A hoard of 12 century copper coins, containing 273 specimen was discovered during excavations near the village of Uzuntepe in Jalilabad region, south-eastern Azerbaijan. The coins date back to the rule of the Eldiguzid dynasty in 12th century AD.
The Eldigauzids were also known as Atabegs of Azerbaijan, an Iranian dynasty which controlled most of north-western Persia, eastern Transcaucasia, most of Azerbaijan, and Djibal (central-western region of Iran). The inscriptions on the coins show that they were minted on behalf of the Seljuk Sultan Arslan Shah (1161-1176). One of the dirham coins contains the name of the Abbasid Caliph and other the 33rd verse of Surah At-Taubah from the Quran. The hoard was discovered during excavations conducted by the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
(after Azernews)