Arab–Sassanian coin
Location Karabalgasun
Dating 7.-8. cent.
Epoch Uyghur Empire
Material Silber
Type Single objects
Description
Silver coin of the Arab-Sassanid type. One side of the coin shows the Zoroastrian fire altar and priests, flames, sun, crescent moon and stars. There is an inscription in Arabic letters next to each of the priests. The date of the coin’s minting (24th year) and the name of the city [ML (Marv)/ or MY (Meshan)] are given here. The obverse of the coin depicts a king wearing a crown. He is shown with earrings in his ears, a thick beard on his chin, curly hair hanging down behind his ears, a moon-shaped band around his neck and a large nose. It appears to be a later Arab-Sassanid coin. This is the term used to describe coins that were minted in the style of the fallen Sassanid Empire after the Muslim Arabs conquered it. This coin was cut along the edge on one side and a small hole was made in it. This shows that the Uighurs later used the coins as jewellery, for example as a necklace or pendant.
3D Visualisation
3D Model: H. Rohland / DAI
Images: H. Rohland / DAI
Literature
Bates, M. (2011) ‘Arab-Sasanian Coins’, Encyclopaedia Iranica. Available at: https://iranicaonline.org/articles/arab-sasanian-coins (Accessed: 6 December 2024).