A HOARD OF GIORGI VII COINS FROM THE IORI RIVER VALLEY (HOARD OF THE IORI VALLEY)

Abstract

The article examines a hoard of George VII’s coins discovered in the Iori River valley, which represents an important source for studying the economic and political history of late medieval Georgia. The author describes in detail the circumstances of the hoard’s discovery, the number of coins, their metallurgical composition, and chronological range. Particular attention is paid to the dating of the coins, the earliest examples of which belong to the beginning of the 14th century, while the later specimens reflect the reign of George VII. The study analyzes the inscriptions, symbolism, and iconographic features presented on the coins, which clearly reveal the ideological messages of royal authority and markers of state identity. The author considers the hoard as part of regional monetary circulation and links it to the trade and transit significance of the Iori valley. The article emphasizes the role of numismatic material in the reconstruction of historical events and notes that this hoard supplements existing knowledge of the monetary system, economic relations, and political processes of late medieval Georgia, thereby giving it significant scholarly value.