Extremely Rare Issue

245, Lot: 244. Estimate $200. Sold for $1100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

HUNNIC TRIBES, Hephthalites. Before AD 700. AR Drachm (32mm, 3.38 g, 9h). Imitating a year 37 dirhem from the AY mint. Crowned Sassanian style bust right; Sogdian tamgha and legend in margin / Fire altar with ribbons and attendants; star and crescent flanking flames; date to left, mint name to right. Göbl, Dokumente -; Classical Numismatic Group 60 (22 May 2002), lot 1092 (same dies). Good VF.

This coin was struck after the deposition of bin Ziyad, using the imitation of his reverse type, as opposed to the previous Hunnic style reverse with an additional ring. This is clear evidence that the imitations were all produced probably in the same Khorasanian locality, by the same Sogdian speaking peoples. It is quite apparent that the group minting these imitations was impartial to whether the prototype was Sasanian (with Khusro II types), or Arab-Sasanian, imitating either Abd Allah bin Khazim or Salm bin Ziyad. However, the omniprescence of the tamgha and Sogdian legends (in countermark or engraveur) indicates that an association with Sogdian Hephthalite groups is the most important factor in the coins' production and identity. The tamgha and marginal legend assure that this is a Hunnic issue. Sasanian dating is also used.