Coins of the founding period of the Ilkhanate State in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

After Mengü took over the Great Mongol Khanate, Hulagu was sent to the west, namely the Iranian geography, in order to consolidate and continue the Mongol conquests. In a short time, he dominated the region and established the Mongol branch state, which would later be called the Ilkhanate. Dominating a very wide geography, Hulagu expanded the borders of the state from the Ceyhun to the Kızılırmak, from the Caucasus to Baluchistan. When Hulagu came to the Iranian geography in 1254 and 1255, he minted coins in the name of his brother Mengü, and in 1256, he minted coins for himself using the title "Ilkhan". The state he founded was called the Ilkhanate in reference to the title "Ilkhan" used by Hulagu. The Ilkhanids came into contact with very different cultures and religions in a very wide geography. The arrangements seen on the Ilkhanid coins, which had a rich cultural heritage, were influenced by many sources. These were the influence of the states that ruled before them in the region they were located, the cultural exchange with the states they were in contact with, and the influences originating from Central Asia. Due to the wide area of their interaction, the Ilkhanids blended some traditional features they took from the Mongol coins with the local styles of the regions they ruled, and over time, they exhibited a multifaceted development process on their own coins. In addition, we determine that the rulers also had their own beliefs, traditions, and thoughts minted on the coins. Our thesis study aims to present a scientific evaluation, rather than being a museum catalogue, in order to examine the coins in detail, to read their inscriptions, and to classify their decorations and compositions. In this context, 36 coins belonging to the Foundation Period of the Ilkhanate State in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations were tried to be presented by examining them in detail with their inscriptions, forms, decorations, compositions and iconographic meanings.