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Fractional dirham 'Ornamental type' - 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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| Obverse description | Central field dominated by a large, bold tamgha (dynastic emblem) rendered in a geometric, architectural style, consisting of a rectangular frame with an upward-projecting prong, characteristic of the Golden Horde ornamental type. A crescent motif appears above the tamgha in the upper field. The coin is anepigraphic, bearing no inscriptions or legends. The flan is irregular and slightly ragged at the edges, consistent with hammered fractional coinage of the period. The design is executed in low relief with a somewhat crude but intentional decorative style. |
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| Mintage | ND (1280-1310) |
| Additional information |
The anepigraphic fractional dirhams of the Bulghar mint occupy an odd corner of Golden Horde numismatics — struck without inscription at a time when most Islamic coinage was defined by Quranic text and royal titulature, their purpose remains debated. The most plausible explanation is fiduciary: small-denomination silver fractions for local market exchange where legibility mattered less than weight and metal content. Bulghar on the Volga was among the Horde's most active commercial centers during this period, a hub connecting northern fur trade routes to the broader Mongol silver economy.