How to read the dates on Seljuq coins

The dates on antique coins of Anatolian Seljuqs are rarely written by numerals (for example 824).  Instead of this, Seljuqs, like many other states of the time, have prefered to register the dates by using the names of the numbers  which express the dates (for example "eighthundred twenty four").  Sometimes the date also includes the proper month.  Of course all dates are given as AH (Anno Higerae) acording to hijri calendar.  So, first of all, we need to learn the Arabic numerals and their names.  The symbols what we call "Arabic Numerals" in this article are not "Arabic" in fact.  Even Arabic peoples call them "Indian Numerals".  Historically, first, Arabic/Islamic peoples have adopted the Indian numerals. Then, through Islamic world, Indian Numerals have been transmitted to the Europe to be used instead of Roman numerals.  As a matter of  fact, the modern standard "European Numerals", which we use today, have been evolved from Indian Numerals.  Most important of all, the concept of "zero" and "decimal system", which modern mathematics depends on, have been imported from the East.  Now let us come to the point, before going deeper in the history.  For further history, take a look at "The Arabic Numeral System".  In the table below, you will find the Arabic numbers and their names as far as we need in reading the dates on the coins.  All of the hijri dates can be produced from these numbers.  After we are through with the standard system, we will consider the variations one by one.

Another topic we must learn about is divani numerals (erkam-ı divaniyye) or siyakat numerals (erkam-ı siyakat).  The motherland of this system of numeration is Iran.  From here it has propogated to Anatolian Seljuqs then Ottomans.  Anatolian Seljuqs and Ottomans have vastly used divani numerals especially in governmental accounting and bookkeeping business.  Its name comes from here.  In old Islamic states, divan means the Council of Ministers.  Essentially, divani numerals are shortened forms of written names of  Arabic numerals.  With time, either normal numeral names and divani numerals have experienced also some morphological transformations or deformations.  Even to that extent, somtimes an inexperinced one can not read the date.  From a numismatic angle of view, we see divani numerals mostly on Anatolian Seljuq coins and sometimes on Beylik coins and a couple of Ilkhanid coins struck in Anatolia.  Today we have a huge amount of papers from Ottoman archives to study divani numerals in Ottomans but the same thing is not true for Anatolian Seljuqs.  So the study of divani numerals in Seljuqs is restricted almost to coins only.  It is out of question that some symbols we see on Seljuq coins are true divani numerals.  On the other hand, for some short or deformed forms,  we can not say whether they are divani numerals or some shorthand forms.  Either we should  not forget the difficulties experienced by engravers while they are working.  Carving a hard metal is not the same thing as writing on a piece of paper.  First the working field is very limited and secondly the writing on a die is just the mirror reflection of its last form on the coin. If you try to write something on a shopping window glass from inside but to be read from outside, you will see how troublesome it is.

Below, we will study normal dating system, then on the following pages you will see good examples for almost all forms of deformations, variations, shortenings and divani numerals.

I owe my thanks to Dr. Cengiz Babacan, Mr. Kamil Eron and Mr. Fawzan Barrage for their kind  permissions to include here the dates cut off from their coin images too.  You can watch their large series of Anatolian Seljuqs  at "The Cengiz Babacan Collection", "Eron Coins" and "The Maskukat Collection".

Anatolian Coins > Seljuqs of Rum > Dates Page 1 > Page 2 > Page 3 > Page 4 > Page 5 > Month Names

Other written forms

Written form

Pronunciation

for English

Numerals

East Arabic

Standard Arabic

Western

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