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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Loong Siew, post: 2847769, member: 75799&quot;]Kingdom of Khotan. Also known as Yutian (于闐）or Hetian (和田).</p><p><br /></p><p>Kharosthi: Maharajasa Yidirajasa Gurgamoasa.</p><p>Chinese: 重廿四铢铜钱。weight 24 Zhu copper cash.</p><p><br /></p><p>Copper 24 zhu (grains) coin (Tetradrachm). Circa 1st to 3rd century CE (Han Dynasty period).Exceptional condition on reverse with clear Chinese characters.</p><p><br /></p><p>Sino-Kharosthi coin with the image of a horse surrounded by Kharosthi script and 6 zhu inscribed. These coins belonged to the Buddhist Kingdom of Khotan which was located on a branch of the Silk Road lasting from the Han Dynasty. Located in Xinjiang today,&nbsp; these coins were unique as they displayed a melting pot of Eastern and Western culture. Greco-Bactrian influences such as the adoption of the Drachm and Tetradrachm weightage, Kharosthi script and the horse motif. The Chinese influence is highly evident with the Chinese script on reverse and the adoption of the Han Dynasty 铢 Zhu denomination. It is theorized that this conscious adoption of bilingual coinage was to facilitate trade between the east and west. Another theory was for legitimizing their status as a multicultural hub of the ancient times.</p><p><br /></p><p>Discovered only during the turn of the 20th century by Sir Auriel Stein, coins of the Khotan Kingdom was issued for brief periods probably due to the fact that bartering and exchange of physical goods were predominantly the primary medium of exchange of the day. Smaller denominations of 6 Zhu (Drachm) were also issued in copper. However, all of these were very rare and in most cases heavily damaged. </p><p><br /></p><p>The Khotan Kingdom was a Buddhist civilisation. Whilst they were superseded by various kingdoms, the Buddhist influence lasted through to the Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasties before it was conquered and destroyed by the Muslims around the 11th century. </p><p><br /></p><p>Issues of these are very scarce as it was believed that approximately 300 or so were excavated. The original specimens discovered by Sir Auriel Stein is currently displayed in the British Museum. Whilst new specimens continue to be discovered, they are still regarded as very rare particularly in decent conditions.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]675253[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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