ZANGIDS of AL-MAWSIL.Qutb al-Din Mawdud. (AH 544-565 / AD 1149-1170) Unlisted (al-Mawsil[?]) mint. Dated AH 555.
Obv : خمس و خمسين و خمسماية.
(Five hundred and fifty-five).
Draped bust facing slightly left, wearing hair in fore-knot; two winged creatures above, AH date in left and right fields.
Rev : ملك العادل العالم ملك أمراء الشرق و الغرب تغريل تكين أتابك بن أقسنقر بن زنكي.
(The Just King, the Wise, King of Princes of the East and the West, Tughril Tekin Atabeg, son of Aq-Sunqur, son of Zangi).
S&S Type 59.
Condition : Good very fine.
Material : Copper.
Axis : h.
Weight : 10.79 gr.
Diameter : 32 mm.
Zangids of al-Mawsil – Qutb al-Din Mawdud (AH 544–565 / AD 1149–1170)
Copper Coin | Dated AH 555 | al-Mawsil (Mosul) Mint [?]
⸻
Coin Details
•Dynasty: Zangid Dynasty
•Ruler: Qutb al-Din Mawdud
•Date: AH 555 (AD 1160–1161)
•Mint: al-Mawsil (Mosul) [?]
•Denomination: Fals / Copper coin
•Material: Copper
•Weight: 10.79 g
•Diameter: 32 mm
•Die Axis: h
•Condition: Good Very Fine
•Reference: S&S Type 59
⸻
Obverse
Arabic inscription stating the date “Five hundred and fifty-five” (AH 555).
At the center, a draped bust facing slightly left, with hair tied in a fore-knot, a highly distinctive portrait style within medieval Islamic numismatics.
Above the bust appear two winged creatures, while the date is repeated in the left and right fields—an exceptional combination of figural and epigraphic elements.
⸻
Reverse
Arabic inscription proclaiming the ruler’s full titulature:
“The Just King, the Wise, King of Princes of the East and the West, Tughril Tekin Atabeg, son of Aq-Sunqur, son of Zangi.”
This elaborate legend emphasizes legitimacy, dynastic continuity, and political authority within the Zangid realm.
⸻
Historical Significance
The Zangid dynasty ruled large parts of northern Mesopotamia and Syria during the 12th century and played a crucial role in resisting Crusader expansion. Qutb al-Din Mawdud, ruling from Mosul, continued the legacy of his father Zangi, one of the most important Muslim leaders of the era.
This coin is particularly remarkable for its figural imagery, which is rare in Islamic coinage and reflects the artistic freedom and cultural diversity of the Zangid period. Such pieces offer invaluable insight into the political symbolism and artistic experimentation of medieval Islamic states.
⸻
Why This Coin Matters
•Rare figural Islamic coinage with portrait bust and winged figures
•Issued by the influential Zangid dynasty of Mosul
•Precisely dated to AH 555
•Large copper format with strong visual presence
•Highly collectible and historically significant medieval artifact
⸻
Included with This Coin
✔️ Certificate of Authenticity & Provenance
✔️ Protective capsule or archival-quality holder
✔️ Handcrafted envelope made from traditional Amalfi paper, produced using pure cotton fibers following medieval techniques
✔️ Certificate envelope sealed with wax, bearing the official Numisnation logo