ISLAMIC, Anatolia & al-Jazira (Post-Seljuk). Uncertain. Circa AH 6th-7th / AD 12th-13th centuries. Bracteate (Gilt Bronze, 47 mm, 5.18 g). Within a circle surrounded with dots, two-headed eagle with spread and stylized wings. Rev. Incuse of obverse. Edge chipping and with some deposits and a graffito on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.



Isaac I Komnenos (1057-1059) is credited with introducing the ancient two-headed eagle motif to the Byzantine Empire. After 1058, the two-headed eagle also became the emblem of the Seljuk Turks, following the bestowal of the title ‘malik al-mashriq wa al-maghrib’ (‘King of the East and the West’) upon the Great Seljuk ruler Tughril by the ʿAbbasid caliph al-Qaʾim bi-amr Allah. Subsequently, this motif saw widespread use in Anatolia after the Seljuk period.