Renedering the name of Heraclius II (Numismatic evidence)

Abstract

The research presented in the article deals with the issue of writing the name of Heraclius II on a coin minted in Georgia. Since the 18th century, a number of scientific publications have been devoted to the study of numismatic monuments of Georgia. Scientific publications were dedicated to the mentioned issue by M. Brosset, M. Barataev, I. Bartholomew, V. Langlois, E.A. Pakhomov and D. Kapanadze, whose works are still invaluable. In the present article, based on their scientific opinions and observing the coins preserved in museums, a new perspective is proposed about the spelling of the name of Heraclius II. In relation to the coin minted in Tbilisi (=1765-66), Barataev has proposed only three Asomtavruli signs instead of six. Pakhomov sees only five letters in the abbreviation, the second "e" is only virtually added while reading the word. Reading this abbreviation in the following way is undoubtedly a mistake. D. Kapanadze avoids reading the abbreviation of the name and lets all remain vague, much like others had done before him. By decomposing „karagma” on the coin, taking into account as long as the short vertical line directed downwards from the center of the upper horizontal line is missing in the graphic depiction of this letter, we undoubtedly get the name "irakli", not "erakli". In Georgian numismatic materials are the samples with incorrect inscriptions. In case of the coins of Heraclius II errors appear only in dates when European and Hijra dates do not coincide, otherwise the mintage of the coins are always faultless.