dr. jawad musawi dalini

The inscriptions and the themes on the Iranian coins underwent changes in content with the rise and fall of the governments. The Iranian rulers – especially from the fall of Safawiya to the early years of Qajar period – prepared the ground for those changes due to various reasons. Examples of those themes are found on the coins of Afghan Azad Khan. The subject of this study is the Sunnite Azad Khan’s incentive and his purpose for using Imam Mahdi’s name on his coins. The findings of the study show that the themes and slogans inscribed on the coins suggest the worldview and religious, moral and political convictions of a society wherein those coins were used. Thus, although the mintage and inscription of the coins and their inscriptions were at the hands of Azad Khan Ghalzaie, he would respect the Shiite beliefs of his followers out of expediency and minted coins with the name of Imam Mahdi to gain their satisfaction. This study uses library sources and a descriptive-analytical method to gather data from the first-hand sources to first investigate the importance of the science of minting coins and then the Azad Khan’s seizing power after the murder of Nader Shah. It continues with a short investigation of the evolution of rites inscribed on the coins in Safawid period and the recess period, and inscribing the Shiite themes in Ghazaie Afghans period and under Nader Shah. Finally, it analyses and explains minting coins in the name of Imam Mahdi by Azad Khan.

Bani Aqil clan succeeded, in the period of the weakness and decline of Hamdanids, to found their government by conquering the cities of Musel and Nasibin and paying tribute to and following Buwayhid emirs. In view of the fact that Bani Aqil government settled in a strategic region, their government was much important for the neighboring governments. The Shiite government of Bani Aqil established its power by proclaiming independence from Āl Buya and following Fatimids. The unstable and weak bonds of this government with Fatimids and Saljuqids were a transient period in their government. With the establishment of Saljuqids in Iraq, Bani Aqil’s government became subordinate to Saljuqids. With proclaiming this subordination, this government spread its domination in northern Syria. Accordingly, the spread and penetration of Bani Aqil in that region led to struggle with Saljuqids of Rome and Syria. During those struggles, Bani Aqil’s power declined. It is worth noting that Bani Aqil’s policy against each of the governments was based on the principle of preserving their political existence.