The Oriental Coin Hoard from Ružomberok, Slovakia

Absztrakt

A unique find of five copper coins was unearthed during the Second World War north of the city of Ružomberok in Slovakia. It consists of four identified coins, minted from the 9th to the beginning of the 15th century mainly in Central Asia, and one unidentified coin. The composition and nature of the hoard, as well as the described circumstances of its discovery, point out that the coins were not in monetary circulation, but rather a souvenir with sentimental value, and they prove some kind of connection between the Hungarian Kingdom and the polities of Central Asia at the beginning of the 15th century. The present paper attempts to localize the find and connect it with known historical sources about the diplomatic relations of King Sigismund of Luxembourg with the Tatars, Turcomans, and Timurids.