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AFGHANISTAN COINS & BANKNOTES

A numismatic review of a troubled land.

For coins of India, please visit Click Here2200 YEARS OF COINS OF INDIA
For coins of Iraq,  please visit Click Here1800 YEARS OF IRAQ COINS & CURRENCY
For coins of other countries of the Middle East, please visit our Click HereMIDDLE EAST COINS PAGE



KUSHAN COIN OF THE "UNKNOWN KING"

Kushan bronze Tetradrachm of Soter Megas (Vima Takto) circa 80-105ADThe Kushan Empire ruled the area from northern India through Afghanistan into Central Asia in the first and second centuries AD.  It grew wealthy controlling trade centers on the Silk Road and on the Indus River and had diplomatic relations with both Rome and China.  Until recently the actual name of its second emperor was unknown.  He was known only by the title on his coins "Soter Megas", which translates as “Great Savior”.  He thought of himself as being so great, he did need to use his actual name. With the discovery of a large stone tablet listing the names of the Kushan rulers it is now known his name was Vima Takto who ruled from about 80 to 105AD.  His bronze tetradrachm features a Greek style diademed bust of the king on one side, and the king on horseback on the other.  It is an attractive, well-struck ancient coin.
Item SOTER KUSHAN BRONZE TETRADRACHM, SOTER MEGAS (VIMA TAKTO) ca.80-105AD VF $39.95



ANCIENT KUSHANO-SASANIAN COPPER COIN 

Kushano-Sassanian copper coins, Kobad, circa 330-350ADAfter the split of the Kushan Empire around 230AD, the eastern portion became a vassal state of the Sasanian Empire is known as the Kushano-Sassanians.  It controlled parts of what are now Afghanistan and Pakistan. It remained until about 350AD, when the area was conquered by the White Huns (Hephthalites).  These small, crude copper coins, sometimes called a Drachm or a unit, were minted between about 241 and 350AD. They are some of the last coins of the Kushano-Sasanians. They are modeled after the Sasanian silver Drachm, however are smaller, much cruder and made of copper.  One side features the bust of the king, the other features a Zoroastrian fire altar. 
Item KUSHAN-SAS KUSHANO-SASANIAN COPPER DRACHM, ca.241-350AD G-CRUDE $5.00



FORMER SLAVE FOUNDS GHAZNAVID DYNASTY

Ghaznavid silver dirham of Sabuketekin 977-997ADAt its peak the Ghaznavids controlled a vast central Asian empire that included Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India as well as parts of Iran and Turkmenistan.  The founder of the dynasty was Sabuktekin (Sabuktigin).  In his youth he was captured in a tribal war and sold as a slave.  He was eventually purchased by Alptigin, the governor of Ghazna, who so recognized his potential.  He later married the Alptgin's daughter.   In 977 he became governor of Ghazna, which became a semi-independent kingdom within the Samanid Empire.  He expanded his kingdom, conquering much of which is now Afghanistan.  He died in 997 after becoming sick on a military campaign.  His son Mahmud, declared full independence and further expanded the territory.  This silver dirham of Sabuktigin was struck at Farwan in Afghanistan.  One side cites the Shada (There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his messenger).  The other side acknowledges his Samanid overlord and the Abbasid Caliph.  The silver coin is approximately 17mm.
Item GHAZ-SEBUK GHAZNAVID SILVER DIRHAM OF SABUKTEKIN 977-997AD A-1599 Fine $18.00


THE FAMOUS BULL & HORSEMAN JITAL

India-Afghanistan Bull & Horseman Jital, circa 1000ADThe Bull and Horseman Jital was introduced by the Hindu Kings in Kabul and Ohind (now Afghanistan and Pakistan) in the 9th century.  One side featured a humped bull.  The other side a man on a horse holding a lance.  The coins became the standard for much of Afghanistan and northern India.  It continued to be struck for hundreds of years by neighboring and successive kingdoms. It gradually become cruder and more debased as each generation would copy the design from coins found in circulation.  These Bull and Horseman Jitals date from around the 10th to 11th century.  They are made of debased silver and feature crude line drawings of the bull and horseman.  I do not have the time or patience to do an exact attribution so am letting them go cheap.
Item B&H INDIA BILLON BULL & HORSEMAN JITAL circa 1000AD VF-crude $7.50


HISTORIC HERAT COIN

Herat, Afghanistan 1 Falus 1826-1833 KM-A45.1Afghanistan has long been a graveyard for foreign nations that tried to impose their will on this unruly nation.  Persia, Great Britain, Russia and most recently the United States tried, and failed. This crude copper 1 Falus was issued by the city of Herat in Afghanistan between 1826 and 1833.  Herat was independent during this period due to a civil in Afghanistan between the Durrani and Barakzai dynasties.  In 1837 the Persians, supported by the Russians attempted to besiege the city, which was supported by the British.  After a nine-month brutal and bloody siege the Persians gave up and withdrew.  The day after the Persians left the British began to assemble their Indian Army for an invasion of Afghanistan in in order to install the British supported Durrani claimant of the Afghan throne and remove the Russian supported Barakzai claimant.  The British conquered Kabul in 1839 and installed their claimant to the throne. After enduring harsh winters, the British forces, their families and camp followers were almost completely annihilated during their retreat from Kabul in 1842.  The Barakazi's then reclaimed the throne of Afghanistan.
Item HERAT-1F HERAT, AFGHANISTAN 1 FALUS KMA45.1 1826-33 VG-Fine-crude $7.50



AFGHANISTAN 10,000 AFGHANI BANKNOTE Restocked

Afghanistan 10,000 Afghani banknote 1993 P63b
 The 10,000 Afghani was the highest denomination ever issued by Afghanistan.  It was needed due to severe inflation due to the Afghan civil war, in which various warlords and the Taliban were fighting for control of the country.  Starting in 1993, various warlords claiming to represent the Afghan government contracted with banknote printers in Russia and the United Kingdom to print the notes.  Of course, this only made inflation worse.  In 1996 Taliban declared them worthless, however they continued to circulate in many areas of the nation until the notes were replaced in 2002 with new banknotes after the American invasion of Afghanistan. The front features the Friday Mosque in Herat (Masjid-i Jami') and the seal of the Afghanistan Bank which an image of an ancient Greco-Bactrian Tetradrachm minted circa 171-179BC and two cornucopias spilling out coins.  The back depicts the 11th century Qala-e-Bost Gateway.  It is a beautiful banknote issued during a troubled time in a troubled nation.
Item PM-AF-10000A AFGHANISTAN 10,000 AFGHANI BANKNOTE 1993 P63b UNC. $4.50



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