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AFGHANISTAN COINS

A numismatic review of a troubled land.

For coins of India, please visit Click Here2200 YEARS OF COINS OF INDIA
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RARE COINS OF THE CITY OF HERAT

Herat, Afghanistan 1 & 2 FalusHerat is a major city in western Afghanistan.  Being on a major trade route, it has been fought over and held by various conquerors for thousands of years, including Alexander the Great, the Parthians, Kushans, Sasanians, and Ghenghiz Khan.  It was a one of the last cities that was held by the Talaban in the recent War in Afghanistan.  After the War a hoard of previously unreported copper 1 and 2 Falus coins was discovered. Only about a thousand pieces were reported, so the coins are expected to remain scarce.   The coins, struck in Herat, date between about 1829 and 1837. It was a time Afghanistan was in state of major flux, with the Ottoman Turks, Russia, and Mughal India as well as various local warlords were all trying to conquer part or all of the nation.  The coins avoid referencing an ruler.  They were most likely necessity issue for local use that was needed due to the collapse of the central Afghan government. Until quite recently, the coins were unreported in all major coin catalog, however they are expected to be listed an upcoming issue of the Standard Catalog of World Coins as KM45.1 and KMB45.  The crudely struck coins grade VG.
Item L-AF-HERAT1     HERAT 1  FALUS (1829-1837) (KM45.1) VG sold out
Item L-HERAT2   HERAT 2 FALUS 1829-1837  VG $6.00

TALES OF INTRIGUE AND BETRAYAL

Silver Rupee of Kamran Shah from HeratKamran Shah claimed the throne of Afghanistan, however by 1838 his territory had been reduced to the walled city of Herat in western Afghanistan.  The town was surrounded by Persian and British troops as well as troops of his rival claimants to the throne of Afghanistan.  Even within Herat, his Grand Vizier had usurped his authority.  The British supported the Persians in their siege of Herat, in exchange for the Persians attacking the Sikh Empire, however they switched sides and helped defend Herat when they found out the Russians were also supporting the Persians.  After months of unsuccessful siege and bombardment, the Persians departed, leaving a destroyed and starving city.  The city that had once held over 100,000 citizens was reduced to about 8,000. In order to raise money the Grand Vizier sold many of his unlucky remaining citizens into slavery.  The British tried to gain influence over the Grand Vizier.  He took their money, but ignored their proposals.  The British then launched an invasion of Afghanistan.  They quickly occupied the country, but lost thousands of troops in an unsuccessful attempt to control the country.  This silver Rupee was struck in 1838 in Herat during the time of siege.  It was one of the last silver Rupees ever struck by that mint.  This scarce coin has a catalog value of between $65 and $90, however our price is much less. This coin serves as an excellent reminder of the intrigue and chaos of Afghanistan.
Item L-AF-403  AFGHANISTAN, HERAT 1 RUPEE AH1258 (AD1838) (KM403) F-VF $37.50

THE SHORT REIGN OF THE BANDIT KING OF AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan silver 1/2 Rupee of Habibullah Ghazi (Kalakarni), AH1347 (AD 1929)Habibullah Ghazi (Habibullah Kalakani) was born in the 1890’s in Afghanistan. After being unsuccessful at school, various odd jobs and in army, he found a successful and lucrative carrier of robbing caravans on the Silk Road traveling between China and the Middle East.  He soon became a powerful local warlord. In 1928 King Amanullah’s attempts to modernize the country, provoked revolts by conservatives throughout the country.  Habibullah initially used his troops to support the King, then turned and marched on Kabul, the capital.  Amanullah fled the country and Habibullah became king of Afghanistan on January 17, 1929.  He promptly reversed most of Amanullah’s reforms.  Meanwhile, General Mohammad Nadir Khan, (Nadir Shah) who had been exiled by Amanullah, returned from Europe, and with a little help from the British, quickly retook the country.  By October, Nadir Khan surrounded Kabul and Habibullah fled back to his village.   Nadir Khan promised Habibullah’s safety, but instead he executed him and Nadir Khan made himself king.  This silver Half Rupee (Qiran) was issued during the short, 9 month reign of Habibullah Ghazi in1929.  It is dated AH1347.  One side shows the Afghan arms that features a mosque and two flags.  The other side has inscriptions within a wreath, including the title “Amir Habibullah”.  The coin shows little wear, but is unevenly struck so many of the details do not show up.  It is a scarce coin from the short reign of the bandit who became the King of Afghanistan.
Item C-AF-896  AFGHANISTAN 1/2 RUPEE KM896 (1929) KM896 VF-poor strike    $10.00


NEW COINS OF AFGHANISTAN Back in stock

Afghanistan 3 coin set: 1 2 5 Afghani SH1383 (AD2004)Afghanistan recently released its first coins for circulation since 1980.   The set includes a copper-plated steel 1 Afghani, a steel 2 Afghani and an aluminum-bronze (brass) 5 Afghani, dated SH1383, which corresponds to AD2004.  The coins feature the denomination on one side and the traditional arms of Afghanistan on the other.  The coins were minted in Europe, sent by ship to Pakistan, and then trucked to Afghanistan.  Millions of the coins were stolen while they were in transit in Pakistan. The loss was only discovered when sharp-eyed customs official noted that a truck containing the coins was much lighter than it should have been.  The release of the coins was delayed until the stolen coins were recovered. The coins help mark Afghanistan's return to normalcy after years of civil war and Taliban rule.
Item AF-SET04  AFGHANISTAN 3 COIN SET 1, 2 & 5 AFGHANI SH1383 (AD2004)  KM1044-1046 UNC. $4.50



ALSO SEE:

Click HereCOINS OF GHENGHIZ KHAN
Click HereRARE SILVER COIN OF MANGUBARNI


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