1201-1239 AD - Artuqids of Mardin - Bronze Dirham - Centaur & Dragon

Description

1201 – 1239, Turkey, (ancient Anatolia & al-Jazira), Artuqids of Mardin, a bronze dirham of the Artuqid dynasty, minted in Mardin under the rule of Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan. The coin depicts a centaur looking back with his bow drawn, and aimed at his tail which has transformed into a dragon. The depiction of the centaur representing the constellation Sagittarius and his dragon tail representing the constellation Draco. The clash between the two is likely an allegory of the Abbasid caliphi’s distain for his Ayyubid overlord.
Size: 27mm
Composition: bronze
Condition: ancient coin with typical pitting, discoloration, and verdigris