COIN AS A MEANS OF PROPAGANDA (According to the 12th-18th cc. Georgian Money)

Abstract

10th volume of Proceedings, Institute of Georgian History, Faculty of Humanities, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, shows “Coin as a Means of Propaganda (According to Georgian Numismatics)” (in Georg. with Engl. Summary) by Tedo Dundua and Akaki Chikobava. Now the story is prolonged.It might be a bit surprising that Demetre I (1125-1156) and Giorgi III (1156-1184), the mighty kings of the united Georgia, placed Arabic legends, the name of a sultan and Caliph on their coins. Some scholars think this should point to some sort of dependence on a part of the Georgian king towards the Muslim ruler. However, this argument is largely flawed. Such actions of Demetre I and Giorgi III were dictated mainly by economic factors, since the Georgian money had to reach the Middle Eastern markets, and Arabic legends and name of a sultan and Caliph on them would undoubtedly help in it. Simultaneously the contents of the legend conveyed to the Muslim world that both were the “King of the Kings” and the “sword of the Messiah”. i.e. we deal with international propaganda of Georgia’s might. Tamar (1184-1210) also figures as “champion of the Messiah” and “Queen of the Queens”, “glory of the world and faith”, in Arabic. Giorgi IV Lasha (1210-1222) is “King of the Kings” and the “sword of the Messiah”. Queen Rusudan (1222-1245) is styled like her mother, Tamar.Then we deal with international propaganda of Georgia’s weakness.David Narin’s (1245-1293) copper coins show him as “slave of Qa’an”, in Persian.When in Western Georgia, David Narin acted differently. Coins with the effigy of two Davids (David Narin and David Ulugh (1247-1270)) are patterned on the issues of the Byzantine Emperors, John Comnenos (1118-1143) and Michael Palaeologus (1258-1282), showing Georgians’ Occidental aspirations, like Kirmaneuli tetri, the Georgian imitations to the aspers of Trebizond, patterned mostly on the coins of the two Emperors of Trebizond, Manuel I (1238-1263) and John II (1280-1297).Gradually, Russia started to dominate Eastern Europe, and Georgian king Erekle II (1745-1798), searching for her support, placed double-headed eagle, already coat of arms of Russia, on his copper coins.In 1795 Persians captured Tbilisi, the capital. Russians gave no help to Erekle II. Obviously irritated, he substituted double-headed eagle by single-headed eagle on his copper coins.So, like everywhere, in Georgia coin served also as a means of propaganda.