Античная древность и средние века (May 2019)
Tmutarakan’s numismatics (concerning K.V. Babayev’s book «Coins of principality Tmutarakan»)
Abstract
This article is devoted to the critical review of the book of K. I. Babayev about numismatics of Tmutarakan. Conclusions of this book and results of other researches show monetary business of Tmutarakan as follows: coin stamping – imitations Vasily II and Konstantin VIII Byzantian miliarisiya are connected with long stay prince Mstislav Vladimirovich (988–1023) in Tmutarakan. There were some deteriorations of a prototype of Byzantian miliarisiya in degradation degree: the earliest group of imitations is made of silver, further appear billon coins of more bad stamping, last stage – stamping coins of copper and iron. Probable time of the termination of release is the third quarter of XI century. Thus, these coins originally were the basic means of monetary circulation of Tmutarakan, and then carried out function of a small change. The board of prince Rostislav Vladimirovich (1065–1066) in Tmutarakan is marked by probable stamping of silver imitations Byzantian 2/3 Konstantin X Duca's miliarisiya. Nominal billon brakteats appears at prince Roman Svyatoslavich (till 1079) in Tmutarakan. Their prototype is the seal of the same prince. To Ratibor who was the one not a princely origin (1079–1081) belongs a significant amount of the seals with an inscription «От Ратибора» which have a wide circulation in territory of Ancient Rus. Coins of Ratibor were minted of billon and silver like the seals. Apparently, coin stamping has been caused by shortage of coins in Tmutarakan. Stamping of silver coins with the image of the heavenly patron of the prince Oleg Svjatoslavich (1083–1094) – the archangel Michael begins in 80th X century in Tmutarakan. Prototypes were coins of emperor Mikhail VII Duca, and also Roman Svjatoslavich’s seal. Coins are close to imperial standards in weight norms. This is one more proof to assertion that the city was in vassal submission by Byzantium in Oleg's board in Tmutarakan. Copper coins with the Greek inscription are known here in these time. These coins could carry out function of ceremonial distributions.
