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 Replies: 12 / Views: 2,140 |
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Pillar of the Community
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5155 Posts |
In the wake of Peroz's defeat and death on the battlefield to the much smaller Hephthalite force in AD 484, many donkey loads of coins were carried off to the far reaches of Asia. In the millennium that followed many different cultures across the vast expanse of the silk road would use and eventually imitate the coins of the Shahs of long ago. I have found these sometimes crude and sometimes superior to the original coins of the Hephthalites, Huns, Nomads and other associated peoples to be some of the most fascinating and exotic coins in all of the world. This addition to the collection is no different. It is a variation of Hun coin that I did not have, and had to have.This coin has a lot going for it in my eyes. Kobadien, Northern Tokharistan, Xionite Huns AR Drachm 30 mm x 2.87 grams Struck AD 680-720 Obverse: Crowned Bust of Peroz flanked by Tamghas- Countermark, Forepart horse, Circular symbol, Human head wearing pom pom hat-Cursive Bactrian Greek- ALChOON Reverse: Zoroastrian Fire Altar flanked by two attendents.Countermark Reclining Camel, Human head wearing Satrapal Cap. ref# cf.Gobl 72/73 Note: Rare, Silk Road Coin.  Edited by Ancientnoob
11/13/2014 8:06 pm
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Very nice, I love countermarks which can be clearly determined and this has a few very good ones.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
435 Posts |
Very interesting coin. I suppose it must be quite unusual to have so many counter marks. I know little about these coins, but would love to eventually add one or two to my collection. Would each counter mark be representative of a particular region or local ruler?
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Pillar of the Community
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I really like this coin. I wonder what the counter marks mean.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
435 Posts |
So Medieval...when you find clusters of counter marks like the 6 on your coin or indeed those on this one, would they most likely all have been performed by one authority, to be taken together as one significant stamp, or would each stamp have been created at a different time representative of a separate intent, as the coin passed through different hands?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5155 Posts |
@ Vale its really difficult to understand the nature the purpose of ancient countermarks. They are often poorly understood and extremely difficult to place. It is conceivable that these particular coins circulated for a relatively long time and were transported great distances. So it is plausible that these coins could have been certified good in the realms of unknown kings and chiefs and could been struck at different points along the silk road. Or all at once in its place manufacture or destination. It is also conceivable that the coin and the countermarks are centuries apart..like in this case... A Hormizd IV "Imitation" dated clearly to year 11 or AD 581 Bhalk Afghanistan, the year the city fell to the Hephthalite Huns. The countermark here is attributed to Phromo Kesaro a Hunnic king ruling in the 8th century AD.  Edited by Ancientnoob
11/13/2014 9:50 pm
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
435 Posts |
I always enjoy reading your posts AN...and am learning new things each time. I find your field of interest particularly captivating too. Great history!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
The main purpose of (official) countermarks is to validate the coin for usage (in the particular area of influence). The process is simpler and cheaper than to create a coin from a blank or overminting the whole coin (as eg happened quite often with Byzantine coins). When a coin is counterstamped several times it can be due to the coin having traveled from one territory to the other (as likely with the coin in the op) or needing verification again and again while staying in the same area (as was the case with my Maltese coin or is true as well for the Spanish revalued Maravedis). The latter example shows also one of the other purposes of counterstamping, namely to give the coin a different value.
So, in some regard everything goes.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Same here. Even though I don't collect some of what you collect Anoob, I definitely enjoy reading your threads. Keep em coming!
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Pillar of the Community
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Replies: 12 / Views: 2,140 |
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Posted 11/13/2014 8:02 pm
