KHWAREZMSHAH ‘Ala Al-Din Muhammad 1200-1220 AD jital Peshawar mint

Description

The Khwarezmshahs started out as governors for the Great Seljuks in Central Asia, who became strong as the Seljuks grew weak. Over three sultans their holdings grew from what is now Uzbekistan and Tajikistan into Afghanistan and Pakistan and northern Iran. Chingis Khan sent a trade delegation to the court of the Khwarezmshah ‘Alauddin Muhammad, who insulted them and sent them home. That event made Chingis mad, and he embarked on his career of world conquest.

The term “Islamic coins” refers to coins made by Muslim governments from the time of the first caliphs to an end point in time that varies with the particular country being considered, but is generally some time from the 17th to 19th century. There is a geographic exclusion: India and points east are generally considered separately. The main reference used here is “Checklist of Islamic Coins,” by Stephen Album.