Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Ph. D Candidate Archaeology, University of Tehran,Tehran, Iran.
2 Associate Professor Archaeology, University of Tehran,Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Coins are the most convincing documents used in the definitive chronology and measurement of political, economic and cultural transformations of past eras. Coins of each period represents the political sovereignty, script, language, art, religion, civilization, socio-economic status, trade relations of the nation and the countries of their past. Numismatics is an interdisciplinary knowledge that provides unique information to archaeologists, historians, sociologists and social scientists, political scientists, economics, linguistics, art and symbolism, etc. This is precisely why reflection in this group of archaeological evidence is important for scholars, historians, and archaeologists. The Bavand dynasty/Bavandian (651-1349 AD) were one of the Shiite families that for centuries, especially during the Abbasid caliphate, ruled and minted coins in the northern regions of the Alborz Mountains. Although the Bavandian were often independent rulers, but were sometimes subjugated by their contemporary caliphs and sultans. Now, the question arises that with which characteristics of the Bavandian coins can be used to distinguish from other coins of the Islamic era? The aim is to find out how the Bavandian differentiated their coins from the coins of the Abbasid caliphs and, and precisely, depending on which of the local and regional governments they minted their coins.The results of the present study show that the Bavandian struck coins to prove their sovereignty, consolidate their power and their relative independence. Although due to political-security reasons, they had to temporize with the Abbasid caliphs, but by tapping the phrase "Ali Wali Allah" on the back of the coins, they have managed to establish themselves as a Shiite government independent of the caliphs.
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