Historical Background
Though the period
of the Cilician Armenian kingdom represents a renewal of Armenian independence,
it is a time filled with almost endless bloodshed. From the struggles of prince
Roupen, to the surrender of king Levon V at Sis in the face of Mamluk hordes,
almost all rulers of Cilician Armenia faced war and civil strife. Although
the kingdom survived until 1375, evidence of decline was already present during
the reign of Levon II (1270-1289), when the country was devastated by the
Mamluk invasions, which was concluded by a humiliating peace treaty in which
Levon was forced to pay a heavy annual tribute. Starting with the reign of
Levon IV the situation considerably worsened, and culminated in the fall of
Sis 33 years after his reign ended.
Levon IV (1320-1342)
was the only son of Oshin; he was to be the last king in the line of Hetoum-Roupens.
Ten at the time he succeeded his father, he was king under the regency of
Oshin, the Lord of Gorigos. It is notable that the Mamluks captured the extremely
profitable port of Ayas several times during the reign of Levon IV. However,
they not only allowed Armenians to rebuild the port, but also helped them.
The plan behind this was to collect enormous revenues from the extremely profitable
port during a time of a large silver shortage in the Near East, when Armenians
still used silver as their main currency
[1]
. Levon, who wanted to establish stronger ties
with the West, married the daughter of Frederick II. This angered the Mamluk
sultan, who incited the Emir of Aleppo to attack Armenia. In the humiliating
peace treaty that followed, the Armenians were forced to give up all lands
east of the Djehiun River, including the main port of Ayas, and continued
to pay tribute. The loss of the port, which had provided much of the revenues
for the royal treasury, was the beginning of the end for the kingdom. Wishing
to obtain assistance from the West, Levon raised the question on union between
the Catholic and Armenian Churches. The Armenians considered this unacceptable,
and Levon IV was assassinated on August 28, 1342.
[2]
When Levon IV
was assassinated, the royal line came to an end, and the closest relative,
Guy Lusignan, (1342-1344) or Gosdantin II came to the throne. During his reign
Guy did not pay tribute and kept his territorial possessions intact. However,
he raised the question of uniting the 2 Churches, and was assassinated.
After the death of Guy, the oldest son Baldwin of Neghir succeeded the throne as Gosdantin III (1344-1363). In 1347 Ayas was temporarily taken back; however, that was the only success Gosdantin enjoyed in his reign. He continued to suffer enormous reverses; Ayas was lost again, the fort of Baberon fell, and the Black Death came through Armenia. However, the worst came in 1360, when Adana and Tarsus were captured, and all coastal territories were lost. It is of interest that the Emir of Aleppo struck coins in the name of the Sultan of Egypt in Tarsus. [3]
At
various times in the kingdoms existence, the Armenian kings paid tribute to
their Mamluk foes. In his study on
Armenian coins overstruck by the Mamluks, Bedoukian concluded that coins of
earlier kings that had come into the hands of the Mamluks through tribute
or captured during various invasions were melted and restruck as regular Mamluk
coinage. Furthermore, takvorins of Levon III, Oshin, and Levon IV bearing
Arabic were part of tribute by Levon IV and those of the two previous kings
were simply leftovers in the treasury. Although the successor to Levon IV
did not pay tribute, a single surcharge takvorin from Guy (1342-1344) was
reported by Nercessian. This was
probably part of the tribute given by Gosdantin III (1344-1363), as numerous
specimens from this king are found with overstrikes. The existence of a single
overstruck takvorin of Levon the Usurper (1363-1365) suggests that perhaps
takvorins of other kings with overstrike may be found at a later date. The
payment of tribute, which spanned over a period of over 40 years, covers host
coins of five Armenian kings, and overstrikes in names of three Egyptian sultans.
The coins of
Levon IV included debased silver and copper. His silver coins include equestrian/lion
design takvorins
[4]
and rare half trams
[5]
. His copper coinage includes poghs
[6]
and heavy poghs
[7]
with an enthroned king/cross design. Generally, his coins
are uniform in design and inscriptions with minor variations such as field
marks
[8]
.
The coins of
Gosdantin III include poor quality and content silver and copper. His silver
coins are equestrian/lion design takvorins
[9]
. His coppers are poghs
[10]
with enthroned king/cross design. They include coins with
mint names of both Sis and Tarsus. Metrological studies, inscriptions and
field marks differentiate coins of this king to Gosdantin IV.
[11]
Comments on the Hoard
The hoard was
discovered sometime during 1997 in the Swat district of the Malakand division, in the North-West Frontier province
of Pakistan, reportedly near the town of Saidu-Sharif. The hoard, numbering
16 coins (Four Armenian and 12 Mamluk), was discovered along with the remains
of a leather parcel or pouch while working in a field (The pouch was not preserved.).
Eventually they found their way into the hands of a certain Mr. Rabbani, an
Afghan immigrant who owned a shop in the city of Peshawar. He then sold it
to the current owner, Mr. Haroon Tareen, a Pakistani numismatist and Secretary
of the Pakistan Numismatic Society, who generously allowed a paper on his
hoard to be published and provided assistance and information.
It is not known
whether this hoard has been tampered with. There are chances that specimens
were taken out or added. However, Mr. Tareen suggested that the hoard was
not likely to have been tampered with.
Because 75% of the coins were Egyptian, and
two of the Armenian specimens had Egyptian surcharge, it can be concluded
that this hoard represents a sample of coins in circulation in Egypt during
the 14th century, before they reached their burial spot on the
long journey along the Silk Road. The Arabic surcharge on two of the takvorin
specimens from the hoard indicate that some of the coins had entered Egypt
as part of Armenian tribute, and it is feasible that the two unscathed takvorins
entered Egypt through international trade. It further proves Bedoukian’s conclusion
that unscathed takvorins, surcharge takvorins, and regular Mamluk dirhems
circulated without discrimination.
Few coin hoards
are discovered from this period, and this hoard is only the second of its
kind discovered in the area. This is an interesting and important find as
it shows Armenian coins formed some part of the currency of Egypt, and was
used far and wide in many countries. The other hoard is referred to as the
“Broach Hoard,” was discovered near Bombay (c. 1882). It was supposedly found
in a brass lota, and contained as follows:
448 entire and some pieces of gold coins.
4 small gold ingots.
1200 silver coins and pieces.
The hoard included
coins from Genoa, Venice, Mamluk Egypt, Cilician Armenia, Persia, and Delhi,
with the majority being Mamluk. The dates of coins ranged from A.D. 1260-1380,
some 120 years. From his report, it appears the hoard contained the following
Armenian coins:
3 takvorins of Levon IV.
2 takvorins of Gosdantin III.
4 takvorins listed similar to the Levon IV takvorins (These were listed separately).
8 takvorins bearing Arabic surcharge in the name of Nasir Al-din Muhammad.
Though Codrington
made many errors interpreting the inscriptions of the Armenian coins (He claimed
to have read the inscription “Town of Kars” on the reverse of one takvorin.),
and misattributed others (The takvorins of Gosdantin III were attributed to
Gosdantin I.), he correctly attributed a surcharge takvorin with the Armenian
coin being the host, and the Arabic, overstrike from the Mamluks.
[12]
Though the Broach hoard was larger and much more diverse,
the Armenian and Mamluk coins showed a relationship similar to the currently
described hoard.
Cataloguing the Hoard
This particular hoard contained Cilician Armenian takvorins, Mamluk Egyptian dirhems, and Cilician Armenian takvorins bearing Arabic surcharge. Therefore, each of these three types had to be treated differently.
The Cilician Armenian takvorins showed heavy wear and some missing letters. They will be described according to the method in Coinage of Cilician Armenia. That is, inscriptions, and field marks. In places of uncertain letters a question mark will be added (i.e. +ՇՒՆԵԱԼ Ւ ՔԱՂԱՔՆ Ի ՍԻ?); in places where the legend has been obliterated three dots shall be placed (i.e. “Ք…ՔՆ”) shall be placed. The Armenian coins shall be catalogued by numbers from this book. Because of the heavy wear on the takvorins the coins could not be completely identified. Therefore, a “v” after the CCA number will indicate that the CCA number ascribed was the closest match to the coin, and a “?” that the attribution is uncertain. The Mamluk dirhems shall be desribed only in brief. They will be identified only by Dr. Album’s Checklist, and the inscriptions will not be included. Finally, the surcharge takvorins will be treated slightly differently. Each surcharge takvorins shall be considered two distinct coins. First, all surviving detail on the host shall be listed, and then the Arabic overstrike (which is the same for both coins) shall be listed. Again, The Checklist shall be used..
CATALOGUE OF HOARD
(Armenian
coins)
1.Cilician Armenia, Levon IV (1320-1342), AR Takvorin.
Obv. + ԼԵԻՈՆԹԱԳԱԻՈՐՀԱՅՈ Obv.
Field mark Կ/(?).
Rev. + ՇԻՆԵԱ(?)ԻՔԱՂԱՔ?Ս
Bed No. CCA
1968(?)
2. Cilician Armenia, Gosdantin III (1344-1363), AR
Takvorin.*
Obv. + ԿՈՍՏԸՆԴԻՆԹԱԳՈՐ Obv.
Field mark Circle in the field.
Rev. + ՇԻՆԵԱ...ՔԱՂԱՔՆՍԻ(?)
Wt. 2.1 g
Bed No. CCA 2065(v)
Wt. 3.6 g
Album No. 877
4. Mamluk Egypt, Saifuddin Qala’un (AH 678-689, 1279-1290), AR.
Date 684 AH
Wt. 2.5 g
Album No. 894
5. Mamluk Egypt, Nasiruddin Muhammad (AH709-741, 1310-1341), AR.
Wt. 2.7 g
Album No. 920
6. Mamluk Egypt, Nasiruddin Hassan (AH 748-752 and 755-762, 1347-1351 and 1354-1361), AR.
Wt. 3.4 g
Album No. 945
7. Mamluk Egypt, Nasiruddin Hassan (AH 748-752 and 755-762, 1347-1351 and 1354-1361), AR.
Wt. 2.5 g
Album No. 945
8. Mamluk Egypt, Nasiruddin Sha’ban II (AH 764-778, 1363-1377), AR.
Wt. 2.7 g
Album No. 956
Wt. 2.3 g
Album No. 956
10. Mamluk Egypt, Nasiruddin Sha’ban II (AH 764-778, 1363-1377), AR.
Wt. 2.1 g
Album No. 956
11. Mamluk Egypt, Nasiruddin Sha’ban II (AH 764-778, 1363-1377), AR.
Wt. 2.5 g
Album No. 956
Wt. 2.5 g
Album No. 965
13. Mamluk Egypt, Nasiruddin Ali II (AH 778-783, 1377-1382), AR.
Wt. 2.5 g
Album No. 962
14. Mamluk Egypt, Saifuddin Abu Saeed Barquq (AH 784-791, 1382-1389), AR.
Wt. 1 g
Album No. 973
(Surcharge
takvorins)*
15. A takvorin of Cilician Armenia overstruck by Nasiruddin Muhammad.
Wt. 2.4
Album No. 922
Host: Obv. "+ՇԻՆԵԱԼԻՔԱՔՆ..."/
Rev. "...ԵԻՈՆԹ..."
16. A takvorin of Cilician Armenia overstruck
by Nasiruddin Muhammad.
Wt. 2.7
Album No. 922
Host: Obv. "...ՆԵԱԼԻՔԱՂԱՔ..."/
Rev. "..."
REVERSE |
|
Al Sultan Al Malik Al Nasser Nasser AlDuniya Wa Ad'Din Muhammad Bin Al Malik AlMansur Qalaun |
ﺍﻟﺳﻟﻃﺎﻥﺍﻟﻣﻟﻙﺍﻟﻧﺎﺻﺭ ﻧﺎﺻﺭﺍﻟﺪﻧﻳﺎﻭﺍﻟﺪﻳﻥﻣﺣﻣﺪ ﺑﻥﺍﻟﻣﻟﻙﺍﻟﻣﻧﺻﻭﺭ ﻗﻼﻭﻥ |
The Sultan The King The Helper Helper of the World and the Faith Muhammad Son of The king The conqueror Qalaun |
|
OBVERSE |
|
La Ilaha Ila Allah Muhammad Rasulullah Arsalahu B'alhuda |
ﻻﺍﻟﻪﺍﻻﺍﷲ ﻣﺣﻣﺩﺭﺳﻭﻝﺍﷲ ﺍﺭﺳﻟﻪﺑﺎﻟﻬﺩﺍﺉ |
There is no God but Allah Muhammad is Messenger of Allah Whom He (Allah) sent with guidance |
|
PICTURES OF COINS IN THE HOARD
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