Caucasus (Post-Seljuk). Ildegizids. Shams al-Din Ildegiz, circa AH 530-571 / AD 1136-1175. Dirham (Billon, 20 mm, 4.35 g, 7 h), Epigraphic type with inverted legend arrangement, Urmiya (Urmia), No date. Central field, in two lines (inverted relative to each other): ḍuriba bi-Urmiya / Abū al-Barakāt (‘Struck in Urmiya / Abū al-Barakāt’ in Arabic). Rev. Central field, in two lines (with inverted orientation similar to obverse): Shams al-Dīn / Ildegiz (‘Shams al-Dīn / Ildegiz’ in Arabic). Traces of marginal legends, unread on all known examples. Album 1898.6. Extremely rare and nicely toned. Somewhat rough and small scratches, otherwise, nearly very fine.



This extremely rare issue was struck for Shams al-Dīn Ildegiz, the founder of the Ildegizid (Eldiguzid) Atabeg dynasty, which became the dominant power in Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran during the later Seljuk period. Originally a mamlūk in Seljuk service, Ildegiz rose to become atabeg (guardian) of the Seljuk prince Arslan-Shāh and effectively controlled the western Seljuk territories during the mid-12th century.

The legends are arranged in an unusual format in which the lines are inverted relative to one another, requiring the coin to be rotated 180 degrees to read the opposing line. Such layouts are rare in Islamic coinage and reflect distinctive local engraving practices.