1 Cash Paikend, with square hole

Historical Context: The 1 Cash bronze issue from Paikend, dating 640-709 CE, encapsulates a pivotal period for this prominent Sogdian city-state on the Silk Road. Positioned as a crucial mercantile hub, Paikend maintained significant autonomy amidst the decline of Sasanian influence, the rise of the Western Turkic Khaganate, and the nascent Islamic conquests. The adoption of a "Cash" denomination with a square hole unequivocally signals strong economic and cultural ties to Chinese monetary systems, reflecting the extensive trade networks that defined Sogdian prosperity before the full consolidation of Arab rule in Transoxiana. This coinage facilitated local commerce and regional exchange.

Artistry: Specific engravers for Paikend's civic coinage of this era remain anonymous. The stylistic school is distinctly local Sogdian, characterized by functional design over elaborate iconography, heavily influenced by the practicalities of a bustling trade economy. The defining artistic feature is the deliberate incorporation of the central square hole, a direct emulation of Tang dynasty cash coinage, designed for ease of stringing. While often anepigraphic or bearing minimal Sogdian script or abstract symbols, the very form factor represents a sophisticated adaptation of foreign monetary conventions into a unique local issue.

Technical/Grading: For this 1 Cash Paikend type, key grading considerations revolve around the inherent limitations of early local bronze coinage. High-points include the centering of the strike, which is frequently off-flan, and the clarity of any rudimentary legends or symbols, if present. The integrity of the 18 mm flan, often irregularly shaped, and the preservation of the square hole, prone to wear from stringing, are critical. A stable, attractive patination free from active bronze disease is highly desirable. Given the 1.68 gg weight, surface details are typically shallow, making even minor corrosion significant.