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Dirham 'Ornamental type' - anepigraphic Bulghar mint
| Issuer | Golden Horde |
|---|---|
| Year | 1280-1310 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Dirham / Dang / Yarmag (0.7) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Central field bearing a stylized six-petal floral rosette in low relief, with each petal radiating symmetrically from a central boss or pellet. The petals are rendered in a bold, schematic style characteristic of Golden Horde ornamental coinage of the late 13th to early 14th century. Small pellets or dots are visible in the inter-petal spaces of the field, enhancing the decorative arrangement. The coin bears no inscriptions on this face, consistent with its anepigraphic classification. The flan is irregularly shaped and the striking is somewhat off-center, typical of hammered silver dirhams of the Bulghar mint. |
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| Mint | Bulghar (Bulgar) |
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| Additional information |
The so-called "ornamental" or anepigraphic dirhams of the Bulghar mint represent a peculiar departure from standard Golden Horde coinage practice — no ruler's name, no mint date, no Kalima. Exactly why this type was struck without inscriptions remains unresolved; hypotheses range from experimental local production to issues intended for populations with limited use for Arabic epigraphy. Bulghar on the Volga was the northernmost major mint of the Horde and the commercial gateway into the fur trade routes of the upper Volga basin.
The type spans roughly three decades across multiple khans, which complicates attribution significantly.