ID Help Request From Afganistan - Islamic Bronze

[FORVM AUCTIONS]

An army officer in Afganistan was given this coin by an elder of Balkh.  He asked for help with ID, but it is out of my area.  Anyone know this type?   Joe Sermarini (logged in as FORVM AUCTIONS)

[Howard Cole]

This is an Iranic Civic Copper.  There are thousands if not 10's of thousands of these coins.  The side with the sword does match one listed fro Balkh in Valentine's Modern Copper Coins of the Muhammadan States.  Most likely these coins were minted in the early 1800's.

[Manzikert]

Hi Joe, Howard

SICA, Vol.9, 392, Balkh in name of Taymur Shah Durrani (1186-1207H/ 1772-1793 AD), dated 1220 (1805-6, in error for 1202/1788?). The reverse (left image) needs to be rotated 90 degrees clockwise.

Album's comment is: 'This common type is always dated 1220, thirteen years after Taymur's death. Is the date correct or is it a transposed 1202?'

Best wishes

Alan

[Joe Sermarini]

Thanks.  I will pass this on.

[Istinpolin]

Hi All

Moreover, the obverse does not bear a "sword", but a dagger, it is a one dagger that is now in the Istanbul Museum at the Topkapi palace.

Below is an image. This dagger was probably made sometime during the 17th or 18th century and became one of the major symbols of Islam. Afghanistan and Indian coinage of the 17th century to their independence in the 20th century were influenced by Ottoman coins. You can see Tughras on Afghani coins and also the Indian coinage is very similar to that of the Ottoman Sultani coinage.

Just to give more info.

best wishes,
Burak

[Joe Sermarini]

From the officer in Afganistan:

I can't thank you enough for tracking down the info regarding my Balkh
coin.  I am doubly excited since I will be visiting Timor (or Taymur)
Shah's mausoleum in Kabul in the next few weeks.

[Joe Sermarini]

He was given another coin and would like help with this one too...

[virtvsprobi]

Kushan, possibly Huvishka. Unfortunately, I don't have the references for it.

Afghanistan is just the place to get these coins, of course.

G/<

[virtvsprobi]

Ah, found the type under the predecessor... Kanishka.

Not an exact match, but close.



"KUSHAN

Objekt-Nr.: 1570

Kanishka I., 232 - 260 n.Chr.
AE (17,65 g.),
Vs.: Stehender Herrscher mit Rock und Schultermantel hält in der Linken ein Zepter und opfert an einem Altar.
Rs.: Oado mit über dem Kopf gezogenem Tuch n. l. eilend. Göbl, Kushan 783. R! Grüne Patina, s ss"

Obverse: ÞAO KANHÞKI = SHAO KANESHKI = King Kanishka
Ruler standing, wearing skirt and mantle, holding scepter in left hand, sacrificing at altar.

Reverse: OAΔO
Oado (Iranian wind god), hurrying to left, pulling cloth over head.


Oado/Wardo is equivalent to Boreas and the mantle is worn like this even by the old Shinto god Fujin.

Note on the dating: Everyone is still arguing about Kushan chronology, so it's to be taken with a caravan carrying many grains of salt to Peshawar.

G/<

P.S. Answer is actually available on one of the sites hosted by FORVM

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/india/kushana/kus_cat4.html

Which site would be easier to use if the colour scheme was not retina corrosive!

[Howard Cole]

Yes, this is a Kushan coin of Kanishka, circa 130-158 AD (Mitchiner's dates).  It matchs Mitchiner's coins numbers 3114 - 3116, in his Oriental Coins and Their Values: The Ancient & Classical World, 600 B.C. - A.D. 650.  It may have been minted either at Pushkalavati and/or Taxila.  Mitchiner just says they are AE Units and should weigh around 17 grams. 

Here is Mitchiner's description.
Obv. King standing facing, holding trident in his left hand & lowering his right hand to an altar.
Rev. Wind God Vado depicted with cloak, running left; name and Tamgha beside.