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Primary sourceArtifact

Silver Coin of Hetoum I Citing Sultan Kayqubad I

An Armenian coin naming the Seljuk sultan Kayqubad I, who reigned in Anatolia during Rumi's years there.

A coin naming the Seljuk sultan who ruled Anatolia during Rumi's lifetime, giving political context for his world.

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Photo of a silver coin showing both faces. The obverse has a figure on horseback with a cross above and a circular inscription band around it. The reverse has Arabic calligraphic script with a star below. The coin is worn with some edge damage.
Silver coin of Hetoum I citing Seljuk sultan Kayqubad I. Photographed 2019.

About this source

What it is

This is a worn silver coin issued by the Armenian king Hetoum I of Cilicia, citing his overlord, the Seljuk sultan of Rum, Kayqubad I. It shows a mounted figure with a cross on one side and Arabic calligraphy with a star on the other.

Why it matters

This coin reflects the political relationships in Anatolia during the period Rumi lived there, showing how regional rulers like Hetoum I acknowledged the authority of the Seljuk sultans. It offers a glimpse of the shifting powers surrounding Rumi's adopted homeland.

Look closer

  • What does naming an overlord on a coin tell us about political relationships at the time?
  • Why do you think the coin mixes a cross with Arabic script?
  • What might the coin's worn condition suggest about how widely it was used?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Rumi (Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī) on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Secondary source

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