Uzbekistan-Samanid AH291 1 dirham
The Samanids were the first native dynasty to emerge since the Muslim Arab conquest, defeating the Saffarids, and replacing Arabic with Persian as the official language. They were established in 819 AD. At their maximum extent, the Samanids ruled over eastern Iran, Afghanistan, and other parts of central Asia including Uzbekistan. They eventually became weak and Turkic slave commanders (the Ghaznavids) took control of all Samanid lands south of the Oxus River. Their capital in Bukhara (Uzbekistan) was seized by the Karakhanids in 999 AD, ending the dynasty.
The specimen shown was lot 391 in Steve Album sale 16 (Santa Rosa, CA, May 2013), where it sold for US$110. The catalog description reads[1]:
"SAMANID: Isma'il I, 892-907, AR dirham, al-Shash, AH291, citing the caliph's vizier as abu'l-husayn wali al-dawla al-wazir, nice strike, VF, RR. Perhaps the only coin type that not only names the caliph's vizier but also includes his title al-wazir."
NOTE: al-Shash is an early name for the city of Bukhara.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 2.89 g, silver.
Catalog reference: A-1443.
- Album, Stephen. Checklist of Islamic Coins. Santa Rosa, 1998. Stephen Album.
- [1]Album, Stephen. Stephen Album Rare Coins - Auction 16. Santa Rosa, 2013. Stephen Album Rare Coins.
- Mitchiner, Michael. Oriental Coins and their Values - The World of Islam. London, 2000. Hawkins Publications.
Link to:
- Iran-Samanid AH339 1 dinar
- Afghanistan-Samanid AH388 1 dinar
- return to coins of Uzbekistan