Mint Savojbolagh Mukri: Historical Evidence and Coinage

Mahabad or formerly Savojbolagh Mukri is one of the most important cities in northwestern Iran in the southern basin of Lake Urmia It was founded by Budaq Sultan, one of the Mukri rulers, during the reign of Shah Suleiman the Safavid and for four centuries was the center of Mukrian province. In the past decades, several copper coins have been found in the city of Mahabad by the local people, which according to the inscription have been minted in this city. In the present article, an attempt is made to investigate the reasons and grounds for minting coins in this city and to show their belonging to the Savojbolagh Mint. It is assumed that the location of Savojbolagh in the communication route between Baghdad and Tabriz has led to the development of the market and its commercial centers and has necessitated the establishment of a multiplication center there. Also, the discovery and identification of copper coins in the city of Mahabad and the surrounding areas indicate that they were minted at the Dar al-Zarb in Savojbolagh. Leading research has been completed by library and field methods and by descriptive and analytical methods. The result of this research confirms that in comparing the multiplied shapes on these coins and other samples, they can be attributed to the reign of the Mukri rulers until the middle of the Qajar period and the reign of Sheikh Ali Khan, Budaq Khan, and Abdullah Khan. The existence of a mint in this city also indicates its political, military, and economic importance in the past centuries.