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Penyaz - Vladimir Olgerdovich Imitation of Jani Beg Khan Dirham
| Issuer | Principality of Kyiv |
|---|---|
| Year | 1362-1380 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Crude imitation of a Golden Horde dirham type, featuring a stylized trident-like device in the upper field composed of three vertical prongs surmounted by pellets, derived from the tamgha of Jani Beg Khan. Below the central device, an interlaced geometric knot pattern occupies the lower field, rendered in a highly schematized, degenerate manner characteristic of Lithuanian-Ruthenian imitative coinage. The overall composition is set within an irregularly shaped flan typical of hand-hammered small silver issues of this period. Stylized Arabic-derived lettering or pseudo-inscription elements appear to the right of the central device. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays a debased imitation of the Golden Horde dirham reverse type, dominated by a broad horizontal band or bar motif dividing the field, with rows of stylized comb-like or tooth-shaped elements filling both the upper and lower registers. This degenerate rendering of the original Arabic Kufic inscription from Jani Beg Khan dirhams is characteristic of the Kyivan penyaz series, where legibility of the Arabic text has been entirely abandoned in favor of decorative pattern. The flan is irregular and the strike is uneven, consistent with primitive hammered production at the Kyiv mint under Vladimir Olgerdovich. |
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Vladimir Olgerdovich ruled Kyiv as a vassal prince under his father Algirdas of Lithuania, and these small silver imitations of Golden Horde dirhams reflect the monetary reality of the middle Dnieper region in the 1360s–70s: Tatar coinage dominated trade, and local authorities copied it rather than compete with it. The prototypes were dirhams of Jani Beg Khan, who had died in 1357, meaning Vladimir's moneyers were imitating a dead khan's currency — a purely pragmatic choice with no diplomatic pretense.
At 0.33 g, these pieces are well below the weight of genuine Jani Beg dirhams, suggesting intentional debasement rather than simple copying.