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QARA-KHITAY (Western Liao): temp. Yelu Dashi, 1124-1143, AE fals (2.66g), NM, AH53x. F-VF

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Islamic Coins - Iran - The Early Period Start Price:170.00 USD Estimated At:220.00 - 280.00 USD
QARA-KHITAY (Western Liao): temp. Yelu Dashi, 1124-1143, AE fals (2.66g), NM, AH53x. F-VF
SOLD
1,900.00USD+ (380.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2021 May 13 @ 16:31UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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QARA-KHITAY (Western Liao): temp. Yelü Dashi, 1124-1143, AE fals (2.66g), NM, AH53x, cf. Zeno-29201, Sunni kalima divided between obverse & reverse, with the name Sa'd, possibly Muslim name of Yelü Dashi, above the obverse; the date formula fills the obverse margin, citing the caliph al-Muqtafi (reigned AH530-555) below the reverse field, F-VF, RRR. The Western Liao, known as the Qara-Khitay ("black cathay") were originally nomadic tribes from northern China. They eventually fled through Mongolia, first to Xinjiang, later into areas of modern Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and established their capital at Balasaghun, located in the Chuy Valley east of Bishkek and slightly south of the Chu River, which divides the two modern countries. They are numismatically better known for their Chinese cash coins, either in normal or imitative Chinese characters. Examples of those extremely rare cash coins were sold in our Auction 23, Lots 691 & 692 (Zeno 63045 & 98637, respectively). The Islamic Qara Khitay coins are found almost exclusively at the medieval site at Krasnaya Rechka, located between Bishkek and Balasaghun. Interestingly, some of the Western Liao cash coins were also found at Krasnaya Rechka. Detailed analysis of the two basic Islamic types, one citing the caliph al-Mustarshid (AH512-529), the other al-Muqtafi (AH530-555), was published by Michael Federov in the Numismatic Chronicle, volume 164 (2004), pp. 322-327, with illustrations of 12 pieces found at Krasnaya Rechka. The two pieces offered in this auction are the first examples cited on CoinArchives.