Catalog
Unknown Æ Termez, with cross
| Issuer | Termez, City of |
|---|---|
| Year | 501-701 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 13 g |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents a prominent central device consisting of a large, bold cross-like symbol or tamgha rising from a stepped or arched base, rendered in relatively high relief against a flat field. The central emblem is surrounded by a continuous border of oval pellets or beads forming a complete inner circle, serving as a decorative inner frame. The flan is irregular and shows heavy patination of purple-brown and malachite green tones consistent with prolonged burial. The design is characteristic of early medieval Sogdian or Tokharistan civic coinage, in which tamghas or religious symbols frequently appear on the reverse. The outer edge is plain and uneven, reflecting hammered production techniques. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Termez, situated on the Oxus (Amu Darya) at a major crossing point into Bactria, was a Buddhist and Kushano-Sasanian commercial hub before the Arab conquest brought it under Umayyad control in the late 7th century. The cross appearing on civic bronzes from this region likely reflects residual Christian — possibly Nestorian — mercantile presence alongside Buddhist communities, rather than any issuing authority's own confession. The two-century attribution window reflects the genuine difficulty of sequencing these civic issues without hoard context.