In the last weeks I haven't been very active on CoinTalk. Apart from daily work I was busy improving identification of my mediaeval oriental coins. Comparing my coins with those on Zeno and putting the best or the more unusual coins with clear pictures on Zeno, too. That means making better pictures, too: larger (scans or iphone photos, max. 1.5 MB) and with white or whitish backgrounds. A lot of work, and for the good. Here are two favorite coins, both of the Qarakhanid dynasty that ruled in Central Asia (990-1210 AD more or less), in what's now Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Qarakhanids, AR dirham, Khan Ahmad b. Ali & Ilek Nasr b. Ali, Uzgend, 394 AH (=1003/4 AD). Issued in the formerly fertile valley of Ferghana, not far south of Tashkent. 25.5 mm (a bit larger than an American quarter), but thin: 2.84 gr. Qarakhanids. AR dirham, Khan Ahmad b. 'Ali (994-1016), Quz Ordu (Balasaghun), 396 AH (= 1005-1006 AD). Monumental design, letters with strongly wedge-shaped serifs. 25 mm, 2.52 gr. Balasaghun is a ruin town with a nice medieval tower, in the middle between Bishkek and Lake Issyk Kul. For comparison, here is one of my most loved, recently acquired coins of the same period. England. Anglo-Saxon kings. Aethelred II (978-1016), AR penny. London mint, moneyer Godwine. Struck ca. 997-1003 AD (=387-393 AH). 20 mm, 1.64 gr.
Here are some coins from South India from the same time period, Chalukyas of Gujarat (950-1050) Imperial Cholas, Raja Raja Chola (985-1014), and Rajendra Chola (1014-1044).
This is a common type of the same period, but also with a spectacular design. AE fals Qarakhanids, 386 AH = 996 AD. Nasr b. Ali 383-412 AH = 993-1012 AD. Ferghana. Obv. Triangle containing the title 'Tegin'. 27.3 mm, 3.38 gr. Cannito pl. 112/6. Album 3303. As for the next type, I was impressed by the shark finned lettering. If you compare the top longer line in the centre of the right pictures of the Qarakhanid coins: this is all the same text, starting (from the right) with the word Muhammad. So near in time: between 996 and 1013 AD, all from the same dynasty, and so diverse. Qarakhanid fals. Muhammad b. 'Ali, AE fals, Usrushana, AH 403 = 1012/13 AD. 28.5 mm, 3.68 gr. Wedge-like serifs. A-3308, Kochnev 308. Cf. Zeno 15818 and 267311 (this coin).
While the other Qarakhanid pieces are all very neat, the Quz Urdu is simply fantastic! The calligraphy on that piece is just mesmerizing, not even mentioning the lovely contrasting patina. I am afraid I was bidding against you on it, but dropped out two bids before the end. So congratulations on acquiring such a superb example, glad it went to a good home!
