Anatolian Seljuk Coins Illuminate Centuries-Old History

A collection of 2,764 gold, silver and copper coins minted by 14 sultans and some kings who ruled the Anatolian Seljuk State between 1116 and 1308 are on display in the central Anatolian province of Konya.

The coins provide a unique glimpse into the political and socio-economic history of their time.

The Dar-ül Mülk Exhibition Palace, which houses sculptures representing the facial and physical features of 17 dynasty members—12 of whom were sultans—reconstructed through DNA and anatomical analysis of the remains from the dynasty tomb of the Anatolian Seljuk State, also features coins minted by these sultans.

The collection, comprising 2,764 unique coins, will be open to visitors for one year. Each coin is displayed on specially illuminated stands, allowing easy viewing of both sides. Visitors can access detailed information in Turkish and English via QR codes, learning about each coin’s minting location, date, inscriptions, figures, meanings, weight, and diameter.

In an interview with the state-run Anadolu Agency, Dar-ül Mülk Exhibition Palace guide Hülya Acar shared that the collection belongs to lawyer Bahadır Kalaycı, a registered collector at the Antalya Museum. Acar noted that the coins are arranged in chronological order according to each sultan’s reign, and magnifying glasses are available for visitors to observe the coins in finer detail.

Noting that the coins shed light on their period with their inscriptions, figures, the type of metal they were minted in, their shape and weight, Acar said: “The coins show us the socio-economic status of the state, where it ruled, its borders, its trade network and where the mints were located."

"There is no mint that has survived to the present day, but we learn from the coins that there were nearly 50 mints in the Seljuk State of Turkey. These coins are historical artifacts and also works of art. Because there are also very nice-figured coins. For example, the coins of the kings of Kılıçarslan II are especially figured. These coins have the figures of horse soldiers hunting leopards,” Acar added.

She said that the first money was minted by Mesud I 900 years ago and that all of them were copper.

Acar said that coins turned into silver and gold when the state grew and became stronger, and added, “The coins were mostly silver. Gold, silver and copper were used in the production of currencies such as dinar, dirham and fels. Gold and silver began to be used during the rule of Kılıçarslan II, but in this collection, we see gold coins from the period of Alaeddin Keykubad. The most valuable gold coin here belongs to İzzeddin Keykavus II. 'Dar-ül Mülk Ko' is written on it. It is important because it is one of the capital titles of Konya.”