Civic copper of Urumi with dragon 12(06?) AH

[saro]

11,06g / edge with oblique streaks
Coiled dragon  with a long muzzle and beautiful teeth , with " Ya Muhammad " in center.
(Notice that there is a tashdid to double the "mim", which is not very common on coins).
The date is placed at bottom below the "b" of "zarb" : 12xx ", Alaedini reads 1206 and suggests a coin struck at time of Aqa Muhammad Khan" ( linked with "Ya Muhammad")

[THCoins]

Another outstanding type !
With all these different Urumi types you could easily fill a specialized catalog.  I get the impression that the range of pictorial  types for this mint is quite large relatively to other mints. Or is that just a matter of exposure bias ? As you showed quite a lot recently, are you now specially focussing on these ?

[saro]

Another outstanding type !
 As you showed quite a lot recently, are you now specially focussing on these ?

Not really, but as I listed a dragon among the various designs I've seen for this mint, I posted the one I have with me since a long time.
At head of the most prolific cities in varieties of designs, we find, far ahead, Erivan, followed by Rasht and Tabriz; Urumi is not too badly placed...

[Figleaf]

I love that dragon! It smashes right through the belief that dragons occur only in the Chinese and European cultures.

I am surprised there are so many civic coins from Erevan. Thinking about it, I wonder if it had to do with Erevan's embattled position between Iranian, Ottoman and Russian ambitions. It may have been quite unsafe outside the city walls for long periods. IIRC, there was even a (national) mint in Erevan, striking silver coins. That seems unwise in uncertain times and so close to the border, but maybe it was the only option in the situation?

Peter

[saro]

 do not have the answer but probably the incessant conflicts and the associated need of money,  as well as  the greed of the governors of these semi-autonomous provinces must have induced variations for these local coins struck under their authority.

joined : a nice dragon's head from another coin of same type.