 6th c.-the first quarter of the 9th c.
4. In 1924 in Leliani village (Lagodekhi district) hoard of 171 silver coins was discovered. Together with Kufic money, it includes the following coins: a) Khusrau II’s drachm; b) Arab-Sassanian dirhem of the end of the 7th c. and c) six coins struck in the province of Tabaristan.
5. In 1921 near Kavshiri village (Lagodekhi district) hoard of Sassanian and Kufic silver coins (only 38 samples are preserved) was found. It includes: a) Khusrau II’s drachm and b) dirhem struck in Tabaristan in the 8th c.
6. In 1924 near Apheni village (Lagodekhi district) hoard of the Sassanian and Kufic coins was found (394 samples). The hoard is mixed and it contains: a) Ohrmazd IV’s drachm – 1 sample; b) Khusrau II’s drachms – 16 samples; c) Arab-Sassanian dirhems issued in the 7th-8th cc. – 20 samples. The earliest coin from the hoard belongs to the period of Ohrmazd IV and the latest one was issued in A.H. 218 (833/34).
7. In 1949 in Diliphi (Dlivi) village (former Bogdanovka, nowadays Ninotsminda district) hoard of the Kufic coins was found (hoard was dispersed, only 14 samples and 19 fragments are preserved). It includes also: a) Khusrau II’s drachm and b) two Arab-Sassanian dirhems struck in the 8th c. The chronological frame of the hoard is 620-833/34.
8. In 1900 in Chikaani village (Kvareli district) hoard was found, but majority of the coins were dispersed (only 11 samples are preserved). The surviving part consists also of the following coins: a) Khusrau II’s drachm and b) Tabaristanian silver coin issued in 778; the earliest coin of the hoard was struck in 591 and the latest one – in 861/62.
9. In 1960 in Pichkhovani village (Akhmeta district) hoard of Kufic coins (108 samples) was found. It consists of the following coins too: a) Khusrau II’s drachm – 1 sample and b) Arab-Sassanian coins issued in the 7th-8th cc. – 2 samples; among the coins of the hoard the earliest one was issued in 590, and the latest one – not later than 901/2. The hoard was buried in the first quarter of the 10th c.
10. In 1924 during the construction of Zemoavchala power station at the Kura river, among the other Kufic coins, the rare Umayyad dirhem was discovered, dated by 700/1.
11. In 1963 in Mtskheta near the Cross monastery Umayyad dirhem of 717/18 was found.
12. In 1937 in the outskirts of Lagodekhi Umayyad silver coin dated by 718/19 was found.
13. In 1964 in Mataani village (Akhmeta district) two Umayyad dirhems dated by 718/19 or 721/22 were found.
14. In the second quarter of the 19th c. in the outskirts of Tbilisi Umayyad dirhems were discovered, one was issued in 721/22.
15. Pshaveli hoard (see №2) consists of the following Kufic coins: Umayyad dirhems of the mid-8th century – 4 samples, dirhem of Umayyads in Spain – 1 sample (770/71), ῾Abbāsid dirhems – 118 samples, Aghlabid dirhems of the 8th-9th cc. – 2 samples (802, 804/5). The latest coin of this hoard was issued by Caliph Hārūn al-Rashid (786-809) in 807/8.
16. Mtisdziri hoard (see №3) consists of Umayyad coins (the 8th c.) – 15 samples, coins of the Umayyads in Spain (782/83) – 1 sample; the bulk of this hoard are the ῾Abbāsid dirhems of the 8th-9th cc. – 282 samples. The latest coin was struck in 819/20.
17. Leliani hoard (see №4) consists of 12 Umayyad dirhems of the 8th c. and ῾Abbāsid silver coins, the latest one is dated by 819.
18. Kavshiri hoard (see №5) includes Umayyad coins of the first half of the 8th c. – 7 samples and the ῾Abbāsid dirhems. The latest coin of the hoard is dated by 828/29.
19. The most of the coins of Apheni hoard (see №6) were issued in the name of Caliph Hārūn al-Rashid (786-809). The hoard was buried after 833/34.
20. Diliphi (Dlivi) hoard (see №7) consists of the Umayyad dirhems – 5 samples and ῾Abbāsid dirhems – 25 samples. The latest one was struck in 833/34.
21. 11 samples are known from Chikaani hoard (see №8), 5 are the ῾Abbāsid dirhems. The latest one was issued in 861/62.
22. Pichkhovani hoard (see №9) consists of the Umayyad coins – 8 samples, coins of the Umayyads in Spain – 1 sample (785-86), coins of the Idrisids – 2 samples and 90 ῾Abbāsid dirhems. The latest coin from this hoard was struck not later than 901/2.
23. In 1857 in Borchalo district of Tbilisi governorate Kufic dirhems (about 200 samples) were discovered. Chronological frame for this hoard is the last quarter of the 9th c.-the first half of the 10th c. Hence, this is one of the latest hoards of the Arabic money discovered in Georgia.
24. In 1961 on the territory of Tbilisi botanical garden hoard was discovered consisting of small fragments of the Kufic coins with total weight 428,16 gr. (several samples are well preserved). Some were identified as: a) fragment of the coin of Byzantine Emperor John Tzimisces (969-976); b) ῾Abbāsid coins issued in 939/40 – 2 samples, fragment of the ῾Abbāsid dirhem dated by 990/91; c) coin of Ja῾far ibn Manṣūr issued in 977/78. The date for the hoard burial seems to be end of 10th c.-the beginning of the 11th c. This hoard of the Kufic coins is the latest one for Georgia.
The 8th-10th cc. Foreign Coins from West Georgia
1. Tiberius III Apsimar’s (698-705) coin was found in Bichvinta.
2. Coin of the same Emperor was found in the ruins of Sokhumi fortress.
3. Constantine V’s (741-775) and his son Leo’s coin was discovered in the outskirts of Gudauta.
4. Leo V’s (813-820) copper coin was found in Kobuleti.
5. Theophilus’ (829-842) copper coin was discovered in Bobokvati (Kobuleti district).
6. Coin of the same Emperor was found in Kobuleti.
7. Basil I’s (867-886) and Basil I and Constantine’s two copper coins were found in Bobokvati.
8. Leo VI’s (886-912) several silver coins were discovered in Opiza (Batumi district).
9. Leo VI’s two copper coins were among other coins in the hoard found in Ochamchire, which seems to be a result of mixture of several monetary complexes.
10. Copper coin of the same Emperor was found in Psirtskha village (Gudauta district).
11. Copper coin of the same Emperor was found in Tsikhisdziri.
12. Copper coin of the same Emperor was found in Kobuleti.
13. Copper coin of the same Emperor was found in Bobokvati.
14. Copper coin of the same Emperor was found in Sokhumi.
15. In the “hoard” discovered in 1903 in Ochamchire there was Constantine VII’s (913-959) copper coin.
16. On the Mount Iveria (Akhali Atoni, Gudauta district) Constantine VII’s copper coin was discovered.
17. In 1902 in Kobuleti outskirts Constantine VII’s copper coin was found.
18. In 1926 in Kobuleti Romanus I’s (920-944) copper coin was discovered.
19. In 1962-1963 in Bobokvati Romanus I’s two copper coins were discovered.
20. Found in 1903 Ochamchire “hoard” contains Romanus I’s two copper coins.
21. In 1956 in Bobokvati village Constantine VII’s and Romanus I’s copper coin was found.
22. In 1930 in Tsikhisdziri John Tzimisces’ (969-976) copper coin was found.
23. In 1958 in Akhali Atoni John Tzimisces’ copper money was discovered.
24. Copper coin of the same Emperor was found in Bobokvati.
25. In 1962-1963 in Bobokvati John Tzimisces’ copper coin was found.
26. Found in 1903 the “hoard” of Ochamchire contains three copper coins of John Tzimisces.
27. In Kldeeti village (Zestaponi district) John Tzimisces’ copper coin was found.
28. In 1957-1958 on the territory of Anakopia fortress (Akhali Atoni) 13 copper coins of the first half of the 10th c. were discovered.
29. Romanus I’s two folles were found in Sokhumi and also – John Tzimisces’ copper coin.
30. In 1935 in Akhali Atoni John Tzimisces’ copper coin was discovered.
31. In Achandara village (Gudauta district) coin of the same Emperor was discovered.
32. In 1955 in Sokhumi Constantine VII’s two and John Tzimisces’ five copper coins were found.
33. In 1950 in Merdjevi village (Sachkhere district) Umayyad dirhem dated by 718/19 was discovered.
34. In 1965 in Savane village (Sachkhere district), at the “Alavidze quarter”, during the cultivation of the land, clay vessel with the silver coins was found. Only 68 samples are preserved. One is Umayyad dirhem and the rest are the ῾Abbāsid dirhems. The chronological frame for the coins is 740/41-792/93.