Lot 56-053. Hephthalites, Nezak Huns. 7th century A.D. AR drachm. Balkh mint. Imitating the Sasanian type of Hormizd IV. Rare Countermark.

Hephthalites, Nezak Huns. 7th century A.D. AR drachm (30.8 mm, 2.75 g, 3 h). Balkh mint. Imitating the Sasanian type of Hormizd IV. Crowned Sasanian-style bust right, wearing bull-head ornate crown; C/M: winged camel flying left / Fire altar with two attendants and ribbons; C/M: crude legend. Göbl -. Fine. C/M's:VF. Rare Countermark. The rare countermark on this coin has been described as both Pegasus and a winged camel, but the discovery of a Sogdian vessel with similar artwork confirms that it must be a winged camel. You can read the discussion at Zeno here: http://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=162876&cat=2128.The Hephthalites, also known as White Huns, were a nomadic people who lived across northern China, Central Asia, and northern India in the fourth through sixth centuries. The term Hephthalite derives from Greek, supposedly a rendering of Hayathelite (from the term Haital = "Big/Powerful" in the dialect of Bukhara), the name used by Persian writers to refer to a 6th century empire on the northern and eastern periphery of their land. As a group they appear to be distinct from the Huns who migrated to Europe in the fourth century A.D.

 

Estimate:

$  100.00

Final Price:

$ 100.00 (7 bid(s))
Approximately EUR 0.00 / GBP 0.00

$  ( bid(s))
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Bidding closed (Tuesday, 31 May 2016, 12:26:00)
Current time: Saturday, October 05th, 20:24:06