Uljaytu — born a Christian, raised a Buddhist, converted to Sunni Islam, then controversially shifted to Twelver Shi'ism around 1309 — presents one of the more theologically turbulent reigns in Ilkhanid monetary history. The Type C dirham reflects the Shi'i phase of his rule, a conversion that alarmed Sunni neighbors and prompted an abortive plan to relocate the remains of Ali and Husayn to his new capital at Soltaniyeh.
The coinage sequence across his reign is consequently complex, with type distinctions often tracking his religious realignments. A#2189 places this cleanly within the later portion of his mint output.
Uljaytu — born a Christian, raised a Buddhist, converted to Sunni Islam, then controversially shifted to Twelver Shi'ism around 1309 — presents one of the more theologically turbulent reigns in Ilkhanid monetary history. The Type C dirham reflects the Shi'i phase of his rule, a conversion that alarmed Sunni neighbors and prompted an abortive plan to relocate the remains of Ali and Husayn to his new capital at Soltaniyeh.
The coinage sequence across his reign is consequently complex, with type distinctions often tracking his religious realignments. A#2189 places this cleanly within the later portion of his mint output.