Samanids/Qarakhanids. Arslan b. Nuh (?). AR Multiple Dirham (45.2mm, 11.22 g, 10h). Without mint or date. VF.

CNG Islamic Auction 6
Lot: 390.
Closing Date: Aug 9 2024 02:00 GMT

Pre-Mongol Iran and the East, Silver

Estimate: $ 300

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Samanids/Qarakhanids. Arslan b. Nuh (?). AR Multiple Dirham (45.2mm, 11.22 g, 10h). Without mint or date. SNAT XIVc, 378-9 (same dies); Album –. VF. Extremely rare.

The identity of ‘Arslan b. Nuh’ is uncertain, but the name Arslan suggests that he may have been a Qarakhanid. The style and legends of this piece are consistent with a late 4th/10th century date during the wars between the Samanids and Qarakhanids, and Qarakhanid ruler named ‘Ali Arslan Khan is known to have led a raid into Khotan in the AH 388. This ‘Ali Arslan Khan was preceded by Sulayman Arslan Khan and had a son named Mansur Arslan Khan, but further research is needed to establish whether ‘Arslan b. Nuh’ refers to one of these individuals (might the die-engraver have changed the Samanid ‘Mansur’ to the Qarakhanid ‘Arslan’ without altering the patronymic?) or to a new and previously unknown Qarakhanid ruler.

Closing Date and Time: 9 August 2024 at 16:09:40 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee.

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