© Stephen Album Rare Coins
© Stephen Album Rare Coins
1 Cash - Afrig Pendjikent; Samarqand tamgha to the left ND
| Bronze | 1.70 g | 21 mm |
| Issuer | Principality of Panch (Samarqand Sogd) |
|---|---|
| King | Divashtich "Afrig" (709-722) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 719-722 |
| Value | 1 Cash |
| Currency | Cash (658-722) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 1.70 g |
| Diameter | 21 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-04 |
| Numista | N#199180 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
Tamgha of Samarqand to the left of an un-cut hole with an additional tamgha to the right.
Edge
Plain
Comment
There is some uncertainty about the attribution of this coin.This piece was originally attributed by Smirnova as being a posthumous imitation of a Gurak piece from the Ikhshids of Samarqand, reading the legend as 'wr'kk MLK' (King Gurak). However, the tamgha on the reverse does not resemble Gurak's but is identical to Tukaspadak's and Tarkhun's tamghas.
Akhunbabaev later read the legend as 'prykk MLK' (King Afrig), corresponding to Divashtish, a ruler of Pendjikent. And while the coin has a tamgha of Samarqand on the reverse, Divashtish had claim to the title of King of Samarqand from around year 719, even though his claim was not official.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it features the Samarqand tamgha, which is a symbol of the city of Samarqand in modern-day Uzbekistan. The tamgha is depicted to the left of the Afrig (Pendjikent) inscription on the coin. This suggests that the coin was minted during a time when Samarqand was an important city in the Principality of Panch, which was a medieval state that existed in the region now known as Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
