2019-09-04 Wed

Tughril Beg was the founder of Seljuq Empire, which comprised of present-day Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Anatolia from the 11th to14th century. He established the Sultanate after conquering Persia and retaking the Abbasid capital of Baghdad from the Buyid dynasty in 1055.

Tughril Beg was born on 2nd January 1010 to Mikail Ibn Seljuk. He was a Turkish Sunni Muslim. Under his rule, the Seljuks assumed the leadership of the Islamic World by establishing political mastery over the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad. Tughril Beg ruled Great Seljuk Empire until his death on 4th September 1063, upon which his nephew Alp Arslan succeeded him as Sultan.

The above shown gold Dinar was issued under his reign from Isfahan mint. The obverse side depicts the Arabic legend ‘La Ilaha Illallahu Wahdahu La sharika lahu al-Qa?im bi amrillah’. On the other hand, the reverse side bears the legend ‘Muhammdur Rasulullah’ with date and location of the dinar’s minting, and the outer margin bears verses of the Quran.

Image Source: Heritage Auctions