AFGHANISTAN COINS & BANKNOTES
A numismatic review of a troubled land.
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AFFORDABLE EARLY
ANCIENT SILVER
COIN
This is
one of the most affordable early ancient silver coins
available. It was struck from about 600BC to 327BC in the
area of northern Pakistan and north-eastern Afghanistan. Some
references attribute the coin to the region of Gandhara Janapada, while
others attribute it to Taxila, which was the major city in that
region. One side of the slightly concave coin has the six
petaled Taxila "flower" design that was used on most coins of the
region at that time. The other side is blank. The
coin is approximately 12 to 14mm in diameter. It is likely the coins
were first struck shortly before the region was invaded by Persian
emperor Darius the Great in 518BC. The coins continued to be
issued under Persian rule, probably until
Alexander the Great conquered
the region in 327BC. The coin is denominated as 1/8
Santamanas.
Item
GANDHARA GANDHARA JANAPADA 1/8 SANTAMANA
circa 600-327BC Fine-crude
$35.00
LAST
COINS OF THE LAST KING OF AFGHANISTAN 
Mohammed Zahir Shah ascended to the throne of Afghanistan in 1933
when he was only sixteen years old. His long reign
was
noted for modernization, peace and
stability in what was, and again is, a war-torn nation. He
managed to maintain neutrality during World War II. During
the Cold War he received aid and support from both the United States
and the Soviet Union. In 1973 he was overthrown by his cousin
Mohammed Daud Khan who attempted
to establish a republic. His last coins were these 1, 2 and 5 Afghani
dated SH1340 (1961AD). The 5 Afghani was highly controversial
as it featured his portrait. It was the first Afghan coin to feature a
monarch's image. Because Islam discourages the use of images of people,
the coin was poorly received and many were mutilated or
destroyed. A statue of an eagle with outstretched wings is on
the 2 Afghani. Three ears of wheat are on the 1
Afghani. All three coins are struck in nickel-clad steel and
feature the denomination on the reverse.
Item
S-AF-SET61 AFGHANISTAN 1, 2 & 5 AFGHANI
SH1340 (1961)
KM953-955 AU-UNC.
$4.50
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This is
one of the most affordable early ancient silver coins
available. It was struck from about 600BC to 327BC in the
area of northern Pakistan and north-eastern Afghanistan. Some
references attribute the coin to the region of Gandhara Janapada, while
others attribute it to Taxila, which was the major city in that
region. One side of the slightly concave coin has the six
petaled Taxila "flower" design that was used on most coins of the
region at that time. The other side is blank. The
coin is approximately 12 to 14mm in diameter. It is likely the coins
were first struck shortly before the region was invaded by Persian
emperor Darius the Great in 518BC. The coins continued to be
issued under Persian rule, probably until Alexander the Great conquered
the region in 327BC. The coin is denominated as 1/8
Santamanas. 
