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Dirham 'Trident Tamgha' - anepigraphic Bulghar mint
| Issuer | Golden Horde |
|---|---|
| Year | 1280-1310 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays a complex ornamental design consisting of a large quatrefoil with pointed, interlaced lobes superimposed over a smaller, concentric dotted quatrefoil, creating a layered geometric effect characteristic of Golden Horde decorative coinage. The lobes of the outer quatrefoil are defined by curved raised lines that intersect at the center, while the inner quatrefoil is formed by a ring of raised pellets. Additional pellets are distributed within the spaces between the lobes, enriching the overall composition. The design fills the flan to its irregular edges and is entirely anepigraphic. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The anepigraphic dirhams of the Golden Horde represent a poorly understood transitional phenomenon — coins issued without the Arabic inscriptions that Islamic monetary convention demanded, likely reflecting the administrative reality of a polity whose ruling class remained shamanist or Buddhist well into the late 13th century. The trident tamgha stamped on this piece is a dynastic mark with roots in the Chinggisid tradition, used to assert sovereign authority without appealing to Islamic textual formula.
The Bulghar mint on the middle Volga was one of the earliest and most productive in Golden Horde territory, operating before Sarai eclipsed it as the primary issuing center.