Lot 122

Seljuqs of Rum, Ghiyath al-Din Kay Khusraw II, first reign (AH 634-644, 1237-1246 CE), Silver Dirham, 2.92 gms, 20.75 mm, citing caliph al-Mustansir, Siwas Mint, AH 639 = AD 1241/2, Lion advancing right; personification of sun above; below lion, pellet. Broome 272 Dv(v)d. Izmirlier 465 var. (with stars on the obverse). A rare variety without stars on the obverse, The sun face and lion on this coin type, which are sometimes shown together with other celestial bodies, probably represent the constellation of Leo. A different - but not necessarily contradicting - theory interprets the sun face as standing for the famous Georgian princess Tamar, the beloved wife of Kay Khusraw II, while the lion symbolizes the Sultan. This interpretation is based on Bar Hebraeus (1226-1286), a bishop of the Syriac Orthodox Church, who noted that Kay Khusraw was so much in love with Tamar that he expressed the wish to place an image of her on his dirhams, Album # 1216.1, pierced, fine to very fine, rare.