ISLAMIC, Mongols. Great Khans. temp. Töregene Khatun. Regent, AH 639-644 / AD 1241-1246. AR 10 Dirhams (31mm, 28.39 g, 11h). In the name of the ‘Abbasid caliph al-Musta’sim billah. al-Kurraman mint. Dated AH 641 (AD 1243/4).

CNG Feature Auction 114
Lot: 1090.

360 Photo, Early Medieval & Islamic, Silver

Estimate: $ 20 000

Go to Live

ISLAMIC, Mongols. Great Khans. temp. Töregene Khatun. Regent, AH 639-644 / AD 1241-1246. AR 10 Dirhams (31mm, 28.39 g, 11h). In the name of the ‘Abbasid caliph al-Musta’sim billah. al-Kurraman mint. Dated AH 641 (AD 1243/4). al-musta’sim/billah al-’amīr/al-mūminīn in Arabic in three lines; all within linear quadrate border within double linear and pelleted border; ornaments in voids / zuriba hazā/fī al-balad/al-kurraman in Arabic in three lines; all within linear quadrate border within double linear and pelleted border; sanat ihdā wa arba’īn wa sittmi’at (date) in Arabic in voids. Nyamaa –; Album –; ICV –; Zeno 148091 = NGSA VIII, lot 289 (same dies); Triton XXIII, lot 949 (same dies); Triton XXII, lot 1234 (same dies). Areas of toning, die break on obverse, test cut. VF. The fourth to appear at auction.

Previously unpublished until the appearance of the Numismatica Genevensis SA coin, this 10 dirhams represents an important period in Mongol history. Following the Mongol conquest of eastern Afghanistan in AH 618 (AD 1221/2), the inhabitants of al-Kurraman, a river district in what are today the tribal borderlands between Afghanistan and Pakistan, showed their allegiance to the Mongols by striking coinage in the name of the Great Khan. Following the death of Ögedei Khan in AH 639 (AD 1241), a period of turmoil followed over the succession. Ögedei Khan's wife, Töregene (Turakina) became regent, serving until her son Güyük was elected Great Khan in AH 644 (AD 1246). During this regency, Töregene ruled with complete authority as Great Khatun – female counterpart to the Great Khan.

On this coin, however, neither Töregene's name or title appears. Instead, the Abbasid caliph al-Musta'sim is cited as al-'amīr al-mūminīn – the religious and spiritual authority. During this uncertain period among their Mongol overlords, the al-Kurraman mint may have felt it prudent to strike a non-partisan issue in the name of the current 'Abbasid caliph. Whether used as tribute to the caliph in Baghdad, as payment for soldiery employed by Töregene, or to buy the loyalty of the locals, these coins were quickly melted and reused, thus making them exceedingly rare. The last known coinage from this mint was struck in the name of the Great Khan Möngke, after which this mint disappears from the numismatic records.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 114 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 13-14 May 2020. This lot is in Session 4, which begins 14 May 2020 at 2 PM ET.

UPDATE: As the CNG staff and many of our clients remain under social distancing and other restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CNG 114 will be held as an internet only auction. The sale will take place as scheduled on 13-14 May 2020.

Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 22.50% for all others.

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