KHAQANID

371 – 665 AH

Except for a few of the earliest issues, Khaqanid coins do not bear the name of a mint, save for a single type of Minuchihr III dated 555, and are usually undated. Few coins were carefully struck, and most exhibit considerable weakness. Dies were invariably much larger than the average planchet, so that large portions of the design are typically off flan. Many of the 5th/11th and early 6th/12th century coins bear intricate ornamental designs. Because of the poor quality of production, many specimens cannot be assigned to a specific ruler, except by design or die-link. Actual denominational names are unknown. For convenience I have therefore termed billon issues “dirham” and copper coins “fals”. Except for the first two rulers, there are no proper silver coins. There is no Khaqanid gold coinage. The rarity of these coins is tentative, due to the abundance of some types in museum and private collections in parts of the former Soviet Union, especially in Azerbaijan. It cannot be predicted just how much of this coinage may eventually become available to collectors.