Catalog
Irregular AE - Demetrius I Type 2
| Issuer | Kingdom of Georgia |
|---|---|
| Year | 1125-1131 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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|---|---|
| Obverse script | Arabic (kufic), Georgian (Asomtavruli) |
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| Reverse description | The reverse carries an Arabic Kufic inscription arranged in multiple lines across the field, referencing the Seljuk overlord Mahmud ibn Muhammad, reflecting the vassal relationship and political context of Georgian coinage of this period. The inscription is set on an irregularly shaped flan with flat, worn fields typical of hammered copper issues. The lettering is angular and characteristic of early twelfth-century Kufic script as employed on Georgian anonymous bronzes. Surfaces show natural patination consistent with age and circulation. |
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| Additional information |
Demetrius I came to the Georgian throne in 1125 following the death of David the Builder, inheriting a kingdom dramatically expanded by his father's campaigns against the Seljuks. These small copper issues, irregular in both shape and fabric, were produced for low-denomination everyday exchange during the early consolidation years of his reign — a period when the Georgian kingdom was still integrating newly recovered territories including Tbilisi, retaken from Muslim control in 1122.
The "irregular" designation reflects genuine inconsistency in the flans, not post-strike damage.