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Coins of Khwarazm
History of Khwarazm
Khwarezm is an oasis in Central Asia, located in the lowlands of Amu-Darya
(Oxus) on lands of its ancient and modern deltas on the territory of modern
Uzbekistan and partially Turkmenistan. Khwarezm is one the most ancient hotbeds of high agricultural culture.
Khwarezm was famous from great antiquity (ancient Persian Khuvarazmish, in
Avesta, the sacred book of the Zoroastrian religion - Khwairezm, and
Arabic - Khwarizm). The name Khwarezm is translated (from Iranian "khur" - sun, and ending
"zm" - land) as the land of the sun, lowland, fertile land, land of the people
Khwari. Sometimes, from the city Khiva, it was called the Khiva oasis.
Ancient Khwarezm cultural community had formed in 7th-6th centuries B.C. on the basis of the local saco-massagetian people under strong interaction of southern agricultural
civilizations. In the last third of the 6th century B.C. Khwarezm was conquered by the Persians and
drawn into the system of cultural ties of the Achaemenid Empire. At the end of the 5th
or in the begging of the 4th century B.C. it was apportioned into a separate satrapy, but
soon, as could be judged from the ancient sources, it seized to be under the control of
the Achaemenids. Khwarezm’s de-facto independence to a large degree had defined its further cultural
history. Not being part of the Hellenistic empire Khwarezm had become a distinctive
preserve of ancient Eastern traditions of Central Asia. In the 2d century B.C. Khwarezm had suffered a military rout. On most monuments from that time signs of powerful fires were detected. Undoubtedly, these are the signs of
stormy events related to the movement of the steppe tribes, which destroyed Graeco-Bactria and put Parthia to the edge of demise. After the rout the Khwarezm culture
had retained a part of its traditions, but it got noticeably barbarized and dimmed.
However at the same time in the 2d century B.C. the Khwarezm coin production had
begun, first, though, imitative, but still attesting to the later socioeconomic community.
The first Kwarezm coins were large silver imitations of tetradrachms of Eukratides,
distinguished from its prototype by the greater distortion of inscriptions and by the
presence of a distinctive mark – tamgha on its reverse. Later on the obverse the
likeness of Eukratides is replaced by a portrait of a local ruler, and along with a
distorted Greek legend a legend in the Khwarezm language is put down, conveying the
name and title of the ruler. On the reverse of the coins an image of a rider starts to
appear. Some researchers regard that this is the god-rider Siyavush, who, according to Biruni,
was the founder of the dynasty of the Khwarezm kings, others see in him an image of a
deified king. An image of a king-rider is invariable, as is the Khwarezm tamgha, are
present on all silver coins of this region for the period of seven centuries, up until the
end of the Khwarezm coinage in the middle of the 7th century A.D. Only the style and
some details had been modified. This unique phenomenon in the numismatics of
Central Asia gives evidence to stable traditions and continuity of the Khwarezm kings,
who came from the same dynasty.
4th-8th centuries were a difficult period in Khwarezmian history. This was the time of
development of feudal relationships and the formation of the early medieval culture,
which, based on the name of the ruling dynasty, the name of Afrigids. The
political history of Khwarezm can only be reconstructed fragmentally: written sources
give good coverage only to the events of the campaigns of conquest of the beginning of
the 8th century of the Arab general Quteiba b.Muslim. Not ruled out though, that
between the 3d and 7th centuries, at the time when an interruption is detected in the
Khwarezm coinage, the country had been subjected to the Sassanian invasion, and in the
6th-7th centuries it had been a part of the Turkic Empire.
The Arab invasion in the 8th century was destructive to the Khwarezm culture: the
country was plundered, scientists were expelled, their works burned. However already
at the end of the 8th century a new resurgence is detected, which leads to the
flourishing of economy and culture in the 9th-10th centuries.
Coins catalog of Khwarazm
Kh1
Imitation of the tetradrachm of the
Bactrian king Eucratides, late 2nd century BC.
Obverse: Portrait of the king in a helmet
to the right.
Reverse: Distorted Greek legend PAΣIΛEΩΣ
MEΓAΛY, below EYKIATIΔY.
Galloping Dioscuri.
On the
right is the monogram "NT", on the left is tamga.
Kh2
Unknown ruler, 1st century BC.
Obverse: Bust of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
Reverse: Distorted legend:
IVXIVEΩVIIEΓΛVΛEIVIΛVI.
Galloping Dioscuri.
On the
right is a monogram, on the left is a tamga (different than on the previous
coin).
Kh3
Unknown ruler, late 1st century BC.
-
beginning of the 1st century AD
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king wearing a
crown to the right.
Behind the head is a schematic image of Nika.
In
front of the face there is a halo-type arc.
Reverse: Distorted legend: IVIVEΩIEΩΓΛVE
EIΛVIΛΓ.
Horseman wearing a crown and diadem.
On the
left is tamga.
Kh4
Unknown ruler, mid-1st century AD
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king wearing a
crown to the right.
Behind the head is a schematic image of Nika.
In
front of the face there is a halo-type arc.
Reverse: Distorted, unreadable Greek
legend.
Horseman wearing a crown and diadem.
Below is
a Khorezm legend with the name of the king (part of the coin with the name is
broken off on both known copies).
On the left is tamga.
Kh5
Unknown ruler, mid-1st century AD
Single-sided coin
Obverse: Tamga in the center, top left
dot.
Kh6
King Artav, late 1st century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
Reverse: Distorted, unreadable Greek
legend.
Horseman wearing a crown and diadem.
Below is
a Khorezm legend with the name of the king ('rt'w MLK' = "righteous").
On
the left is tamga.
Kh7
King Artav, late 1st century AD.
Single sided coin.
Obverse: Khorezm legend
Kh8
King Artav, late 1st century AD.
Single sided coin.
Obverse: distorted Khorezm legend
Kh9
Unknown ruler
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king left
wearing a diadem with a crescent.
Reverse: Tamga in the center.
Kh9a
Unknown ruler
Obverse: Bust of a beardless king to the
left wearing a diadem with a crescent.
Reverse: Tamga in the center.
Kh10
King Artramush, late 2nd - early 3rd
century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
Reverse: Distorted, unreadable Greek
legend.
A horseman wearing a crown and diadem holds a spear.
Below
is a Khorezm legend with the name of the king (wrtrmws - “wearing chain mail”
MLK').
On the left is an S-shaped tamga.
Kh11
King Artramush, late 2nd - early 3rd
century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king wearing a
crown to the right.
Behind the head is a schematic image of Nika.
In
front of the face there is a halo-type arc.
Reverse: Distorted, unreadable Greek
legend.
A horseman wearing a crown and diadem holds a spear.
Below
is a Khorezm legend with the name of the king.
On the left is an
S-shaped tamga.
Kh12
King Artramush (?), late 2nd – early 3rd
century AD.
Obverse: The king's head to the right
wearing a crown with a crescent.
Reverse: S-shaped tamga in the center.
Kh13
King Vazamar, second half of the 3rd
century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king to the
right wearing a crown in the form of an eagle.
Reverse: Distorted, unreadable Greek
legend.
A horseman wearing a crown and diadem holds a spear.
Below
is a Khorezm legend with the name of the king (wzm'r MLK').
On the
left is tamga.
Kh14
King Vazamar, second half of the 3rd
century AD.
Obverse: Horseman wearing a diadem to the
right.
Reverse: Tamga in the form of a swastika.
Kh15
King Vazamar, second half of the 3rd
century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king to the
right wearing a crown in the form of a camel.
Reverse: Tamga in the form of a swastika.
Kh16
King Vazamar, second half of the 3rd
century AD.
Obverse: circular Khorezm legend
Kh17
King Vazamar, second half of the 3rd
century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king to the
right wearing a crown in the form of an eagle.
Reverse: Tamga in the center, around the
Khorezm legend
Kh18
King Vazamar, second half of the 3rd
century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king to the
right wearing a crown in the form of an eagle.
Reverse: Two tamgas surrounded by the
Khorezm legend
Kh19
King Bivarsar, first half of the 4th
century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king to the
right wearing a diadem and crown with a crescent.
Reverse: Horseman in the center.
On
the left is a tamga, around a legend: part of the legend is distorted,
unreadable Greek, part is Khorezm
Kh20
King Bivarsar, first half of the 4th
century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king facing
right wearing a crown with a crescent.
Reverse: Tamga in the center.
Kh21
King Bivarsar, first half of the 4th
century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king to the
right wearing a diadem and crown with a crescent.
Reverse: Horseman in the center.
On
the left is a tamga (different than on the previous coin), around a legend: part
of the legend is distorted, unreadable Greek, part is Khorezm
Kh22
King Bivarsar, first half of the 4th
century AD.
Like Kh16;
different options
for crown and clothing.
Silver.
/Extremely Rare/
Kh23
King Bivarsar, first half of the 4th
century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king facing
right wearing a crown with a crescent.
Reverse: Tamga in the center.
Kh24
Unknown ruler, 4th century AD
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king to the
right wearing a crown.
Reverse: Horseman in the center.
On
the left is a tamga, around a legend: part of the legend is distorted,
unreadable Greek, part is Khorezmian
Kh26
Unknown ruler, 4th century AD
(?)
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king facing
right wearing a crown with a crescent.
Reverse: Tamga-swastika surrounded by the
Khorezm legend
Kh27
Unknown ruler, 4th century AD
(?)
Obverse: Head of a bearded king to the
right wearing a crown in the form of a lying camel.
Reverse: Tamga in the center.
Kh28
Unknown ruler, 4th century AD
(?)
Obverse: Head of a beardless king to the
right wearing a crown with a crescent.
Reverse: Tamga in the center.
Kh29
King Sanbar, 5th century AD
(?)
Obverse: Head of a bearded king to the
right wearing a diadem or crown with a crescent.
Reverse: A dot surrounded by the Khorezm
legend
Kh30
King Rast, 5th century AD
(?)
Obverse: Head of a bearded king to the
right wearing a crown in the form of an eagle.
Reverse: In the center there is a dot, in
a circle there is the Khorezm legend
Kh31
King Siyavsparsh, 5th century AD.
(?)
Obverse: Head of a beardless king to the
right wearing a crown.
Reverse: Tamga surrounded by the Khorezm
legend
Kh32
King Siyavsparsh, 5th century AD.
(?)
Obverse: Head of a beardless king to the
right wearing a crown, more schematized.
Reverse: Tamga in the center.
Kh33
King Siyavsparsh, 5th century AD.
(?)
Obverse: Head of a beardless king to the
right wearing a diadem or crown with a crescent.
Reverse: Tamga in the center.
Kh34
King Siyavsparsh, 5th century AD.
(?)
Obverse: Head of a beardless king to the
right wearing a diadem or crown with a crescent.
Reverse: Tamga in the center.
Kh35
King Siyavsparsh (?), 5th century AD.
(?)
Obverse: The king's head to the right
wearing a diadem or crown with a crescent (very schematized image).
Reverse: Tamga in the center.
Kh36
Ruler Vir, 5th century AD
Obverse: Head of a beardless king to the
right wearing a crown with a crescent.
Reverse: One-word Khorezm legend:
Kh37
King Tutukhas, late 5th – early 6th
century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a bearded king to the
right wearing a crown with a crescent and a diadem.
Reverse: Horseman in the center.
On
the left is the tamga, around the Khorezm legend:
Kh38
King Tutukhas, late 5th – early 6th
century AD.
Obverse: Bust of the king to the right
wearing a crown in the form of a lying camel.
Reverse: In the center there are 5 dots,
around the Khorezm legend:
Kh39
King Tutukhas, late 5th – early 6th
century AD.
Obverse: In the center there are 5 dots,
around the Khorezm legend:
Kh40
King Tutukhas, late 5th – early 6th
century AD.
Obverse: Bust of the king to the right
wearing a crown in the form of a lying camel.
Reverse: Tamga in the center.
Kh42
Unknown ruler, 6th century AD
Obverse: Bust of a beardless king facing
right wearing a crown with a crescent.
Reverse: Horseman in the center.
On
the left is the tamga, around the Khorezm legend:
Kh43
King Bravik, late 6th – early 7th century
AD.
Obverse: Head of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
Reverse: Horseman in the center.
On
the left is the tamga, around is the Khorezm legend:
Kh44
King Bravik, late 6th – early 7th century
AD.
Obverse: Head of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
In front of the face the title:
Kh44a
King Bravik, late 6th – early 7th century
AD.
Obverse: Head of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
In front of the face the title:
Kh45
King Scar, 7th century AD
Obverse: Head of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
Reverse: Horseman in the center.
On
the left is the tamga, around is the Khorezm legend:
Kh46
King Scar, 7th century AD
Obverse: Head of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
Reverse: Horseman in the center.
On
the left is the tamga, around is the Khorezm legend:
Kh47
King Scar, 7th century AD
Obverse: Head of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
In the face of the title
Kh48
King Scar, 7th century AD
Obverse: Head of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
In front of the face is the title
Kh49
King Azkatsvar I, early 8th century AD.
(died
in 712 AD)
Obverse: Head of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
Reverse: Tamga in the center.
On
the left is the tamga, around is the Khorezm legend:
Kh49a
King Azkatsvar I, early 8th century AD.
(died
in 712 AD)
Obverse: Head of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
Reverse: Tamga in the center, around the
Khorezm legend:
Kh50
Kerder region, appanage ruler Khosro,
early 8th century AD.
Obverse: Head of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
Reverse: Tamga in the center, around the
Khorezm legend:
Kh51
Unknown ruler, early 8th century AD.
Obverse: Horse to the right.
At
the top there is a sign in the form of a swastika.
Reverse: Tamga in the center, around the
Khorezm legend:
Kh52
King Kanik, early 8th century AD.
Obverse: Bust of the beardless king to
the right.
Reverse: Horseman in the center.
On
the left is the tamga, around the Khorezm legend:
Kh53
King Kanik, early 8th century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a beardless king facing
right wearing a crown with a crescent.
In front of the face the
title:
Kh54
King Kanik, early 8th century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a beardless king facing
right wearing a crown with a crescent.
Reverse: Horseman in the center.
On
the left is the tamga, around the Khorezm legend:
Kh55
King Savshaphan, mid-8th century AD.
Obverse: Bust of the beardless king to
the right wearing a crown and diadem.
In the face of the king, a
Sogdian legend with his name:
Kh55a
King Savshaphan, mid-8th century AD.
Obverse: Bust of the beardless king to
the right wearing a crown and diadem.
Reverse: Horseman in the center.
On
the left is a tamga, around is a Khorezm legend:
Kh56
King Savshaphan, mid-8th century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a beardless king facing
right wearing a crown with a crescent.
Reverse: Horseman in the center.
On
the left is the tamga, around the Khorezm legend:
Kh57
King Savshaphan, mid-8th century AD.
Obverse: Head of a beardless king to the
right wearing a crown and diadem.
Reverse: Horseman in the center.
On
the left is the tamga, around the Khorezm legend:
Kh58
King Savshaphan, mid-8th century AD.
(possibly
a specific coinage of Kerder after the uprising suppressed by the Arabs in 728)
Obverse: Head of a beardless king to the
right wearing a crown.
There are three dots in front of the face.
Reverse: Horseman in the center.
On
the left is the tamga, around the Khorezm legend:
Kh59
King Azkatsvar II, late 8th century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
In the face of the Sogdian legend, the name
of the king:
Kh60
King Azkatsvar II, late 8th century AD.
Obverse: Bust of a beardless king wearing
a crown to the right.
In the face of the Sogdian legend, the name
of the king:
Kh61
Unknown ruler, late 8th century AD.
Obverse: Horse to the right.
At
the top there is a sign in the form of a swastika.
Reverse: Similar to the Abbasid coinage
with the symbol of faith in the center and a circular legend (illegible).