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.

Dar-ül Mülk Exhibition Palace hosts a special coin collection that offers a detailed window into the economic, political and artistic structure of the Seljuk period. The collection features coins arranged in chronological order according to the reigns of Seljuk sultans, and visitors can examine the finer details of the pieces with the help of magnifying glasses provided in the exhibition.

The coins stand out not only as currency but also as historical documents. Their inscriptions, figures, metal types, shapes and weights provide valuable information about the socio-economic conditions of their time. Through these details, it becomes possible to understand the state’s economic strength, the regions it controlled, its trade networks and the locations of mint centers.

Historical evidence reflected in the collection indicates that nearly 50 minting centers once operated within the Seljuk State of Turkey, although none of them have survived to the present day. The earliest coins in the collection date back to the reign of Mesud I around 900 years ago and were made entirely of copper.

As the state grew stronger over time, the materials used in coin production also changed. Silver and gold began to be used more widely, especially during the reign of Kılıçarslan II. While early examples were mostly copper, later coins include silver and gold dinars, dirhams and fels. Among the most notable pieces is a gold coin from the period of Alaeddin Keykubad, and the most valuable gold coin in the collection belongs to İzzeddin Keykavus II, bearing the inscription “Dar-ül Mülk Ko,” which refers to Konya’s status as a capital.

Some coins also attract attention with their artistic designs. In particular, certain examples from the era of Kılıçarslan II feature detailed depictions of horse-mounted soldiers hunting leopards, showing that these objects carried both artistic and cultural value alongside their economic function.