Watch List notes:

ISLAMIC, Mongols. Ilkhanids. Mahmud Ghazan I, AH 694-703 / AD 1295-1304. Fals (Copper, 21 mm, 1.05 g), citing Vakhtang III of the Bagratids and the Ilkhanid overlord Mahmud Ghazan I, Tiflis, date illegible. 'Qaghanu nreber Gasanu deledkeguluk sen' ['(this coin) 'has been struck in the name of Ghazan' in Uyghur). Rev. Cross in center within circle; around within square, 'bism al-Ab wa 'l-Ibn wa-Ruh' ('in the name of the Father and the Son and the Spirit' in Arabic) and 'Vakhtang Mep'e ('King Vakhtang' in Georgian); in outer margin, mint and date. Album 2131.5. Bennett 354. Diler, Ga-33. Very rare. Somewhat rough, otherwise, about very fine.


Vakhang III of Georgia was appointed as a rival king to his brother Davit in 1302 by the Ilkhan Mahmud Ghazan. He died in Persia in 1308 during one of the many Mongol military campaigns in which he participated with his Georgian soldiers.