Nastich Abbasid AE Coinage of Transoxiana

VLADIMIR N.
NASTICH
A Survey of the
ABBASID COPPER COINAGE OF TRANSOXIANA
Kish, 173 AH. Unique
CONTENTS (navigable list)*

Section
Page
INTRODUCTION
A. MAIN TYPE ASSORTMENT, TURNING TO BE TWICE AS NUMEROUS
Verifiable Attributions
B. MORE PUZZLES TO SOLVE
Coin Types with Incomplete or Unreliable Attributions
C. COUNTER-DISCOVERIES ALSO HAPPEN...
Unconfirmed and Erroneous Attributions
CONCLUSION
ABBSID GOVERNORS OF KHURSN
A tentative list
ABBSID COPPER-MINTING CENTRES OF M WAR AL-NAHR
a. Annotated list of mint names
b. Schematic map
2
7
45
52
58
59
61
63
PERSONAL NAMES ENCOUNTERED IN COIN LEGENDS
64
BIBLIOGRAPHY
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
69
74
80
* Text elements accentuated in green serve as hyperlinks to the respective parts of

the work (and back). Blue highlighting contains links to external Internet resources.
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Contents
Governors
of Khursn
A. Main Assortment B. Puzzles to Solve
C. Unconfirmed
Conclusion
Abbsid Copper Minting Centres
Personal Names
in Coin Legends
Bibliography
a. Annotated list
b. Schematic map
Illustrations
INTRODUCTION
The suggested survey* deals with a group of early Islamic, mostly
Abbsid, copper coins (Arab. sg.
fals, pl.
fuls) produced in the
towns of M war al-Nahr (otherwise Transoxiana)1 during about a century from the incorporation of the area into the Arab Caliphate till the
formation of autonomous hirid and Smnid states, respectively the
middle of the 8th first quarter of the 9th centuries CE. However, the work
does not claim to be a detailed in-depth study, which the material definitely warrants and which hopefully will be done in the future.
The traditional written records from the period under review are rather
scanty and the information they provide is neither complete nor entirely
reliable; in these conditions, the coins can be considered (and often become) a primary historical source. Recent finds in Middle Asia prove once
again that in many aspects they fulfil that need. How meager the numismatic research base concerning those remote ages was until lately, can be
seen from the comprehensive Type Corpus Early Abbsid Coinage compiled
up to 1986 by the late lamented Nicholas Lowick. Of the 33 entries, covering the copper coinage of Transoxiana [LOWICK 1996: pp. 38285, Nos. 816
48], 4 belong to hirs governorship (205 AH / 820 CE and later), 14 repre* A considerably revised and supplemented version of the article Early Islamic Copper Coinage of Transoxiana: A Generic Survey Focused on Newly Discovered Coin Types,
published recently in: Third Assemani Symposium on Islamic Coins [NASTICH 2012: pp. 14490].
Also Transoxania (both terms being of Latin origin), equal to Arab.
m
war al-nahr [the land] that is behind the river [Oxus = Am Dary]; a normal Russian
appellation for the region is Middle Asia (see for instance [BREGEL 1996: pp.
13], including a concise bibliography of the topic). Although the latter term is not basically recognized as common in Western usage, possibly because it may also embrace
some adjacent regions like parts of the Marw oasis, Khorezm or historical greater Turkestan (now mostly in Xinjiang, Peoples Republic of China, and partly in Afghanistan), I
will sometimes mention it instead of the prolix M war al-Nahr or heterogenous Transoxiana/Transoxania, especially where it does not imply an opposition to Khursn in the
proper sense.
1
Head of Introduction
ABBSID COPPER COINAGE OF TRANSOXIANA
sent doubtful, unconfirmable or plainly erroneous attributions, while only

15 descriptions (viz. 12 different types) of copper fuls struck at Bukhr
and Samarqand alone can be considered reliable. Since then, mostly due
to private searches rather than regular professional excavations, numerous coins of formerly unknown types and dates of issue, fabricated in a
dozen Middle Asian minting towns, have been detected. Many of them
bear the names of Abbsid vice-regents, local governors, commanders,
prefects, and other figures who held different official posts in the towns
and regions of Middle Asia; some of the names are absent from any other
written sources relating to those times.
While becoming established in M war al-Nahr, the newly conquered
province of the Caliphate officially attached to Khursn, and arranging
the trade and coinage in that region, the Arab officials did not do that job
from scratch, since a number of local states and domains had already existed there with somewhat developed political, economic, and social institutions, including coin production and money circulation. By that time,
Fig. 1
copper and bronze coins were commonly cast or (less often) struck at Bukhr, Paykand, Samarqand, Panjikand, Kish (Kesh, later Shahrisabz),
Nakhsheb (later Nasaf/Qarsh), more distant Farghna, Chch (later alShsh, now district of Tashkent), [al-]rban[d] (Prb/Otrar) (Fig. 1, ad)2
and a few other domains, towns and settlements. Silver coins, reportedly
The image set normally reflects the relative coin dimensions. Where possible, image
sources and metrological data of the illustrated specimens are indicated in the List of
Illustrations.
2
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
issued only in Bukhran Soghd and Tokharistan, were conformed to the

so-called Bukhrkhud[t] portrait type, initially imitating the Ssnian
drachms of Varhran V (42038 CE). The copper coins were furnished with
inscriptions in Soghdian, Khwrezmian (Chorasmian), possibly some other
Iranian languages, also in various local writing modifications, as well as
Turkic and even imitative Chinese.
With the advent of Islam some of the above mentioned mints were closed,
but some went on working, as they adapted or reoriented to the production of Islamic money issues (Fig. 2, af). The bulk of regional copper coin
production in that period, however, came to the markets of Transoxiana
Fig. 2
from Bukhr and Samarqand. Even as late as the middle of the 20th century, only three mint towns in Transoxiana were recognized in preSmnid times [FRYE 1949: p. 3031, note 108 (with reference to Ibn
awqal), and p. 34] namely Bukhr, Samarqand and Ilq (al-Shsh);
however, the latters putative copper fals dated 166/7823, mentioned in
the cited work [FRYE 1949: p. 35], is in fact a result of misreading, as clearly
follows from Tiesenhausens footnote to No. 1008 [TIESENHAUZEN 1873: p.
110], let alone the fact that Ilq and al-Shsh were adjacent, sometimes
joint, but never one and the same entity; on this ground, the Ilq mint
must be eliminated from the quoted list. Properly speaking, the two prin-
cipal mints (especially Bukhr with its wide variety of the names of local
officials3) were from the very beginning well-known to historians, as their
copper production was represented in relative abundance both in archeological findings and numismatic collections. However, a good deal of transitional issues initially using the Arabic script for coin legends cannot be
regarded as Islamic in the strict sense only because they simply gave
place to the newcomers language, albeit in some cases the script alone.
The first copper coin type, purely Islamic by definition that could belong
to local production, must be an undated and mintless issue, related to
the period between 90/709 96/715 and cast (not struck!) in the name of
al-amr al-manr (the victorious commander)
Qutaybah b. Muslim, a prominent Arab conqueror of M war al-Nahr,
whose name is written in the Kfi script in 3 lines, filling the whole area of
one side of the coin (just with
above
), while the other
side contains an indication of the ratio with silver coins one hundred
twenty to a dirham
(Fig. 3). Two of the three
known examples of this highly important and interesting type are posted
Fig. 3
on [ZENO: #13823 and #13824]. Based on the findspots of the specimens

known so far (the Bukhr oasis and nowadays Turkmenia), the publisher
of this coinage [KALININ 2005] implies its Transoxanian provenance, of
which however no direct proof exists as yet; besides, it comes from the
Umayyad period and formally falls beyond the chronological scope of the
present paper; nevertheless I could not leave this noteworthy and historically important coin type, perhaps the first really Islamic issue in the given area, without at least a brief annotation.
3
According to E. von Zambaur, die Kupferprgen von Bukhr des II. und III. Jhd. H.
zeichen sich durch eine besondere Flle von Beamtennamen aus [ZAMBAUR 1968: p. 67].
As we shall see below, the present-day reality proves the truth of these words not only in
respect of the mint of Bukhr but the Abbsid copper coinage of the region in general.
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
The ensuing survey embraces all copper coin types (fuls), hitherto known
to the author as issued and circulated in Middle Asia during the period of
Abbsid rule, with legible mint names, dates (always in Arabic words,
never in figures), issuers names and titles etc., identified through direct
reading of coin legends or verifiable otherwise with more or less confidence (this set is described in part A: MAIN TYPE ASSORTMENT ). Real
coin types, regularly encountered in the area and presumed to have belonged to local production but for different reasons (mainly for the lack of
mint names on them) unamenable to precise determination so far, are also included (part B: MORE PUZZLES TO SOLVE). Separate items are arranged in chronological order, according to the succession of governors of
Khursn appointed by Abbsid caliphs from Baghdad; as now appears
contrary to previous notions, the majority of those governors are eventually found mentioned on the inspected coins. The main description is followed by a brief review of doubtful and unconfirmable definitions (part C:
COUNTER-DISCOVERIES ). Many of the latter ones, recognized as plainly
erroneous and thus believed to be non-existent at all, still cannot be completely neglected due to rather frequent mentions in numismatic publications (especially those cited and considered as trustworthy4), and therefore obviously require appropriate comments.
The fuls struck after 205/821 under hir b. al-usayn and his descendants regarded in many aspects as the first autonomous rulers rather than
the last legitimate Abbsid governors, as well as the known earliest copper coins of Smnid amr N b. Asad, are not considered in the present
work. Equally omitted is the copper production of other Khursnian or
Khwrizmian mints located in greater or lesser proximity west and south
of Oxus / Amu Darya (Marw, Balkh, Hart, mul et al.), although significantly represented among the Middle Asian finds, yet still originating
from beyond Transoxiana as the strict geographical scope of my survey.
[FRAEHN 1826; TIESENHAUZEN 1873; MARKOV 1896; LOWICK 1996] et al., let alone [SHAMMA
1998] with numerous inaccuracies namely in KHURASAN and JAXARTES & SUGHD sections.

Introduction
Contents
Governors
of Khursn
a. Annotated list
B. Puzzles to Solve

b. Schematic map
C. Unconfirmed
Conclusion
Personal Names
in Coin Legends
Bibliography
Illustrations
A. MAIN TYPE ASSORTMENT, TURNING TO BE TWICE AS NUMEROUS

VERIFIABLE ATTRIBUTIONS
ABD AL-RAMN b. MUSLIM
(governor of Khursn, 131/749 137/755)5
The first Abbsid governor of Khursn, more often called Ab Muslim
[al-Khursn], originally was one of the most active leaders of the antiUmayyad movement. Numerous copper coins issued in his name, dated
successively from 131 to 137 AH, representing four different varieties at
least, always with Qurn, 42:23 in marginal legends, typical for the coinage of anti-Umayyad rebels throughout the transitional period, generally
lack the mint name(s) and thus cannot be attributed with confidence to
specific Transoxanian localities. Although tentatively believed to be produced at Marw [VLOTEN 1892: p. 441; ZAMBAUR 1968: p. 23839, notes 1, 5, 16;
et al.]6, they are frequently encountered in different places of Middle Asia7
and for this reason should be considered an integral part of local monetary circulation. Nevertheless, three distinct coin types struck in Ab Muslims name with dates 131, 132 and 137 AH are excluded from this survey,
based on the fact that they do not occur among the numismatic finds in
5
Some of the following dates shown as the governors ruling periods (both in the subheadings and the respective list added below) are tentative due to lack of agreement
between the basic written sources on the topic (AL-ABAR, GARDZ, AL-YAQB et al.).
6
Sometimes Nsbr (Naysbr) was also suggested as the mint name, however without justification; see for instance [GUEST 1932: p. 556].
7
In particular, a number of copper fuls dated 133 to 136 AH is known to me as certainly excavated or lifted in the regions of Surkhan Darya (ancient aghniyn), Bukhara
and Tashkent (ancient Chach/Shsh). The same observation for the region of Bukhr
has even enabled Dr. Boris D. Kochnev to admit that at least part of them could have
been produced in those locations: le grand nombre de ces fels trouvs dans loasis de
Boukhara permet de supposer quune partie dentre eux au moins taient frapps dans
cette ville [KOCHNEV 2001a: p. 146, note 12].
Head of Section A
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Middle Asia. However, a detailed review of the entire series is well represented in two apparently most informative publications [WURTZEL 1978:
pp. 188, 19293, Nos. 3637; BATES 2003: pp. 29899 and 309].
No mint name, 133136 AH (Fig. 4, ad)
All available dates of issue show the same uniform type.
Obv.8 field
circle around;
(Kalima-I) in 3 lines; a linear or dotted
Fig. 4
Obv. margin
bismi-llh9 amara bihi al-amr Abd al-Ramn b. Muslim and date (133 to 136
respectively.
Rev. field
(Kalima-II) in 2 lines, divided with a fancy
Here and elsewhere onward, Obv. stands for obverse and Rev. for reverse. If not
indicated otherwise, the Obv. field would contain Kalima-I
(normally in
3 lines; sometimes without
, often in different line layout and initially without
; later, on the fuls of al-aghniyn after 146 AH and elsewhere after 172 AH,
with this latter element), the Rev. field is furnished respectively with Kalima-II
(generally as in the present description but more often in 3 lines, which is
specified in every case).
9
In all cases when letter alif indicates the long vowel , it is shown in the phonemic
transcription of coin legends as . However, a few Arabic names and words, pronounced
with long but traditionally written without graphic indication (for instance
,
,
,
and some others), as well as the long shown by means of final
(alif
maksra, as in
yay or preposition
al) are indicated with instead of respectively allh, wilya[t], yay, al etc.
Head of Section A
pattern (horizontal lozenge, often double-line and with a dot in the centre, and two palmettes at the edges); a linear circle around;
Rev. margin
qul l
asalukum alayhi aran ill al-mawaddah fl-qurb (Qurn, 42:23), divided
into 4 parts with triple annulets.
Coins of this type are relatively widespread and now represented in many
collections [FRAEHN 1826: p. 18, Nos. 34; TIESENHAUZEN 1873: pp. 6567, Nos.
665, 673, 681, 687; MARKOV 1896: p. 14, Nos. 1618, 21; WURTZEL 1978: p. 193,
Nos. 3841; et al.]; see also ZENO: directory anti-Umayyad rebels.
AB DAD KHLID b. IBRHM
(governor of Khursn, 137/755 140/757-8)
According to al-abar, Khlid b. Ibrhm was Ab Muslims lieutenant,
after the death of the latter in 137/754-5, the caliph Ab Jafar al-Manr
appointed him governor over Khursn; he was killed in 140/757-8.
No mint name, 138 AH (Fig. 5, ab)
Obv. field standard Kalima-I
cle around;
in 3 lines, a dotted cir-
Obv. margin
llh amara bihi al-amr lid b. Ibrhm and date 138.
bismi-
Fig. 5
Rev. field Kalima-II

in 3 lines; 3 big annulets
placed above and below, a dotted circle around;
Rev. margin
42:23), divided into 4 parts with twofold annulets.
(Qurn,
Reference: [FRAEHN 1826: p. 19, No. 10; TIESENHAUSEN 1873: p. 68, No. 695;
WURTZEL 1978: p. 196, No. 46]. Initially I could not find a specimen to pic-
Head of Section A
10
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
ture in the printed article; now I have two of them thanks to the courtesy
of Stephen L. Giles (USA) and Leonid N. Shabaev (Puschino, Moscow region), together with a reminder of another similar piece of much worse
condition, placed on Zeno (#108508; identified as Marw?).
It is worth mentioning that all available specimens display the twofold
annulets as delimiters of marginal text on Rev., whereas Tiesenhausen
shows in symbols and Wurtzel tells in words about four pyramids of three
points or annulets in the same places. Both authors, however, seem to
uncritically follow Fraehns passing reference to his description No. 3 as a
type parallel. So my opinion is that it should not go about two die varieties, just about a number of wrong definitions arisen under the hypnosis
of authority, without seeing a real coin.
No mint name, 139 AH (Fig. 6)
Obv. field Kalima-I
in 2 lines, divided in the middle
with a crescent flanked with two 8-pointed asterisks;
Obv. margin
42:23), divided into 4 parts with single annulets.
(Qurn,
Fig. 6

with a fancy pattern
in 2 lines, divided in the middle

, also flanked with 8-pointed asterisks;
Rev. margin
amara al-amr lid b. Ibrhm and date 139.
bismi-llh
The mint name was not indicated on these coins, so their actual provenance is not established so far, but specimens of this type are rather frequent among the findings in and around Bukhr. An identical coin is in
Tbingen (inventory No. 91-12-1), which M. Bates examined in 1991 and
2002. The date was formerly identified as 129, but on better preserved
specimens (including authors private collection), 139 is clear enough. The
11
Head of Section A
governors name has not been preserved in full on any of the accessible
specimens, so the proposed reading is in fact a type reconstruction.
No mint name, no date (Fig. 7)
Small module, cast.
Obv. field abridged Kalima-I in 2 lines, divided as
circle composed of merged tiny dots around;
Obv. margin Qurn, 42:23
, a linear
.
Fig. 7
Rev. field standard Kalima-II

around;
Rev. margin
bihi al-amr lid b. Ibrhm.
in 3 lines, a dotted circle

bismi-llh mimm amara
Reportedly found in the Surkhan Darya region (ancient aghniyn). Two

specimens are posted on [ZENO: #111359 and #111360], two more pieces in
a private collection (Russia)10.
ABD AL-JABBR b. ABD AL-RAMN
(governor of Khursn, 140/758 141/759)
Abd al-Jabbr b. Abd al-Ramn was appointed governor by al-Manr
in 140/758, but soon refused to recognize the caliphs suzerainty and expressed the aspiration for the autonomy of Khursn, which resulted in
his dismissal and execution in the following year.
Small module, cast.
10
Here and further on, anonymous references to private collections imply that the
owners of the cited coins did not authorize mentioning their names.
Head of Section A
12
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Obv. field abridged Kalima-I

dotted circle around;
in 2 lines, 3 beads
Obv. margin
wal-adl <>.
below, a
[amara] Allh bil-waf
Fig. 8
in 3 lines, a dotted circle around;
Rev. margin
amara bihi Ab]d al-abbr b. Abd al-Ramn.
bismi-llh [mimm
A single specimen, reportedly unearthed in the Surkhan Darya region (ancient aghniyn. Despite considerable damage, its principal legends are
still fairly readable and alongside the ornamental setting coincide with
[LOWICK 1996: pp. 38687, No. 869] (identified as Khurasan, ca 140 AH).
MUAMMAD AL-MAHD, SON AND HEIR-APPARENT OF CALIPH AL-MANR
(governor of Khursn, 141/759 150/767 or 151/768;
later, until about 155/772, honorary leader of all al-Mashriq)
In 141/759, the second Abbsid caliph Ab Jafar al-Manr appointed his
son and heir-apparent Muammad al-Mahd governor of Khursn. During the next 10 years, most of the copper coins in M war al-Nahr, perhaps save for the earliest issues, were normally struck or cast with the
names of amr al-Mahd (placed for the first time on copper fuls of Bukhr in 143/760-1; see below) and regional officials
amr = commander,
mil = officer, agent, clerk, probably also [local or subordinate] governor, sometimes prefect, often introduced by
(rarely
or just
) or else within the clauses
(later more correctly
) during the governorship [of ],
or (for minor
executives)
in the presence [of ] (literally: on both hands), etc.
Throughout al-Mahds tenure as governor of Khursn, his duties in that
capacity were reportedly performed by his deputies, whose names seem
to have never appeared on the Transoxanian coins of the cited period; dif-
13
Head of Section A
ferent sources offer controversial data regarding their terms of service

and even their real number (fluctuating from one to four), so I skip them
here as irrelevant to the subject.
Apart from the above-reviewed copper fuls issued without mint name(s),
undated or with lost years, let alone an often mentioned but extremely
doubtful mystical fals of Bukhr, allegedly dated 138 AH and very likely
nonexistent (see below), the earliest date fixed with confidence for the
Abbsid copper coinage in Transoxiana is 142 AH (759-60).
al-aghniyn, 142 AH (Fig. 9, ac)
Cast or struck on cast flans.
Obv. field a square lozenge with straight (variant a) or concave sides
(variant b) and palmettes crowning each of the closed angles or expanding from the unclosed ends (variant c), all variants with a dot in the centre
and a circle of merged dots around;
Obv. margin
llh uriba h al-fals bil-aniyn and date 142.
bismi-
Fig. 9
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, a circle of merged dots around;

Rev. margin
bismi-llh amara bihi al-amr Ab S.k.rah (?) mil al-amr al-asan b. .mrn.
At the time of this publication, 6 specimens are known, all with considerable defects. The type was first published with partially identified date
(14) and wrongly read amrs name (
instead of
) [RTVELADZE
1985: pp. 3940; LOWICK 1996: pp. 38485, No. 837]. Al-asan b. amrn is
Head of Section A
14
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
known as governor of Balkh (fl. 14245 AH), both from narrative sources
[AL-ABAR 1987: p. 350; GARDZ 1991: p. 43] and coin legends [NASTI 2000:
pp. 10607; LOWICK 1996: pp. 378-79, No. 775; BATES 2003: pp. 295 and 316,
note 38; TREADWELL 2006 Balkh and al-Tirmidh]; (see also next entry). In
Tarkh by al-abar [cited above] this name is disfigured into al-asan b.
amdn (definitely a lapsus calami). M. Bates and L. Treadwell [cit. sup.],
obviously in parallel with C.E. Bosworth (The Ornament of Histories, London
2011) and other English language authors, spell the patronymic as umrn, whereas I prefer amrn, as it was given for instance in [GARDZ 1991:
p. 43]. However, it may well happen that either of the latter versions is
acceptable.
I could not identify the person hidden behind the name
||
? = Ab akrah || ukrah || akarah? The only known person bearing
a somewhat similar name
Ab Shkir, mentioned by [AL-ABAR
1987: p. 349], was a warlord called to Ab Muslims audience in 135 AH on
the occasion of his denial to recognize the rebel Ziyd b. li; however, it
seems very unlikely for these persons to be comparable.
al-Tirmidh, 142 AH (Fig. 10, a)
Obv. field a broad double circle of merged dots (variants a and b a
regular full-line ring, variant c uneven beaded ovals), virtually empty,
save for a dot in the middle (absent in variant b).
Fig. 10
Obv. margin
llh uriba al-fals bil-Tirmi and date 142.
Rev. field
around;
Rev. margin
bismi-
al-amdu lillh in 2 lines, a circle of merged dots

mimm
15
Head of Section A
amara bihi Ibrhm b. Mhn mil al-amr al-asan b. amrn.

Three pieces are known to me thus far; first published in [NASTI 2000: pp.
10607]. Ibrhm b. Mhn is virtually unknown from other sources; for
al-asan b. amrn see above, under al-aghniyn, 142 AH.
The main peculiarity of these coins consists in using the Arabic article
= al- preceding the mint name Tirmi; as far as I can judge, the cited fact
is the first and virtually unique that never recurred in the long and various coinage of this town.
A common-looking Abbsid fals without any special features.
Obv. field Kalima-I in 3 lines;
Obv. margin
uriba al yaday Mu and date 142; a double-line outer rim.
bismi-llh
Fig. 11
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, a linear circle around;

Rev. margin
al-amr Muammad b. amr al-muminn akramahu Allh.
mimm amara bihi
The only mention of this type I could come across was in [LOWICK 1996: p.
38687, No. 850], however without any further data, except for vague references to Tbingen (21mm, 1.93g) and Paris (photo). The represented
specimen was reportedly found quite recently in the Bukhara region.
The name Mu, despite its solitary use, seems to be identified with
enough certitude: taking into account its relative rarity alongside the frequency of mentions in different sources [cf. CRONE 2003: p. 18384], I would
venture to collate it with Mudh b. Muslim al-Dhuhl a prominent person in the history of Transoxiana, first mentioned in 149-50 AH among the
troops defeated by al-Muqanna, later (in 16063 AH) governor of
Head of Section A
16
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Khursn, and incidentally father of Yay (see below, No mint name, 174
AH). So if this comparison makes sense, the fals under review renders the
earliest mention of this actor; just no hint could be detected as to where
exactly he could strike these mintless coins with his own and amr
Muammads (governor al-Mahds) names as early as 142 AH.
Bukhr, 143 AH (Fig. 12, ad)
Obv. field Kalima-I in 3 lines with different layout:
(variant a);
(variants b and c);
(variant d), with or without a dot in the centre; a circle of merged dots
around.
Obv. margin
bi-Bur and date 143.
bismi-llh uriba
Fig. 12
, a dotted circle around;
Rev. margin
amara bihi al-amr al-Aa f wilyat al-Mahd al-amr Muammad b. amr almuminn (variant a only); known also without
before
(variants bd) and also with one or more omissions and graphic errors
||
(variant c).
Head of Section A
17
The type is encountered rather frequently (for instance, 19 specimens in

the State Hermitage alone). First published in [FRAEHN 1826: pp. 2122,
No. 22], since then more than once in [TIESENHAUSEN 1873: pp. 7172, No.
724; MARKOV 1896: p. 16, Nos. 4950; LOWICK 1996: pp. 38283, Nos. 81920;
SHAMMA 1998: p. 327, No.(3); et al.]
Amr al-Ashath b. Yay, witnessed by coins as governor of Bukhr in
143 AH and of Samarqand in the following year (see below, Samarqand,
144 AH), is a figure scarcely found in historical written sources. No such
mentions are known to [BATES 2003: p. 293], while [TREADWELL 2006] refers
in this connection to [AKHBR 1997: pp. 22122], and Ibn al-Kalb 1408, p.
264 (till now I had no chance to come across the latter source).
Samarqand, 143 AH (Fig. 13, ab)
Obv. field Kalima-I in 3 lines, a 6-ray solar rosette with tips curved
clockwise (a tamgha?) below, beaded rim around;
Obv. margin
bi-Samarqand and date 143.
bismi-llh uriba
Fig. 13
Rev. field Qurn, 42:23

lines, 3 dots below, beaded rim around;
in 3
Rev. margin
||
amara bihi al-amr Dd b. K.rr || K.rz (?) f wilyat Muammad b. amr almuminn.
Marginal legends on both sides may start at different points relative to
the field legends, as can be seen on the represented images a and b; in particular, 1h, 4h, 12h positions for Obv. and 0h 30', 4h, 9h, 11h for Rev. have
been observed.
The type is very common [MARKOV 1896: p. 16, No. 51; SMIRNOVA 1963: pp.
Head of Section A
18
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
13941, Nos. 799814; LOWICK 1996: pp. 38485, Nos. 83839; et al.]; known
in many weight and size varieties (from above 22 down to 1516mm), thus
sometimes looking like different denominations. According to [TREADWELL
2006], Arabic written sources citing amr Dd (al-abar, al-Baldhur,
Ibn al-Athr), reflect his patronymic name in a number of graphic (respetively phonemic) varieties Karr; Karrz; Kardh; K.w.r; K.r.r; etc.,
none of which can be confidently taken for unique and reliable. M. Bates
spells it Karr and insists that the person is otherwise unknown [BATES
2003: p. 294]. Russian authors, evidently following [SMIRNOVA 1963: p. 139],
without any explanation or reference call him Dd, son of Gurz.
Samarqand, 144 AH (Fig. 14, ab)
Obv. margin
bi-Samarqand and date 144.
bismi-llh uriba
Fig. 14
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, a Soghdian tamgha
below;
Rev. margin
amara bihi al-Aa b. Yay f wilyat al-Mahd al-amr Muammad b. amr almuminn; known also with a few graphic errors
or
instead
of
.
the field legends, as can be seen on the represented images a and b; in particular, 2h, 4h, 6h, 11h 30' positions for Obv. and 1h 30', 5h, 8h, 10h, 12h for
Rev. have been observed.
A well-known abundant issue [MARKOV 1896: p. 16, No. 56; SMIRNOVA 1963:
pp. 14149, Nos. 815902; LOWICK 1996: pp. 38485, No. 840; SHAMMA 1998: p.
334, No.(2); et al.] , represented in many museums and private collections.
For amr al-Ashath b. Yay see above, under Bukhr, 143 AH.
Head of Section A
19
al-aghniyn, 146 AH (Fig. 15, ab)

Obv. field full Kalima-I
circle around;
in 3 lines, dotted
Obv. margin
llh uriba h al-fals bil-aniyn and date 146.
bismi-
Fig. 15

in 2 lines, divided with a horizontal
lozenge-shaped fancy pattern with palmettes at the edges in the middle,
almost exactly as on the coins of Ab Muslim examined above, just without a central dot;
Rev. margin
amara bihi al-amr Ab im (?) f wilyat Muammad al-Mahd b. amr almuminn.
The type is still unpublished. Three specimens known, all in rather mediocre condition. The legends could be deciphered only through crosscomparison of all partially preserved portions. The name of a local amr is
therefore postulated without full credence.
A certain Ab im (Abd al-Ramn b. Sulaym) was mentioned in [ALABAR 1987: p. 313] as Ab Muslims envoy to liqn under 129 AH; otherwise this amr could be identical with the same al-Ashath b. Yay,
governor of Bukhr in 143/760-1 and Samarqand in 144/761-2 (see
above), whose kunya, according to [AKHBR 1997, p. 221], also was Ab im
[TREADWELL 2006].
Bukhr, 148 AH (Fig. 16)
Obv. field Kalima-I in 3 lines, a 6-pointed asterisk below, beaded circle
around;
Head of Section A
20
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Obv. margin
bismillh uriba bi-Bur and date 148, divided into 3 parts with annulets having a dot inside.
Fig. 16
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, Bukhran tamgha flanked with two 3-dot
sets
below, beaded circle around;
Rev. margin
amara bihi Mabad f wilyat al-Mahd waliyy ahd al-muslimn Muammad b.
amr al-muminn.
The type is well-known and widespread [FRAEHN 1826: p. 24, No. 35;
TIESENHAUSEN 1873: p. 81, No. 779; MARKOV 1896: p. 17, Nos. 9192; SMIRNOVA
1963: pp. 14950, Nos. 90310; LOWICK 1996: pp. 38283, No. 823; SHAMMA
1998: p. 328, No.(6); et al.].
Mabad [b. Khall] (reportedly born in Marw and died as governor of Sind
in 159/776) was a prominent functionary mentioned in a number of
sources (al-abar, Narshakh, Ibn al-Kalb, etc.); the inspected coin shows
that in 148/765 he was acting as amr of Bukhr.
al-aghniyn (?), 148 AH (Fig. 17)
Obv. field full Kalima-I in 3 lines; a dotted star-like sign (variant a) or
kind of trident (variant b) above, tamgha-like sign below;
Fig. 17
Obv. margin (instead of the circular legend) a double linear rim with
broad zigzag pattern and 3 evenly placed annulets inside.
21
Head of Section A
Rev. field
mimm amara bihi alMahd Muammad b. amr al-muminn, in 3 lines, dotted circle around;
Rev. margin
llh <> al-fals bil-.ny.n (!) [variant b
ble strike] and date 148.
bismi, perhaps due to dou-
Four specimens known so far, three of which are present on [ZENO: #25332,
#50418 and #105103). First published in [RTVELADZE 1985: p. 39 and pl. I]
with wrong attribution (the mint name defined as al-ra and the date
deciphered as 146). The marginal legend on two of the above inspected
specimens is virtually lost, while the other two expose the mint name in
blundered spelling, however, conventionally recognizable as distorted alaghniyn, unlike the issue of 146 AH (see above), showing the mint
name in the perfect way, apropos, also with the Arabic article = , which
was regularly used on the coins of aghniyn until the early 13th century.
al-Shsh, 149 AH (Fig. 18, ad)
Obv. field Kalima-I
in 3 lines, beaded circle around;
Obv. margin
Mahd and date 149.
bismi-llh wilyat al-
Fig. 18
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, beaded circle around;

Rev. margin
Sad b. Yay uriba bil- sittn bi-dirham.
amara (or amru)
Recently discovered [NASTI 2000: p. 107] but proved not to be especially
Head of Section A
22
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
rare (above 30 pieces are presently known to the author). Actually denominated with the clause
sixty to a dirham (variant a), on some
specimens carved as
(variant b),
(variant c) or even
(variant d). Separate dies show numerous other errors and omissions in the legends on both sides, most of which were recorded in [FARR,
NASTICH 2001: p. 13].
The cited amr Sad b. Yay, according to [TREADWELL 2006], may have
been a brother of Ashath b. Yay, governor of Bukhr and Samarqand
in the mid-140s (see above, Bukhr, 143 AH and Samarqand, 144 AH).
Bukhr, 151 AH (Fig. 19, ab)
Obv. field Kalima-I in 3 lines, no rim around;
Obv. margin
uriba bi-Bur and date 151.
bismi-llh
Fig. 19

in 2 lines, divided by an oblong
decorative cartouche in a way similar to the fuls of Ab Muslim and
al-aghniyn, 146 AH (see above); no rim around;
Rev. margin
bihi al-unayd b. lid mil al-imm al-Mahd waliyy ahd al-muslimn.
amara

the field legends, as can be seen on the represented images a and b; in particular, 1h to 2h positions for Obv. and from 1h to 4h for Rev. have been
observed.
The type is wide-spread and long known [TIESENHAUSEN 1873: pp. 8384, No.
802; MARKOV 1896: p. 18, Nos. 11213; SMIRNOVA 1963: pp. 15153, Nos. 916
28; LOWICK 1996: pp. 38283, No. 825; SHAMMA 1998: p. 328, No.(7); et al.].
The calligraphic style of Kf inscriptions exposes an obvious similarity
with late Umayyad and contemporary Abbsid gold dnr issues. I feel no
Head of Section A
23
need to give special references to the design analogies, as those are too
numerous and easily accessible from many sources, printed or Internetposted; compare for example with [ZENO: #58415], dated 151 AH as well; see
also Samarqand, 172 AH (subtype A) and Kish, 173 AH.
The title
al-amr, normally used in this position (before governor alMahds name) on the coins of other types, is replaced on Rev. of the reviewed fals with
al-imm, which in some dies of this type is spelled as
. Separate specimens show considerable fluctuations of weight (from
above 2.4 down to 0.7 g) and size (from about 19 down to almost 13mm),
virtually looking like different denominations; however, the absence of
more or less regular intervals between the real weights allowing rational
multiple values actually discounts this observation.
According to [AL-ABAR 1987: p. 354], Mabad b. al-Khall al-Muzn (see
above, under Bukhr, 148 AH) and al-Junayd b. Khlid b. arm alTaghlib were flogged and imprisoned in 140/758 by governor Abd alJabbr; later, in 163/780, al-Junayd b. Khlid was amr of Bukhr
[NARSHAKH 1897: p. 92]. The inspected coins show that he acted in the latter capacity for the first time in 151/768.
UMAYD b. QAABA
(governor of Khursn, 151 or 152/768 159/776)
According to [GARDZ 1991: p. 44], caliph al-Manr appointed umayd b.
Qaaba governor of Khursn on the 1st of Shaban 151/768; [AL-ABAR
1987: p. 361] dated the same event to 152/769, while [AL-YAQB 2011: p.
69] mentioned him in the same capacity (his tenure having been interrupted once) but without exact dates. umayd b. Qaaba held that office
until his death in 159/776. It was during his term of service that the religious leader Hshim b. akm (apud al-Muqanna) raised his revolt.
[al-]aghniyn, 153 AH (Fig. 20)
Apparently cast.
Obv. field an 8-pointed design (octogramme) with a bead in the middle,
a dotted circle around;
Head of Section A
24
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Obv. margin
bismi-llh
uri[ba etc. <> bil]-aniyn and date 153 in an amusingly wrong spelling,
which allows to read it as 503.
Fig. 20
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, a beaded circle around;

Rev. margin
is gone.
mimm amara bihi al-amr <>, all the rest
Three specimens known so far, the first (and the least worn) one of which,
unearthed in 2008 on the citadel of ancient Termez, is now kept in the Institute of Archeology, Republic of Uzbekistan (Samarkand)11. Its surface
has been crudely cleaned, the damaged legends only permit guessing rather than coherent reading; nevertheless, the mint name is fairly visible.
The year of issue, had it been actually 503 AH, should belong to the Qarakhanid period (respectively 110910 CE), which is absolutely impossible for
many reasons, including coin type in general, content of legends, writing
style, flan and die/mold producing technology et al. These characteristics
are normal for the Abbsid time but never observed in aggregate after
the middle of the 10th century.
Samarqand, 153 AH (Fig. 21, ac)
All real specimens known to me are rather neatly cast.
Obv. field Kalima-I in 3 lines, no rim around;
Obv. margin
mimm
amara bihi amzah b. Amr f wilyat al-amr umayd b. Qaabah. An outer
circular dorder consists of two lines intermittent with several groups of
three beads.
11
The image and general information about this fals are available thanks to the courtesy of my Samarkand colleague Anvar Kh. Atakhodjaev.
25
Head of Section A
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, a tamgha-like arabesque

ble linear circle around;
below, a dou-
Rev. margin
Samarqand f wilyat al-Mahd and date 153.
uriba bi-
Fig. 21
Known in quantity, mostly from excavations at Pendikent [SMIRNOVA

1963: pp. 15357, Nos. 92963], on which other references [LOWICK 1996: pp.
38485, No. 842; SHAMMA 1998: p. 334, No. (3)] are fully dependent. First established in 1973 among the finds on Afrasiab (the site of ancient Samarkand) [ERNAZAROVA 1979: p. 118, No. 185].
Obv. shows two names: amzah b. Amr (a local official) and f wilyat alamr umayd b. Qaabah (governor of Khursn, 151 or 152 159 AH), but
Rev. definitely contains f wilyat al-Mahd, who was governor of Khursn
reportedly between AH 141 and 150 (or 151).
The above specimens seem to make obvious that umayd b. Qaaba
ruled over the whole of Khursn, viz. including Transoxiana, residing in
Marw (as indicated in reliable sources), while al-Mahd retained direct
supervision of Khursn after his resignation as active governor. As for
amr amza b. Amr, no mentions of his name have been found in the
written sources. On the presence of al-Mahds title on the coins of
Khursn in 153 AH see also [BATES 2003: pp. 29192 and 315, notes 3334].
al-aghniyn, 155 AH (Fig. 22, ab)
Anonymous, cast.
Obv. field full Kalima-I in 3 lines, a double linear circle around;
Head of Section A
26
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Obv. margin blank, three (?) annulets with beads inside

preserved on each specimen.
, only partially
Fig. 22
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, a dot in the centre, a circle of merged dots
around;
Rev. margin
uriba h al-fals bil-aniyn and date 155;
bismi-llh
Unpublished. Two specimens are known to the author, both in private collections (Russia). The mint name is written in a normal way.
Nasaf, 157/9 AH (Fig. 23)
Obv. field image of a horse walking left, apparently with traces of saddle
on back and an unclear signet
above, a beaded rim around;
Obv. margin (legible only in part)
<> al-fals bi-Nasaf and date [1]57 or [1]59.
Fig. 23
in 2 lines, a beaded rim around;
Rev. margin (legible only in part)

mimm amara bihi al-**im (?) <> [al-]Mahd.
Unique until recently, the badly worn and oxidized coin was published as
dated 157 AH by [KONEV 1984: pp. 19395, ZEIMAL' 1994: p. 251, note 51;
KONEV 1999: p. 43, type 6]. Another specimen, also with poorly preserved
legends, was posted in 2011 on [ZENO: #102443].
Head of Section A
27
Nasaf (Nesef), or Nakhsheb of the pre-Islamic times, was named Qarsh under the Timurids and ever after. A local officials name cited in Rev. margin, along with the considerable part of the ensuing legend, however finishing with clearly discerned al-Mahd, could not be reliably deciphered
and identified.
However, I would dare express a wild guess regarding this strange coin. It
was issued in Nasaf right at the time when the town was a residence of alMuqanna (see above, under umayd b. Qaaba), a vigorous rebel who
was renowned for his adherence to the late Ab Muslim, claimed that he
was al-Mahd (the redeemer and just ruler before the Day of Resurrection)
and denied his death. It is not improbable that exactly those events could
call for the emergence of coins depicting a saddled horse, which was
commonly perceived as an allegory of anticipating al-Mahds advent.
Hence, the word seen clearly enough at the end of the Rev. marginal legend, might belong to the anticipated prophet, rather than the heirapparent, former governor and future caliph Muammad al-Mahd. So my
assumption is that the above copper struck at Nasaf, especially if its date
of issue was indeed 159/773-4, may well be connected with rebel Hshim
b. akm, otherwise known as al-Muqanna, whose identity is unconditionally hidden behind the following coin type.
No mint name, no date (Fig. 24, ab)
Cast fals of unusual appearance: both sides contain field legends only, encircled instead of marginal inscriptions with linear circles and annulets.
Fig. 24
Obv. field
Ab Muslim, a linear circle around;
Obv. margin blank, four (?) annulets
preserved on each specimen.
mimm amara bihi Hshim waiyy

with beads inside, only partially
Head of Section A
28
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Rev. field
amara Allh bil-waf wal-adl, Allah has
commanded the loyalty and justice, 3 beads
below, a linear circle
around;
Rev. margin same as on Obv.
The clause placed on Rev. is known since as early as 100 AH on Umayyad
copper fuls of al-Kfa and some other mints [WALKER 1956: pp. 241, 260
61, 27879, 285], often with the same triangle of dots at the bottom; cf.
above, description of Fig. 8.
Hshim was a personal name of rebel al-Muqanna (see the comment to
the previous entry). The coin of this type was first established without
definition in [TIESENHAUSEN 1873: p. 293, No. 2945]; another specimen was
later unveiled by B.D. Kochnev in the State Hermitage collection and subjected to detailed investigation in [KONEV 1995; KOCHNEV 2001a]. Presently
two more pieces are available on [ZENO: #57386 and 74996]. I have virtually
nothing to add to Kochnevs thorough research and well-grounded conclusions about this important coin type, perhaps only correct the wrong
reading
into actual
, and what is much more substantial,
restore the reading
waiyy (literally inheritor, feoffee in trust, executor [of someones will] also bequeathed, conferred, endowed) instead of
the inaccurate
waliyy (mate, cognate, assistant, representative), consequently, with a challenge to Kochnevs discourse into the meaning of
this wrongly defined term [KOCHNEV 2001a: p. 147].
ABD AL-MALIK b. YAZD
Abd al-Malik b. Yazd became governor in 159, only to be dismissed in
disgrace in the following year [AL-ABAR 1987: p. 362; CRONE 2003: p. 174].
Obv. field, instead of the normal Kalima-I
barakah li-Ms waliyy ahd al-muslimn (a blessing for al-Mahds son, heir
and future caliph Ms al-Hd), a linear circle around; the heirs name is
encountered in two variants, differing from each other with writing forms
29
Head of Section A
of the same final letter
(variant a) and
(variant b);
Obv. margin
uriba h al-fals bi-Bur and date 160.
bismi-llh
Fig. 25
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, palmettes

circle around;
above and
below, a linear
Rev. margin
amara bihi Abduhu b. Qudayd mil al-amr Abd al-Malik b. Yazd.
mimm
A well-known coin type [FRAEHN 1826: p. 33, No. 75; TIESENHAUSEN 1873: p.
97, No. 906; MARKOV 1896: p. 20, No. 185; LOWICK 1996: pp. 38283, No. 827;
SHAMMA 1998: p. 329, No.(9); et al.].
Different authors dealing with the topic suggest various readings of the
name
: Abda, Abadah, Abdat and so on. My opinion is that it should be
spelled
Abduhu literally His (viz. Gods) slave a fairly common
praenomen among the Muslims of Arab origin in the Abbsid period, being a specific synonym of Abd Allh, Abd Rabbihi and a number of other
theophoric proper nouns.
Temp. AL-FAL b. SULAYMN
al-Fal b. Sulaymn was appointed by caliph al-Mahd to Khursn, where
he stayed until the early years of Hrn (AL-ABAR 1987: pp. 36465; ALYAQB 2011: p. 70).
al-agh[n]iyn (?), 166 AH (Fig. 26)
Obv. field full Kalima-I in 3 lines, no circle around;
Obv. margin
llh uriba h al-fals bil-aiyn (?) and date 166.
bismi-
Head of Section A
30
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
in 2 lines, no circle around;
Rev. margin
al-amr Amr b. aml (?) azza Allhu narahu.
mimm amara bihi
Fig. 26
A single known specimen is posted on [ZENO: #93027]. The mint name is

somewhat blundered but believed to denote al-aniyn; for instance, see
above, al-aghniyn (?), 148 AH.
The officers name mentioned on the coin Amr b. amal || aml (?) seems
to fit with Gardzs story about some Amr b. aml (sic), belonging to 179
AH [GARDZ 1991: p. 4849], meanwhile the coin has the clear date 166. According to [BOSWORTH 1981: p. 3], an Abbasid deputy governor of Khurasan, Umar b. Jaml, is said to have made Chaghniyn his special base in
179/795 when his protector al-Fal b. Yay al-Barmak was removed
from the governorship of the east by Hrn ar-Rashd. The patronymic of
Amr is shown on the coin without between mm and final lm, so one
may suppose either an engravers error or a slip in Gardzs text; I would
prefer the latter, simply because contemporary coin legends are expected
to be more precise than a manuscript composed two and a half centuries
later In short, it seems obvious that the person named Amr b. aml belonged to the ruling elite of al-aghniyn at least since 166/783, consequently much earlier than the narrative source indicated, sure unless it
was a different person with similar name; however, the latter assumption
looks rather far-fetched.
JAFAR b. MUAMMAD
Jafar b. Muammad was appointed governor of Khursn by the heirapparent Hrn on behalf of caliph Ms al-Hd [AL-YAQB 2011: p. 70];
his governorship ended in 173 when Hrn, then already caliph al-Rashd,
31
Head of Section A
withdrew him from that office in favour of his son al-Abbs [AL-ABAR
1987: p. 365].
Samarqand, 172 AH
Two closely similar subtypes, however are differing fundamentally
through the additional mention of a certain person on one of them.
Subtype A (Fig. 27, ab)
Fig. 27
Obv. margin
llh uriba h al-fals bi-Samarqand and date 172.
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines,
bismi-
adil below, a beaded circle around;
Rev. margin
mimm
amara bihi al-amr afar b. Muammad al yaday Masadah b. Buayr.
A well-known type [TIESENHAUSEN 1873: p. 129, No. 1164; MARKOV 1896: p. 27,
Nos. 36667; NTZEL : pp. 37879, No. 2181a; KALININ, TREADWELL 2004: p. 16;
SNAT 2008: pp. 6263, No. 574; ANS, No. 1917.215.68]. Next after Bukhr,
151 AH (see above), it stands out from other copper coins of the time due
to unusual appearance and writing style: The calligraphy is very similar
to the Abbasid dinars of the late 160s and early 170s. Could it be that the
dies were cut in Baghdad (Madnat al-Salm) and shipped to Samarqand,
or an engraver from Baghdad or Cairo was sent to Samarqand to continue
his practice? [ALBUM 2011a: Lot 443].
The patronymic of the cited official Masada [al-Bakr], shown on the
coins in undotted Kufi as
, was usually read in a wrong way: Buayr
[NASAF 1999: p. 231, No. 378], Yay [LOWICK 1996: pp. 38485, Nos. 84445
(Limbadas collection, London); SNAT 2008: No. 574], Zuhayr [SHAMMA 1998:
Head of Section A
32
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
p. 334, No.(4)], or otherwise. The currently accepted version Buayr, although looking like a facetious nickname rather than the official noun
(literally stout, fat), still seems to be closest to the truth.
Subtype B (Fig. 28)
Similar to subtype A but designed in the style more common for copper
coins of the time.
Obv. field full Kalima-I in 3 lines,
Fig. 28
Obv. margin same as in subtype A, the only difference being

of
in the date.
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines;
below, a beaded circle around;
Fat (instead of
instead
adil on subtype A)
Rev. margin
a<> bihi al-amr afar b. Muammad al yaday Masadah b. Buayr.
mimm
Unpublished. Dr. A. Atakhodjaevs observation shows that this variety is

much rarer (about 1:50) than the previous one (subtype A)12, which is supposed to mean that at least a few more specimens should exist.
According to [NASAF 1999: p. 669, No. 1177], one of Masadas sons was
called Fat; it seems reasonable to connect the word
on the present
fals with that person.
Obv. field, instead of the usual Kalima-I
barakah li-Hrn amr al-muminn (a blessing for the newly enthroned
12
2012).
A. Atakhodjaevs personal e-mail to the author (a thread dated 29 Jan. 11 Feb.
33
Head of Section A
caliph Hrn al-Rashd; compare with Bukhr, 160

around;
AH),
a linear circle
Obv. margin
bismi-llh
uriba h al-fals bi-Bur and date 173; a legend variety is identified
without
and with additional
before
[TIESENHAUSEN 1873:
p. 130, No. 1180].
Fig. 29
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, a linear circle around;

Rev. margin
bihi Muammad b. Amr mil al-amr afar b. Muammad.
mimm amara
The type is long known [FRAEHN 1826: pp. 1213, No. 141; TIESENHAUSEN
1873: p. 130, Nos. 117980; LOWICK 1996: pp. 38283, No. 828; SHAMMA 1998:
p. 329, No.(11)] but seems not to be very common. The name Muammad b.
Amr is not encountered in other written sources.
Kish, 173 AH (Fig. 30)
Obv. margin
uriba h al-fals bi-Kish and date 173, no circle around.
bismi-llh
Fig. 30
Rev. margin
mimm amara bihi al-amr afar b. Muammad al yaday ...r (?) mawl amr
al-muminn.
Head of Section A
34
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Unique, this coin was unknown before this survey. Acquired in the Moscow coin market (May 2011), now in the authors collection; also on ZENO:
#100891.
The same unusual gold dinar calligraphy (if not the same hand) as on
Samarqand, 172 AH, subtype A. The local officers name, although badly
spoiled through casting defect, still seems likely to be Yay, definitely following with the prestigious title mawl amr al-muminn.
Temp. AL-ABBS b. JAFAR
Obv. field full Kalima-I in 3 lines, no inner circle;
Obv. margin
bismi-llh
mimm amara bihi Yay b. Mu and date 174; an outer linear rim with 7
annulets around (only partly preserved on the available specimens).
Fig. 31
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, Kufic above,

ear circle around;
Yay below, a thin lin-
Rev. margin
(Qurn, 9:33), an outer linear circle with 6 beads on it.
Several specimens known [MARKOV 1896: p. 27, No. 381; LOWICK 1996: pp.
38687, No. 853; ANS, No. 1971.316.21; et al.]. Rich information about
Yay b. Mu b. Muslim based on different written sources is available
in [CRONE 2003: p. 184]. According to [GARDZ 1991: p. 48], caliph Harun
gave control of Khursn to al-Fal b. Yay al-Barmak who sent Yay
b. Mu to govern there on his behalf in Raman 177/December 793,
which office the latter probably occupied for a few months until al-Fals
arrival there early next year. However, the inspected coin is dated at least
Head of Section A
35
three years before those events when the person named on it should reportedly have been in Jurjn or elsewhere, and in addition it is devoid of
the mint name, just given that it was found in the Bukhr region. On the
other hand, taking into account that the dates reported by Gardz are
very often far from exact, I decided to include this rare type, together
with the previous one struck apparently in the name of his father, as related anyhow to the numismatic history of Middle Asia.
Temp. AMZA b. MALIK
amza b. Malik al-Khuz was appointed by Hrn al-Rashd to replace
al-Ghirif b. A, but soon deposed in favour of the caliphs wazr al-Fal
b. Yay al-Barmak [AL-ABAR 1987: pp. 36566; AL-YAQB 2011: p. 70].
al-Khuttal, 177 AH (Fig. 32, ab)
Obv. field full Kalima-I in 3 lines;
Obv. margin
uriba h al-fals bil-uttal and date 177.
bismi-llh
Fig. 32
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, a dotted circle around;

Rev. margin
amara bihi al-amr H.*d.r (?) b. al-asan mil al-amr Munf (?).
mimm
Al-Khuttal is a district in Tokharistan with Hulbuk for capital.

Recently discovered, the type is now represented by 4 specimens with
clear and unambiguous mint name, all posted on [ZENO: #93024 to 93026,
#112432]; however, both names mentioned (where preserved) in the marginal legend on Rev. allow reading of the otherwise obscure legend.
Head of Section A
36
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
AL b. SA
A notorious figure, ill-famed for his exquisite brutality and embezzlement,
whose personality and deeds met a detailed account in the basic sources
[AL-ABAR 1987: pp. 36770; GARDZ 1991: pp. 4953; AL-YAQB 2011: pp.
7071; TARKH-I SSTN 1974: pp. 166, 427]. <> Hrn appointed Al b. s
b. Mhn to Khursn where he misgoverned the province for eight years,
accumulating vast wealth and fighting a spate of rebels until he was finally replaced by Harthama [CRONE 2003: p. 178].
Apparently struck on cast flans and partly cast.
Obv. field full Kalima-I in 3 lines, a linear circle around;
Obv. margin
bismi-llh
Fig. 33
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, palmette

below, a linear circle around;
above the upper line,
adil
Rev. margin
amara bihi al-amr Al b. s abqhu Allh f wilyat Sad b. afar. The word
wilyat is written with alif, unlike in the most of other cases.
The type is long known [FRAEHN 1826: p. 25, No. 200; TIESENHAUSEN 1873:
p. 15556, No. 1391; MARKOV 1896: p. 31, Nos. 49192; LOWICK 1996: pp. 382
83, No. 829; SHAMMA 1998: p. 329, No.(12); et al.]. Said b. Jafars name was
not found in the written sources.
37
Head of Section A
ABD ALLH AL-MAMN, SON AND HEIR-APPARENT OF CALIPH

HRN AL-RASHD
(honorary leader of all al-Mashriq, 186/802 198/813 AH)
Binkath, 186 AH (Fig. 34, ab)
Obv. field full Kalima-I in 3 lines with the line 1 partly retrograde
(actually mirrorwise reverted), a thick linear circle around;
Obv. margin
bismillh uriba h al-fals bi-Binka and date 186; the deformed word for hundred (normally
or
).
Fig. 34
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, a swastika with rounded hooks

thick linear circle around;
Rev. margin
mimm amara bihi al-amr Sib b. Masadah abqhu Allh.
below, a
bismi-llh
Unique until recently [KALININ, TREADWELL 2004: p. 1516], today this important coin is known at least in 3 specimens. The name Sib b. Masadah
cited in the Rev. legend belongs to another son of Masada b. Bujayr, mentioned on copper fuls of Samarqand in 172 AH (see above).
Binkath is universally perceived as the capital of the Shsh province all
until the Mongol conquest.
Bukhr, 190 AH (Fig. 35, ac)
Obv. field full Kalima-I in 3 lines, a thin linear circle around;
Obv. margin
bismi-llh
Head of Section A
38
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH

linear circle around;
above,
adil below, a thin
Rev. margin
amara bihi Hrn amr al-muminn al yaday al-akam b. Sad.
mimm
Fig. 35
A well-known coin type [FRAEHN 1826: p. 33, No. 235; TIESENHAUSEN 1873: p.
166, No. 1490; MARKOV 1896: p. 34, Nos. 55859; LOWICK 1996: pp. 38485, No.
830; SHAMMA 1998: p. 330, No.(12); et al.]. Judging by the Rev. marginal legend, this coinage was undertaken upon the direct command from the caliph Hrn, whose name was struck on these coins in full spelling with
both matres lectionis (usually
without alif after initial h at that time).
The name al-akam b. Sad seems to be otherwise unknown.
HARTHAMA B. AYN
Harthama b. Ayn al-Balkh was appointed to Khursn by Hrn alRashd in 191 AH; killed in 200/815 [AL-ABAR 1987: p. 370; GARDZ 1991: pp.
5052; AL-YAQB 2011: pp. 7071; PELLAT 1971: p. 231]. Harthama b. Ayn
was reportedly deposed by al-Mamn after Hrns death in 193/809
[CRONE 2003: p. 75], nevertheless, his name was placed on silver dirhams
struck at al-Shsh as late as 195 AH; T. Mayer points to 196 AH as the final
date of Harthamas governorship [SNAT 1998: pp. 3233, No. 173;
TREADWELL 2006].
39
Head of Section A

Obv. field full Kalima-I in 3 lines, a linear circle around;
Obv. margin
llh uriba h al-fals bi-Bur and date 194.
bismi-
Fig. 36

beaded (?) circle around;
above,
adil below, a
Rev. margin
mimm amara bihi al-amr Haramah b. Ayn [al yaday (?)] *.s.k.r (?) b. <>.
Reported more than once [TIESENHAUSEN 1873: p. 285, No. 2822; MARKOV
1896: p.36, No. 621; LOWICK 1996: pp. 38485, No. 831; SHAMMA 1998: p. 330,
No.(13)], this type is still represented by a single specimen (State Hermitage, Numismatic department, inv. No. ---2948). The coin is badly
worn, yet its legends happen to be fairly discernible, which unfortunately
applies but partially to the persons mentioned on Rev. Upon my request,
V. Kuleshov (State Hermitage) inspected this fals and found out that governor Harthamas name can be observed there with highest confidence13, whereas the second name is barely visible and its spelling remains dubious; I only dare surmise a cautious version
Yakur b.
<>, however having no idea whose identity could be concealed behind
this uncommon (South Arabian?) name.
AL-FAL B. SAHL (DHL-RIYSATAYN)
(governor of Khursn, 197/812-3 202/817-8 or 203/818-9)
A Zoroastrian converted to Islam at the hand of al-Mamn, the influential al-Fal b. Sahl was his wazr and commander-in-chief (hence his title
13
V. Kuleshovs personal e-mail to the author (a thread dated 2728 Apr. 2012).
Head of Section A
40
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
l-riysatayn the holder of the two highest positions. Acting

as al-Mamns deputy governor of Khursn (since 197 or 198 AH), he was
suspected of double-dealing and murdered at Sarakhs in 202/817-8 or
203/818-9 [AL-YAQB 2011: p. 71, 209; ZETTERSTEN 1927: p. 39].
Samarqand, 198 AH (Fig. 37)
Obv. field full Kalima-I in 3 lines, a 6-pointed asterisk below, a thin (linear?) circle around;
Obv. margin the standard legend is replaced by a double linear rim with
a few intermittent crescents and annulets.
Fig. 37
Rev. field
mimm amara bihi al-amr
al-riysatayn al-Abbs in 3 lines, a big dot above and seemingly a smaller
one below, a thin circle (of merged dots?) around;
Rev. margin
fals bi-Samarqand and date 198.
uriba h al-
One specimen established so far (ex Najaf Coins & Collectibles; image
source [ZENO: #77515]; the general type coincides in all comparable details with the description of two copper pieces unearthed at Persepolis
[MILES 1959: p. 81, Nos. 63132]; however judging by G. Miles descriptions,
the most significant parts of the legends (namely mentions of persons and
the mint name) were not preserved on the published finds.
Although positioned on the coin in close sequence, Dhl-riysatayn and
al-Abbs are definitely two different persons. The first appellation belongs
to al-Mamns wazr and deputy governor al-Fal b. Sahl who was widely
known under this laqab; as to al-Abbs, it should be respectively a local
officer, probably the then ruler of Samarqand or a person authorized for
coinage supervision.
41
Head of Section A
GHASSN b. ABBD
Ghassn b. Abbd was appointed by al-Mamn in 204/819 in order to
improve the bad governorship of Raj b. Abl-aq but dismissed in
Shawwl 205/MarchApril 821 in favour of hir b. al-usayn [GARDZ
1991: p. 52; AL-YAQB 2011: pp. 7172].
al-Shsh, 204 AH (Fig. 38, ab)
Obv. field Kalima-I in 3 lines,
assn below, a beaded circle around;
Obv. margin
(part of Qurn, 9:33).
Fig. 38
lillh above, a beaded circle around;
Rev. margin
riba h al-fals bil- and date 204; the hundreds
to 2 or 3 first letters.
bismi-llh uare often reduced
Known only recently [KONEV 1994: p. 102], the coin is now considered moderately rare; see also ZENO: subdirectory Shash (al-Shash).
Samarqand, 205 AH (Fig. 39, ad)
Fig. 39 (variant a)
Obv. field full Kalima-I in 3 lines, different rims (linear or dotted) or no

circle around;
Obv. margin
bismi-llh
Head of Section A
42
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
uriba h al-fals bi-Samarqand and date 205; a few distortions are observed
in the date (
or
instead of
, sometimes without after
).
Fig. 39 (variant b)
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, above, tamgha-like sign

h?) below, different rims or no circle around;
Rev. margin
amr assn b. Abbd abqhu Allh.
(Arabic letter
mimm amara bihi al-
A very common type encountered in quantity [Markov 1896: p. 42, No. 742;
Ntzel 1898, No. 2212; Konev 1994: pp. 10102; Lowick 1996: pp. 38485,
No. 846; Shamma 1998: p. 335, No.(6); see also Zeno: subdirectory Samarqand], apparently representing two denominations, perhaps somewhat
comparable to later adl (full fals) and pashz (half fals): all legends are the
same, the only distinguishing element, apart from weight and size, is a dot
inside lillh above the field legend on Rev. (images ab dotted variant
a, images cd undotted variant b). Heavier coins (usually 1.9g and up to
around 2.52.6g, 1821mm variant a) are as a rule with that dot, while
lighter ones (1.8 and down to 0.88g, 1518mm variant b) normally lack it;
however, infrequent exceptions exist: for example, 2 of the 13 dotted
specimens (a fals, recently in R. Cannitos collection, No. is-613: 1.41g, and
a damaged specimen from L.Shabaevs collection: 1.84g, 17.5mm); on the
other hand, 2 of the 10 known undotted ones (Zeno: #103591: 2.32g,
20mm, and also in my collection: 2.08g, 17.5mm). One more discriminating
feature refers to inner circular rims separating the field from marginal
legends (linear, dotted or none at all), just being used in separate dies
quite arbitrarily, this element of coin design is hardly relevant in the typological sense.
43
Head of Section A
Naw[]kat[h] Zakariy, 205 AH (Fig. 40, ac)

Obv. field full Kalima-I in 3 lines,
Lay below, a dotted circle around;
Obv. margin a decorative double-twisted wavy line instead of the legend.
Fig. 40
assn below, a dotted circle around;
Rev. margin
bismi-llh uriba h al-fals bi-Naw[]ka Zakariy and date 205; hundreds of
the date shown as
instead of
.
The first coins of this type were brought to light in sequence between 2006
and 2008 and soon caused a lively discussion about the mint name, appearing on some of them as
, on some others looking more like
[see ZENO: subdirectory Navekat (earlier reading Tunkat)]. The
first part of this quite uncommon word combination is definitely
Nawka or
Nawkath14; as to the second component,
or (actually
without reasonable alternative options)
Zakariy, it is not established in any other written sources; probably the village was named in
this way after a certain person whose activity had been distinguished in
the eyes of its residents, judging by the basic appellation, with a Soghdian
root. The whole toponym Nawkath (or rather Navkath)-e Zakariy may be
translated as Zacharias New town (borough or village), with = (properly
=) in the capacity of a Soghdian suffix for feminine nouns.
The alternative reading of the mint name, Tunket (or Tnkath) [KONEV 1994: p. 102;
ATAXODAEV 1998: p. 16] is now abandoned as less consistent in favour of Nawkat [BATES
2011: p. 3].
14
Head of Section A
44
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
The name
Lay placed on Rev. would also require an identification, but
this task is rather complicated, as no persons appropriate to the case
seem to be mentioned under this name in accessible written sources. It
could be a local functionary city governor, mayor, prefect et al., or else
an official endowed with the right of coining.
AHIR b. AL-USAYN b. MUAB AL-BSHANJ
and his descendants
The Central Asian copper coinage of governor hir b. al-Husayn and his
descendants, holding that post until 259/873, is not considered here (see
Introduction, p. 6), in part because it obviously deserves a separate study,
for which no more space is left in this article, but essentially because the
implied coinage is commonly believed as relating to a particular autonomous dynasty, effectivelly dissociated from the direct Abbasid authority.
45

Introduction
A. Main Assortment
Governors
of Khursn
a. Annotated list
Contents

b. Schematic map
C. Unconfirmed
Conclusion
Personal Names
in Coin Legends
Bibliography
Illustrations
B. MORE PUZZLES TO SOLVE

COIN TYPES WITH INCOMPLETE OR UNRELIABLE ATTRIBUTIONS
Bukhr, [1](?) AH (Fig. 41)
Unique so far (presently in the authors collection), the coin belongs to the
most enigmatic Transoxanian issues for the moment.
Obv. field Kalima-I
in 2 lines, linear circle around;
Obv. margin
bi-Bur f sanah (?) wa <> and uncertain date.
bismi-llh (?) uriba
Fig. 41
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, linear circle around;

Rev. margin
||
||
amara
bihi al-amr lid b. al-<> (?) a quite ambiguous portion, ending most likely with
sittn z sixty [of these coppers are] acceptable [for a
dirham].
Heavy damage affecting the most significant places of coin legends, unfortunately, prevents from adequate attribution of this important specimen.
The letter following
is apparently a ww, so the cited grapheme,
normally perceived in this position as
year, looks more like a unit of
the date, namely
sittah wa-<...>, just as if it represented the remnant of the date [1]6 (?). The second part of amrs name cited on Rev. is
badly deformed, apparently through illiterate die engraving, but by overall apprearance I would surmise here a disfigured
, and thus relate
the item to the coinage of Khlid b. Ibrhm; in this case, reading the date
Head of Section B
46
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
as [1]6 is hardly possible, as no Muslim year ending with 6 fits the tenure
of that governor (137140 AH), however, unless it is a different lid: the
name
(respectively
) is shown on this coin without alif, unlike all
other coin types definitely related to Khlid b. Ibrhms reign. For lid as
see above, No mint name, 138 AH; 139 AH; no date (Fig. 7).
Khujandah (Khojend), 194 AH
Reportedly with the names of
Haramah [b. Ayn] and
Nuaym); no further details forwarded.
Nam (or
Reference: the mint name and date [ATAXODAEV 1998: p. 15]; the names
reportedly cited on the coin(s) A. Atakhodjaevs private remark alluding
to some oral communication by V. Kalinin (late 1990s). However, no real
specimens of this type are known to me thus far.
Far[gh]nah (?), 204 AH (Fig. 42)
Obv. field Kalima-I in 3 lines; linear circle around;
Obv. margin
uriba h al-fals bi-Far[]nah and date 204.
bismi-llh
Fig. 42

Rev. margin
amr assn b. Abbd abqhu Allh.
Sahl below, linear circle around;

mimm amara bihi al-
The unique description borrowed here entirely from [LAVOIX 1887: p. 442,
No. 1596] fits well with the known issues of Ghassn b. Abbd (see above)
and virtually could match the existing coin type, but the highly questionable mint name, which H. Lavoix doubted himself, reinforced by the unclear image and especially absolute absence of similar known examples
among the abundant coin finds throughout Middle Asia, motivates us to
47
Head of Section B
give up the idea about confident fabrication of this fals in Farghna. Respectively, any speculations regarding the possible lineage of the name
Sahl shown on Rev. seem irrelevant so far.
Haf[t]dih (?), 205 AH (Fig. 43)
Obv. field Kalima-I in 3 lines (with a few graphic errors), a dotted circle
around;
Obv. margin
bismi-llh uriba h al-fals bi-.f.d.[h](?) and date 205; graphic deviations
throughout the legend.
Fig. 43

h?) below;
Rev. margin
Abbd abqhu Allh.
above field, tamgha-like sign
(Arabic
amara bihi al-amr assn b.
One specimen on ZENO: #70610, posted by Ralph A. Cannito. At first glance,

the mint name (something like
or
) seems to be clear enough on
the perfectly preserved unique specimen, yet the entire marginal legend
looks so heavily blundered that it does not permit an equivocal reading.
The only version I could suggest is Haftdeh or Haftdih (normally
,
though shown on the coin in a different way), a small town in Fergana,
known as coin-producing centre in the late 10th century [KONEV 2001:
p.6768; KONEV 2006: p.44, 132]. On the other hand, the overall coin type,
including the Arabic legends, is very similar to the copper coinage of Samarqand in the name of Ghassn b. Abbd (see above); so even if it is
actually not a deadly spoiled
, its minting place cannot have been
too far from it.
Head of Section B
48
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
al-rband, no date (Fig. 44, ab)

Obv. field abridged Kalima-I
in 2 lines;
Obv. margin
uriba h al-fals bil-rband.
Fig. 44
in 2 lines;
Rev. margin
Muammad.
bi-amr al-amr Abd Allh b.
Three specimens, reportedly found on the site of Kanka (Tashkent region),

are placed on [ZENO: #65765, #69951 and #70240]. The overall archaic appearance of this interesting coin type, looking rather like an Umayyad
one, alongside the absence of date in its legends, leaves no chance to specify the exact time of its manufacture.
The toponym al-rband is conventionally admitted as the ancient name
of later Otrar, capital of the Prb region located in the basin of Sr Dary
River (now in South Kazakhstan). According to some sources, [al-]rband
or urrband (presumably from ancient Turkic Kang Tarban) was once a
capital of the vast Shsh region; the latest and most comprehensive survey of written evidence on the topic see in [KAMOLIDDIN 2006: p. 57, 80].
No mint name, no date (Fig. 45, ac)
Crude casting.
Fig. 45
Obv. field
Obv. margin
Allh in a beaded circular border;

l ilha ill Allh Muammad rasl.
49
Head of Section B
Rev. field
//.m.r/z[ah] (?) in a beaded circular border, several
dots above and below;
Rev. margin
s/.*.r/z.r/zah (?) <>
[mimm] amara bihi al-amr
Up to 12 specimens known, reported to come from Kanka (the ancient site

of Kharashket, Tashkent region), all in private collections (Russia, Sweden,
USA); see also ZENO: subdirectory Coppers from Shash area, obv. "Allah".
The word Allh in the middle of Obv. is an organic completion of the circular formula (Kalima) with
as the second part.
The word (virtually a personal name)
.m.r[ah] || .m.z[ah] or otherwise, apparently bound up somehow with another amrs hard-to-read
name
finishing the marginal text remains unidentified (my only
acceptable conjecture to read it out being something like
ayzarah?),
however unless related either to local officer amza b. Amr (see above,
under Samarqand, 153 AH) or, apparently less credible, governor amza
b. Malik (176177 AH).
Cast. Linear rims on both sides.
Obv. field, in 2 lines
l ilha ill Allh;
Obv. margin an undeciphered legend.
Fig. 46
Rev. field, in 2 lines

distorted but legible);
Rev. margin
waduhu l arka lahu (slightly

al-amr Muammad b. <...> (?).
No reference. Two pieces, reportedly acquired in early 1990s from a seller

in Tashkent. Images and data courtesy Nikolay N. Ivanov (Moscow).
Head of Section B
50
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH

Anonymous, cast.
Obv. field, in 4 lines
l ilha ill
Allh nima al-qdir Allh (?) wa-sittn bi-dirham; all in a beaded circle (instead of marginal legend).
Fig. 47
Rev. field, in 3 lines

bismi-llh muammad rasl
Allh; a circular border composed of merged strokes (straight or oblique
dashes resembling tiny crosses).
No reference. Three pieces, reportedly unearthed all together in the Surkhan Darya region (ancient aghniyn). Images and general data are obtained from a private collection (Russia).
Anonymous, cast. The legends are distorted through undersized module
casting but legible due to standard recognizable content.
Obv. field full Kalima-I
like border
around (instead of marginal legend);
in 3 lines, a fence-
Fig. 48

in 3 lines (slightly distorted but
generally legible), three dots
above, a vague signet resembling Kufic
below; all in a chain border composed of merged annulets.
No reference. The item was reportedly found in the region of Bukhara.
Head of Section B
51
*
*
*
A few more distinct coin types exist, lifted or excavated in Middle Asia,
obviously originating from the period under review but either crudely
cast or badly preserved and therefore rendering too little information for
confident attribution. The identification of those specimens, no less
tempting but unyielding for the time being, is a challenge for the future.
52
Introduction
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Contents
Conclusion
Personal Names
in Coin Legends
Bibliography
Governors
of Khursn
a. Annotated list
b. Schematic map
Illustrations
C. COUNTER-DISCOVERIES ALSO HAPPEN...

UNCONFIRMED AND ERRONEOUS ATTRIBUTIONS
Bukhr, 1 AH
Obv. field tawd II (=
Obv. margin
Rev. field
Rev. margin very worn but apparently Qurn, 42:23 with four sets of
triple annulets dividing the text as on Ab Muslims coins (see above).
Reference: [LANE-POOLE 1875: p. 191, No. 80; WURTZEL 1978: p. 1945, No. 43].
The specimen from the British Museum is heavily worn and for this reason cannot serve as a relevant source of information: the date on it was
read as 1xx, so perhaps 13 could be admissible, just only if the rest of the
type features had been correctly described, which doesnt look at all convincing because of almost complete obliteration of the coin. so C. Wurtzels speculations on the possible dating within Abu Muslims period, as
well as the very connection to this personality look virtually groundless.
Bukhr, 138 AH
The initial reference, [TIESENHAUSEN 1873: p. 68, No. 696], communicates
only a partial definition: Fels of the same year [=138 as in the previous
description No. 695. V.N.] from Bukhr (
). In the Imper. Hermit[age], providing no information about the coin legends. [ZAMBAUR
1968: p. 67] noticed the date 138 for Bukhr without any references or
comments. The fals in question was regarded doubtful as early as in [FRYE
1949: p. 35, note 123]; see also [LOWICK 1996: p. 38283, No. 817; SHAMMA
1998: p. 327, No.(1)]. A search of this fals was undertaken upon my request
by V. Kuleshov in the State Hermitage collection, however to no avail:
53
Head of Section C
The Bukhara 138 fals is most likely a result of misreading: such coin
type was absent in the Hermitage collection in 1896 and did not emerge
later. It is neither indicated in Vasmers catalogue nor fixed elsewhere.
Judging by [the composition of ] the collection, the copper coinage of Bukhr proper should have commenced in 143 AH (19 pieces available)15.
Tirmidh / Saghaniyan, 139 AH
Reference: [SHAMMA 1998: p. 337, No. (1)], without any details, ostensibly
with the names of Khalid b. Abd Allah and Muhammad b. Tahir (?!) the
whole passage looks like a mere mistake and as such hardly needs special
explanation.
Bukhr, 140 AH
Obv. margin mint name and date with
before the numerals.
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines;

Rev. margin
Aa f wilyat al-Mahd al-amr Muammad b. amr al-muminn.
<> al-
Reference: BM (British Museum collection) 1905 unregistered** [LOWICK

1996: p. 382-3, No. 818; TREADWELL 2006]. Al-Mahd was not appointed governor of the Mashriq until 141, so the probability is that either the date on
this coin was mistakenly engraved or it has been misread. However, all
legends presented by N. Lowick, alongside the overall appearance as it
can be seen on the image [LOWICK 1996: plate 23] are quite similar to the
Bukhran fals of 143 AH (see above).
aghniyn, 140 AH (?)
Reference: [LOWICK 1996: pp. 38485, No. 837], mentioning as a source of
information [RTVELADZE 1985: pp. 3840], in all probability a result of
misunderstanding the Russian text where no such combination of mint
and date is present at all.
15
V. Kuleshovs personal e-mail to the author, dated 27 Apr. 2012.
Head of Section C
54
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Akhskath, 144 AH
Reference: [LOWICK 1996: pp. 38283, No. 816], based on [TIESENHAUSEN 1873:
p. 73, No. 732], regarded as suspicious by [FRYE 1949: pp. 3536], also by
[ZAMBAUR 1968: p. 38, note 2]; no coins with this combination of mint and
date have ever come to light.
Bukhr, 144 AH
p. 73, No. 731], in the Imperial Hermitage. Handwritten catalogue by M.
Brosset; no details were given by the first publisher and no real specimens emerged ever since anywhere, including the Hermitage collection.
Bukhr, 145 AH
Reference: [LOWICK 1996: pp. 38283, No. 822], based solely on [ANS: Islamic
collection, No. 1917.215.65], now confirmed as dated 143: Identified by
Nicholas Lowick as 145, but this is unlikely: the coin is identical to the issue of 143 and the inscription supports this date16.
Bukhara (?), 146 AH
Reference: [LOWICK 1996: pp. 38283, No. 824], based on [RTVELADZE 1985: p.
38, table, Nos. 34], a tentative assumption in the Russian original, now
proven as related to the copper issue of al-aghniyan, 148 (see above).
Bukhr, 147 AH
Reference: [ZAMBAUR 1968: p. 67], without any additional information
seems not to be anything but a misprint for 143.
Samarqand, 149 AH
Reference: [LOWICK 1996: pp. 38485, No. 841], based on [FAHMI 1965: No.
2748, pl. 88], misread [as] Khizna alab, 146 both definitions look
suspicious and ultimately erroneous.
16
See Notes to [ANS: No. 1917.215.65].
Head of Section C
55
Bukhr, 14 AH
Image source ZENO: #36026. The image was used in my PPT presentation
of the paper to the Third Simone Assemani Symposium (Rome, 2011) where I
presented its Rev. marginal legend as ostensibly containing the name
al-amr Yay (however, doubtful from the very beginning),
which in fact turned to be a half-cut legend
, just
without
normally preceding al-Ashaths name on the fuls of Bukhr, 143 AH (see above).
Samarqand, 151 AH
Data source [ALBUM 2011b: Lot 306]; judging by the image placed in the
quoted List 265, the mint name is either misread or simply misprinted as
Samarqand, whereas in fact it is Bukhr, 151 AH (see above).
Samarqand, 154 AH
p. 87, No. 836], citing BARTHOLOMAEI, Lettre M. Soret, p. 33, No. 53, tab. I,
No. 7; the entry was reported as essentially the same as the preceding
item 835 from Nihwand, just save for the three small annulets instead of
two below field on Rev. Taking into account a fairly broad hint at the similarity in all other details, logically implied by such description, we must
conclude that its attribution was erroneous per se, since it is hardly possible even in theory to admit the full coincidence of legends with specific
name(s) of local official(s) on the coins of two mints so distant from each
other. Therefore my opinion is that either J. Bartholomaei or W. Tiesenhausen merely confused between the mint names, similar to some extent
in graphic shape (
and
), especially if those had certain defects on the coins.
Khwrizm, 154 AH
p. 87, No. 837], seems to be Lowicks plain misunderstanding, as W.
Tiesenhausen had clearly attributed the item as struck at Dabl (Caucasia):
Head of Section C
56
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
154 , . Anyway, even if the mint place named

Khwrizm had existed in that period it should be located outside the geographic range of the present survey.
Bukhr, 155 AH
Reference: [LOWICK 1996: pp. 38283, No. 826], based on [MARKOV 1896: p.
19, No. 141]. According to V. Kuleshovs notice17, R. Vasmer and I.G. Dobrovolsky had reportedly read the date on this specimen as 185, so the
basic inventory of the Hermitage collection now contains a record of this
piece as Bukhr, 185 AH (inv. No. ---2920), whereas the very coin is
absolutely similar to the other specimens of this single-year type with the
specific names Al b. s and Sad b. afar.
Ilq (al-Shsh), 166 AH
Reference: [FRYE 1949: p. 35], just a result of misreading, as clearly follows from Tiesenhausens note to No. 1008 [TIESENHAUZEN 1873: p. 110] (see
above, p. 4).
Samarqand, 185 AH
Reference: [ERNAZAROVA 1974: pp. 184 and 223, No. 191], with partial description due to bad condition (Obv. reportedly worn out), denoting the
word
and the name Sad b. Jafar on Rev.; certainly a wrong attribution of Bukhr, 185 AH.
Samarqand, 186 AH
Reference: [MASSON 1933: p. 105], a unique mention without description or
any other details; most likely a wrong attribution.
Bukhr, 197/9 AH
Obv. margin mint name and date with controversial units
;
Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, above,
al-fal below; other details
not specified.
17
K. Kravtsovs personal e-mail to the author, dated 21 Apr. 2012.
Head of Section C
57
Reference: [TIESENHAUSEN 1873: p. 185, No. 1665; LOWICK 1996: pp. 384-5, No.
832; SHAMMA 1998: p. 330, No.(14)], all citing SORET, Lettre M. Dorn, p. 15,
No. 10, the latter two showing the date as 197/9. The respective copper
type has never been confirmed anywhere; taking into account the described details, it looks very plausible that the given definition was treated in error and should belong to a silver dirham.
al-Shsh, 199 AH
A vague notice in [SHAMMA 1998: p. 339, No.(1)] with no clearer reference
to Tabatibai; no trace of such copper item or even a hint at its existence
has ever been found anywhere. The only explanation seems logical if Mr.
Shamma mistook for a copper fals the reference to a silver dirham struck
at al-Shsh in that year [LOWICK 1996: p. 298-9, Nos. 274344].
Bukhara, 200 AH
Reference: [FEDOROV 2009: p. 350], based on [TIESENHAUSEN 1873: p. 190, No.
1713], judging by the fragmentary reading of legends, misattributed due to
heavy damage, otherwise containing the spoiled year indication; in reality
it must belong to the early hirid coinage with the name (?)
(actually
) below Rev., so most likely struck in 209 AH (see ZENO: directory
Tahirid Talha b. Tahir, 207-213.
Madnat Khwrizm, 203 AH
Reference: [BALDWINS 2008: Lot 315; ZENO: #62837], initially misinterpreted
as the fals of Samarqand and later reattributed on Zeno to the tentative
mint Kath in central Khwrizm. Being actually a most interesting specimen, in all probability the earliest coin struck in the name of Samanid
N b. Asad, it definitely falls out of the subject of the present survey,
both by minting location and dynastic provenance.
58
Introduction
Governors
of Khursn
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
C. Unconfirmed
Contents
Personal Names
in Coin Legends
Bibliography
a. Annotated list
b. Schematic map
Illustrations
CONCLUSION
Now we can see that the copper coinage in the north-easternmost regions
of the Abbsid Caliphate in the 2nd early 3rd centuries AH was not sporadic and occasional, as it could have seemed before when we were only
aware of a dozen fals types produced at two coin-minting centres (8 of
Bukhr and 4 of Samarqand, let alone the reports of erroneously read
mints and dates). Whether any regional copper coin issues in Transoxiana
could be defined as strictly Islamic during the Umayyad domination (viz.
prior to 132/750) is not certain thus far; by contrast, the ensuing Abbsid
coinage looks more or less systematic, internally coherent, rather regular
and apparently massive enough, and in the quantitative sense it seems to
display no fundamental difference from similar systems of small change
money supply in the central parts of the Arab caliphate. In the qualitative
sense, however, political, administrative, actually cognitive in general,
providing so many names of provincial and local officials, combined for
the most part with attributable places and exact dates, sometimes even
showing respectively localizable signs of property (tamghas), it looks much
more informative than any other regional set of copper fuls from the
early Abbasid period.
59

Introduction
Contents
C. Unconfirmed
Conclusion
Personal Names
in Coin Legends
Bibliography
a. Annotated list
b. Schematic map
Illustrations
ABBSID GOVERNORS OF KHURSN

A Tentative List
Different written sources dealing with the period under review [ AL-ABAR,
GARDZ, AL-YAQB et al.] display considerable variance in the names and
especially dates of tenure of many personalities, including governors of
Khursn; on this basis, the suggested list should be considered preliminary. To complete the picture, apart from the officials whose names are
encountered in coin legends, I decided to list also those known from other
sources. As for the mentioned inaccuracy and divergence, I attempted to
eliminate it as far as possible, or at least minimize it in accordance with
the principle of frequency. Respectively, any indication to the remaining shortcomings and errors in this list, as well as the entire work, will be
highly appreciated.
Abd al-Ramn b. Muslim [al-Bhil] (Ab Muslim, 131/749 137/755)
Ab Dad Khlid b. Ibrhm al-Dhuhl (137/755 140/758)
Abd al-Jabbr b. Abd al-Ramn al-Azd (140/758 141/759)
Muammad al-Mahd (141/759150/767 or 151/768); honorary leader of
all al-Mashriq until about 155/772.
Khzim b. Khuzayma or Usayd b. Abd Allh (150/767 151/768) (?)
umayd b. Qaaba al- (151-2/768 159/776)
Ab Awn Abd al-Malik b. Yazd (159/776 160/777)
Mudh b. Muslim al-Rz (161/777 163/780)
al- Musayyab b. Zuhayr al-Dabb (163/780 166/783)
Abl-Abbs al-Fal b. Sulaymn al-i al-s (166/783 171/786)
Jafar b. Muammad b. al-Ashath al-Khuz (171/787 173/789)
al-Abbs b. Jafar b. Muammad (173/789 175/791) (?)
Head of List
60
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Ghirf b. A al-Kind (175/791 176/792) (?)

amza b. Malik b. al-Haytham al-Khuz (176/792 177/793)
Yay . Mudh b. Muslim (177/793 178/793) (?)
al-Fal b. Yay b. Khlid b. Barmak (178/793 179/795)
Manr b. Yazd (179/795 180/796) (?)
s b. Jafar (180/796 183/799) (?)
Al b. s b. Mhn (183/799 191/806)
Abd Allh al-Mamn (186/802 198/813-4), honorary leader of all
al-Mashriq beyond the geographic scope (mul, 186 AH = ZENO: #84317)
Harthama b. Ayn al-Balkh (191/806 196/811-2) (?)
al-Fal b. Sahl (Dhl-riysatayn) (197/812-3 202/817-8)
Raj b. Abl-aq (203/818-9 204/819)
Ghassn b. Abbd (204/819 205/821)
hir b. al-usayn (205/821 207/822-3) and his descendants
beyond the chronological scope.
61

Introduction
C. Unconfirmed
Conclusion
Governors
of Khursn
Personal Names
in Coin Legends
Bibliography
Contents
b. Schematic map
Illustrations
ABBSID COPPER-MINTING CENTRES OF M WAR AL-NAHR

a. ANNOTATED LIST OF MINT NAMES
Aska
Akhskath (Akhsiket), a regional mint of Farghana under
the Samanid and Qarakhanid rulers (9th11th centuries); reported
(perhaps erroneously) for 144 AH and could not be confirmed.
mul
Amul, town and mint on the left bank of Amu Darya belonging
by locality to either Khursn or South Khwrizm, and as such falling
beyond the strict scope of the present survey.
Binka
Binkath (Binket), town and mint in al-Shash, the historic
area in the middle reaches of Sir Darya; now overlapped by the old
part of Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Bur
Bukhara, an historic area, town and regional mint; now a
region and a city in Uzbekistan.
Farnah
Farghana, an historic area in the Ferghana Valley; now
a region and a town in East Uzbekistan.
al-uttal
[al-]Khuttal (later Khuttaln), an historic area; now the
Khatlon region in Tajikistan. Regional mint Hulbuk (not known on
the coins so far; corresponds to ancient remnants 12 km from Kulyab).
Khujandah
now Khojend in North Tajikistan; reported for 194 AH
but did not yet come in sight anywhere to be confirmed.
Kish
Kesh, town and mint; now Shahrisabz in Uzbekistan.
Nasaf
Nasaf (ancient Nakhsheb, later Nesef), town and mint; now
Qarshi in Uzbekistan.
Nawka Zakariy
Navkat [Zakariya] (also spelled, perhaps
erroneously, Tnka / Tunket), town and mint in Ilaq, the historic area
adjacent to al-Shash from the east.
Head of List
62
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
al-aniyn
(may be differently misspelled in coin legends)
Saghaniyan (ancient Chaghaniyan), an historic area, town and mint in
the Surkhan Darya Valley; now the ruined site Budrach in South
Uzbekistan.
Samarqand
Samarqand, an historic area, town and mint; now
Samarkand, a region and a city in Uzbekistan.
al-
al-Shash (ancient Chach), an historic area; now the
Tashkent region in Uzbekistan. Regional mint Binkath (cf.)
al-rband
[al-]Tarband (Turarband, also called Parab), an
historic area; now the ruined site Otrar-tobe in South Kazakhstan.
Regional mint Keder, later Otrar.
al-Tirmi
(later without article) Tirmidh, town and mint; now
Termez, centre of the Surkhandarya region in South Uzbekistan.
63

Introduction
Governors
of Khursn
C. Unconfirmed
Conclusion
Personal Names
in Coin Legends
Bibliography
a. Annotated list
Contents
Illustrations
b. SCHEMATIC MAP
(based on Yuri Bregels Historical Atlas of Central Asia, 10. From mid-8th to the end of the
9th century: the early Islamic period in the West, the Qarluqs and Uyghurs in the East)
Abbsid copper mints known long before;

Abbsid mints discovered recently;
uncertain or requiring further examination
64
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Introduction
A. Main Assortment
Governors
of Khursn
a. Annotated list
B. Puzzles to Solve

b. Schematic map
C. Unconfirmed
Contents
Conclusion
Bibliography
Illustrations
PERSONAL NAMES ENCOUNTERED IN COIN LEGENDS 18

al-Abbs
[mentioned after
(Fig. 37)
] Samarqand, 198 AH
Abd al-Jabbr b. Abd al-Ramn

Abd Allh b. Muammad
al-rband, no date (Fig. 44)
Abd al-Malik b. Yazd
Abd al-Ramn b. Muslim

Abduhu b. Qudayd
Ab im (?)
Ab S.k.rah (ak[a]ra?)
Al b. s
al-Amn Muammad
18

al-aghniyn, 146 AH (Fig. 15)

al-aghniyn, 142 AH (Fig. 9)
mul, 186 AH [ZENO: #84317]
The names Allh and Muammad (rasl Allh) are not taken into account.
65
Head of List
Amr b. Jaml (?)

al-Aa b. Yay
al-agh[n]iyn (?), 166 AH (Fig. 26)

Bukhr, 143 AH (Fig. 12);
Dd b. K.rr || K.rz (Gurz?)

||
l-riysatayn
Samarqand, 198 AH (Fig. 37);

see also al-Abbs
al-Fal
Bukhr, 197/9 AH (silver dirham?)

see also l-riysatayn
Fat
afar b. Muammad
Bukhr, 173 AH (Fig. 29); Kish, 173 AH (Fig. 30);

Samarqand, 172 AH (Fig. 27; Fig. 28)
assn b. Abbd
Nawkath Zakariy, 205 AH (Fig. 40); al-Shsh, 204 AH (Fig. 38);
Far[gh]nah (?), 204 AH (Fig. 42);
Haf[t]dih (?), 205 AH (Fig. 43); Samarqand, 205 AH (Fig. 39, a; 39, b)
al-unayd b. lid
(Fig. 19)
al-akam b. Sad
lid b. Ibrhm
no date (Fig. 7)
Bukhr, 151 AH

No mint name, 138 AH (Fig. 5); 139 AH (Fig. 6);
Head of List
66
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
lid b. al-<> (?)

||
amzah b. Amr
||
Bukhr, [1](?) AH (Fig. 41)
see also below, .m.r[ah] or .m.z[ah] (Fig. 45)

Haramah b. Ayn

Hrn amr al-muminn

al-asan b. amrn || umrn

al-aghniyn, 142 AH (Fig. 9);
al-Tirmidh, 142 AH (Fig. 10).
Him waiyy Ab Muslim
H.*d.r (?) b. al-asan
al-Khuttal, 177 AH (Fig. 32)
.m.r[ah] or .m.z[ah] (amza?)

umayd b. Qaabah
Ibrhm b. Mhn
(Fig. 10)
Lay
Mabad
al-Tirmidh, 142 AH
Nawkath Zakariy, 205 AH (Fig. 40)

67
Head of List
al-Mahd Muammad

No mint name, 142 AH (Fig. 11);
al-aghniyn, 146 AH (Fig. 15);
al-aghniyn (?), 148 AH (Fig. 17);
al-Shsh, 149 AH (Fig. 18);
Masadah b. Bujayr
Mu
Samarqand, 172 AH (Fig. 27; Fig. 28)

Muammad al-Mahd; Muammad b. amr al-muminn

see al-Mahd Muammad
Muammad b. Amr
Muammad b. <...> (?)

Munf (?)
al-Khuttal, 177 AH (Fig. 32)
Ms waliyy ahd al-muslimn
Nam (or Nuaym)

N b. Asad (Samanid)
Madnat Khwrizm, 203 AH
Head of List
68
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Qutaybah b. Muslim
Sahl
Far[gh]nah (?), 204 AH (Fig. 42)
Sad b. Jafar
Sad b. Yay
al-Shsh, 149 AH (Fig. 18)
ayzarah (?)
Sib b. Masadah
Yay
Binkath, 186 AH (Fig. 34)
No mint name, 174 AH (Fig. 31);
see also Yay b. Mu

Yay (?)
Yay b. Mu
Kish, 173 AH (Fig. 30)

*.s.k.r (Yakur?) b. <>

al-**im (?) <> [al-]Mahd
al-amr <> (?)

(the proper name is gone) [al-]aghniyn, 153 AH (Fig. 20)
69

Introduction
Governors
of Khursn
C. Unconfirmed
Conclusion
Personal Names
in Coin Legends
Illustrations
a. Annotated list
b. Schematic map
Contents
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Semenova], Moscow.
VON ZAMBAUR, EDUARD, 1968: Die Mnzprgunden des Islams, zeitlich und rtlich
geordnet, I. Band, Wiesbaden.
ZEIMAL', E.V., 1994: The Circulation of Coins in Central Asia during the
Early Medieval Period (FifthEighth Centuries A.D.), Bulletin of the Asia
Institute, new series, 8, pp. 24567.
ZENO: ZENO.RU Oriental Coins Database [a world-leading Internet resource
on oriental numismatics]; directory succession ISLAMIC WORLD
Abbasid, 132656 Copper coinage Iran & the East.
ZETTERSTEN, K.V., 1927: al-Fal b. Sahl b. Zdhnfarkh, Encyclopaedia of
Islam, II. EK, Leiden London, p. 39.
74
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Introduction
Governors
of Khursn
C. Unconfirmed
Conclusion
Personal Names
in Coin Legends
Bibliography
a. Annotated list
b. Schematic map
Contents
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Fig. 1. Pre-Islamic coin issues of Transoxanian mints
a) Bukhr, ruler Asbar (date uncertain). Image source ZENO: #21134
(weight 1.68g, diameter 17mm, die axis 2h)19
b) Samarqand, ikhshd Turghar (738750 CE) [SMIRNOVA 1981: pp.
198217, Nos. 519656, type II]. Image source ZENO: #41898 (3.0g,
19.3mm)
c) Chach, Kabarna principality, unknown ruler (78th century). Image
source ZENO: #15633 (2.4g, 18.8mm)
d) Otrar, unknown ruler (ca. 700 CE). Image source ZENO: #20482 (1.6g,
21mm)
Fig. 2. Earliest Islamic coin issues of Transoxanian mints
a) Kesh, dihqn Ird (mid-8th century; [SMIRNOVA 1981: pp. 41617,
Nos. 166166]). Image source ZENO: #14025 (1.74g, 21mm)
b) No mint, no date; cast (mid-8th century, sixty to a dirham);
[SMIRNOVA 1981: pp. 42021, nos. 167781]). Image source ZENO:
#71836 (1.54g, 19.5mm; broken)
c) Bukhr or Paykand, local Arab tributaries (8th century); sixty to a
dirham. Image source ZENO: #91060 (1.25g, 15mm; bigger and much
heavier specimens exist)
d) No mint name, no date; cast (8th century; sixty to a dirham). Image
source ZENO: #30440 (2.0g, 17.7mm)
e) Paykand, with dancing man tamgha (8th century). Image source
ZENO: #29610 (1.1g, 12.3mm)
f) Nasaf, local Arab tributaries (8th century). Image source ZENO:
#46921 (1.97g, 18mm)
Metrological data (weight, size and especially die axis, otherwise die orientation
angle shown as hours and minutes of the clock face) could not be established for all
specimens illustrated. Besides, respective indications taken from Zeno postings could not
be verified for accuracy and should be left upon their hangers .
19
Head of List
75
Fig. 3. No mint name, no date, Qutaybah b. Muslim (c. 90/70996/715),

one hundred twenty to a dirham. Image source ZENO: #13823 (2.63 g,
1415mm, 12h)
Fig. 4. No mint name, 133136 AH , Abd al-Ramn b. Muslim
a) 133 AH. Image source ZENO: #106301 (weight and size not indicated)
b) 134 AH. Image source ZENO: #14022 (2.77 g, 21mm)
c) 135 AH. Image source ZENO: #14023 (3.40 g, 22mm)
d) 136 AH. Image source ZENO: #14024 (2.68g, 22mm)
Note: common Rev.
Fig. 5. No mint name, 138 AH , lid b. Ibrhm
a) Image source courtesy of Stephen L. Giles (USA) (2.1g, 22.8mm, 11h;
double strike on both sides)
b) Image source L. Shabaevs private collection (Moscow region)
(3.00g, 2022mm, 12h; corroded)
Fig. 6. No mint name, 139 AH , lid b. Ibrhm
a) Image source ZENO: #79762 (2.71g, 1618mm; chipped)
b) Image source ZENO: #98962 (3.1g, 1718mm, 2h 30'; chipped)
Fig. 7. No mint name, no date, lid b. Ibrhm
a) Image source ZENO: #111359 (1.68g, 1618mm, 10h)
b) Image source ZENO: #111360 (1.57g, 18mm, 9h)
Fig. 8. No mint name, no date, Abd al-Jabbr b. Abd al-Ramn
Image source a private collection (Russia) (ca. 15mm, 6h)
Fig. 9. al-Saghniyn, 142 AH
a) variant a (lozenge with straight sides and closed angles). Image
source ZENO: #51635 (1.7g, 17.5mm; chipped)
b) variant b (lozenge with concave sides and closed angles). Image
source a private collection (Russia) (ca. 18mm)
) variant (concave open-ended cartouche). Image source a private
collection (Russia) (ca. 18mm)20
Here and in some other cases, die axis value is irrelevant due to the absence of
Obv. or Rev. field legends.
20
Head of List
76
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Fig. 10. al-Tirmidh, 142 AH

a) variant a (regular double full-line ring). Image source ZENO: #87255
(weight and size not indicated)
b) variant b (same as a but without a dot in the centre). Image source
authors collection (1.81g, 18mm)
c) variant c (uneven beaded ovals). Image source authors collection
(1.67g, 1516mm)
Fig. 11. No mint name, 142 AH , Mu
Image source a private collection (Russia) (2.13g, 1920mm, 2h 30')
Fig. 12. Bukhr, 143 AH
a) Image source ZENO: #25329 (2.7g, 19mm)
b) Image source authors collection (2.61g, 2021mm, 7h)
c) Image source ZENO: #91090 (1.95g, 19mm)
d) Image source authors collection (2.44g, 20mm, 6h)
Fig. 13. Samarqand, 143 AH
b) Image source ZENO: #123495 (weight not shown, 21mm)
a) Image source ZENO: #41860 (2.5g, 19.2mm, 7h 30')
a) Image source ZENO: #23344 (weight not indicated, 20mm)
b) Image source a private collection (Russia) (weight and size
unknown, 4h)
Image source authors collection (1.85g, 2122mm, 5h)
Fig. 17. al-Saghniyn (?), 148 AH
a) variant a (Obv. field star-like sign ). Image source ZENO: #50418
(3.1g, 23.6mm)
b) variant b (Obv. field trident-like sign ). Image source a private
collection (Russia) (2.41g, 22mm, 6h)
Head of List
77
Fig. 18. al-Shsh, 149 AH

a) Image source [ALBUM 2011a: Lot 445] (2.54g, size not indicated)
b) Image source ZENO: #25208 (2.1g, 17mm)
c) Image source authors collection (2.49g, 1719mm, 10h 30')
d) Image source [ALBUM 2009: Lot 245] (2.36g, size not indicated)
a) Image source ZENO: #47087 (2.50g, 17.6mm)
b) Image source authors collection (2.39g, 18mm, 3h 30')
Fig. 20. [al-]Saghniyn, 153 AH
Image source courtesy of A. Atakhodjaev (Samarkand) (1.3g,
1921mm, 9 h).
b) Image source ZENO: #76025 (2.83g, size not indicated)
c) Image source ex R. Cannitos private collection (USA), No. is-1834
(2.94g, 21.2mm, 10h 30')
a) Image source a private collection (Russia) (weight and size
unknown, 6h 30')
Fig. 23. Nasaf, 157/9 AH
Image source ZENO: #102443 (2.49g, ca. 22mm; chipped)
Fig. 24. No mint name, no date, Him waiyy Ab Muslim
a) Image source ZENO: #57386 (weight and size not indicated)
a) Image source authors collection (2.48g, 21mm, 3h)
Fig. 26. al-agh[n]iyn (?), 166 AH
Image source ZENO: #93027 (weight and size not indicated)
Head of List
78
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Fig. 27. Samarqand, 172 AH , subtype A (Rev. field adil)

Fig. 28. Samarqand, 172 AH , subtype B (Rev. field Fat)
Image source ZENO: #75011 (2.8g, 22.7mm)
Fig. 30. Kish, 173 AH
Image source authors collection (2.64g, 19-20mm, 7h 30')
Fig. 31. No mint name, 174 AH , Yay b. Mu
a) Image source ANS, No. 1971.316.21 (weight not indicated,
1820mm, 6h)
Fig. 32. al-Khuttal, 177 AH
a) Image source ZENO: #93025
b) Image source ZENO: #93026
Weight and size of both specimens not indicated; compare with
#112432 (2.34g, 19mm)
a) Image source ZENO: #96941 (weight not indicated, 23mm)
b) Image source ZENO: #123408 (2.65g, 22.5mm)
Fig. 34. Binkath, 186 AH
a) Image source ZENO: #42076 (weight and size not indicated)
b) Image source a private collection (Uzbekistan) (weight and size
unknown, 11h)
a) Image source authors collection (3.55g, 23mm, 6h)
b) Image source L. Shabaevs private collection (Moscow region)
(4.47g, 2123mm, 10h 30').
c) Image source ZENO: #127003 ( weight and size unknown, 3h)
Head of List
79

Image source State Hermitage, Numismatic Department,
inv. No. ---2948 (4.08g, 23mm, 10h 30')
Image source ZENO: #77515 (1.20g, size not indicated)
Fig. 38. al-Shsh, 204 AH
b) Image source ZENO: #42415 (weight and size not indicated)
Fig. 39. Samarqand, 205
AH
= variant a:
a) Image source ZENO: #49465 (2,4g, 2021mm)
b) Image source ex R. Cannitos private collection (USA), No. IS-613
(1,41g, 19mm, 1h 30')
= variant b:
c) Image source authors collection (2,08g, 1819mm, 3h)
d) Image source authors collection (0,88g, 17,5mm, 3h)
Fig. 40. Naw[]kat[h] Zakariy, 205 AH
c) Image source ex R. Cannitos private collection (USA), No. IS-1860
(2.13g, 21mm)
Fig. 41. Bukhr, [1] (?) AH , lid b. al-<> (?)
Image source authors collection (1.96g, 1618mm, 10h)
Fig. 42. Far[gh]nah (?), 204 AH
Image source [LAVOIX 1887: Pl. IX, No. 1596] (3.10g, 22mm)
Fig. 43. Haf[t]dih (?), 205 AH
Image source ZENO: #70610 (1.42g, 19.75mm)
Fig. 44. al-rband, no date, al-amr Abd Allh b. Muammad
Image source ZENO: #69951 (1.02g, 1415mm)
Head of List
80
VLADIMIR N. NASTICH
Fig. 45. No mint name, no date, amzah (?)

b) Image source ZENO: #86675 (weight and size not indicated)
c) Image source ZENO: #102856 (2.10g, 16mm)
Fig. 46. No mint name, no date, al-amr Muammad b. (?)
a) 3.16g, 2022mm, 11h
b) 2.79g, 1920mm, 6h
Both images from N. Ivanovs private collection (Moscow)
Fig. 47. No mint name, no date, anonymous
ab) Image source a private collection (Russia) (weight unknown,
ca. 20mm)
Fig. 48. No mint name, no date, anonymous
Image source authors collection (1.10g, 15mm, with casting intake
remnants up to 18mm; 12h)
*
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In the long course of research, preparation and composition of this work,
I was enjoying the kindly assistance and perceptible help on the part of
many friends and colleagues, both with material stuff (real coins or images, alongside the related information) and scholarly support (proofreading, references, prompts etc.). My special thanks go to Luke Treadwell
(Oxford, UK), Michael Bates (New York, USA), Leonid Shabaev (Puschino,
Moscow region, Russia), Vyacheslav Kuleshov (St. Petersburg, Russia),
Ralph Cannito and Stephen Giles (USA), Anvar Atakhodjaev (Samarkand,
Uzbekistan), as well as numerous other numismatists from Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Israel and other countries, whose names are absolutely impossible to be listed without omissions, gaps and losses

Nastich Abbasid AE Coinage of Transoxiana

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VLADIMIR N.

Kish, 173 AH. Unique

CONTENTS (navigable list)*

PERSONAL NAMES ENCOUNTERED IN COIN LEGENDS

* Text elements accentuated in green serve as hyperlinks to the respective parts of

A. Main Assortment B. Puzzles to Solve

Abbsid Copper Minting Centres

ABBSID COPPER COINAGE OF TRANSOXIANA

sent doubtful, unconfirmable or plainly erroneous attributions, while only

issued only in Bukhran Soghd and Tokharistan, were conformed to the

ABBSID COPPER COINAGE OF TRANSOXIANA

on [ZENO: #13823 and #13824]. Based on the findspots of the specimens

ABBSID COPPER COINAGE OF TRANSOXIANA

Abbsid Copper Minting Centres

A. MAIN TYPE ASSORTMENT, TURNING TO BE TWICE AS NUMEROUS

(Kalima-I) in 3 lines; a linear or dotted

(Kalima-II) in 2 lines, divided with a fancy

ABBSID COPPER COINAGE OF TRANSOXIANA

in 3 lines, a dotted cir-

Rev. field Kalima-II

42:23), divided into 4 parts with single annulets.

Rev. field Kalima-II

in 2 lines, divided in the middle

ABBSID COPPER COINAGE OF TRANSOXIANA

Rev. field standard Kalima-II

in 3 lines, a dotted circle

Reportedly found in the Surkhan Darya region (ancient aghniyn). Two

Obv. field abridged Kalima-I

[amara] Allh bil-waf

Rev. field Kalima-II

in 3 lines, a dotted circle around;

ABBSID COPPER COINAGE OF TRANSOXIANA

ferent sources offer controversial data regarding their terms of service

Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, a circle of merged dots around;

al-amdu lillh in 2 lines, a circle of merged dots

ABBSID COPPER COINAGE OF TRANSOXIANA

amara bihi Ibrhm b. Mhn mil al-amr al-asan b. amrn.

Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, a linear circle around;

mimm amara bihi

Rev. field Kalima-II

, a dotted circle around;

ABBSID COPPER COINAGE OF TRANSOXIANA

The type is encountered rather frequently (for instance, 19 specimens in

Rev. field Qurn, 42:23

Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, a Soghdian tamgha

ABBSID COPPER COINAGE OF TRANSOXIANA

al-aghniyn, 146 AH (Fig. 15, ab)

Rev. field Kalima-II

ABBSID COPPER COINAGE OF TRANSOXIANA

bismi, perhaps due to dou-

in 3 lines, beaded circle around;

bismi-llh wilyat al-

Rev. field Kalima-II in 3 lines, beaded circle around;

amara (or amru)

Recently discovered [NASTI 2000: p. 107] but proved not to be especially

Rev. field Kalima-II

Marginal legends on both sides may start at different points relative to

ABBSID COPPER COINAGE OF TRANSOXIANA