The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

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BILINGUAL COINS OF BUKHARA. 119
Reverse. Device closely following the design of Va-
rahran V. Reverses, but of coarser execution. The head
below the fire on the side of the altar is very prominent,
and properly coincides with the outline of the leading
profile
on the obverse.
Legend to the right, :>, ^ at, or possibly ^_j\ ani,
An-Iran (i.e. Turan).
to the left, p*, ,^^-9 sin, China. Samarkand, be-
fore the time of Shamar, was called Chin (Tabari, ii. 158).
In my previous notice of this strange mintage, I ventured
upon some speculations as to the motives which
possibly prompted its production, and I preferred to sup-
pose, that Yarahran Chobin, "on his return march with the
plunder of Balkh, etc., at his disposal, utilized the avail-
able silver in the form of crude camp-issues" (Num. Chron.
Vol. XIII. p. 237).
The simple narrative of the events attending his revolt,
given by the Armenian author, Sepeos, 1 seems to confirm
this view, with this addition, that we must conclude that
the pieces in question were coined after his army had, so
to say, compelled him to throw off his allegiance to
Hormazd, but before he took upon himself regal titles.
No. 2. Coin of Varahrdn Chobin, advanced period,
M. Bartholomaei's Plates xii. 16. Silver. Size 9 of
Mionnet's scale.
Obverse. Head of the king to the right, with the con-
1 " Vahram Merhevandak dirigea contre les Thetals une guerre victorieuse,
s'empara de Balkh et de tout le pays des Komchans, et poussa au dela du
grand fleuve Veh-Rhot (Oxus), jusqu'au lieu appele Kazbion. A la suite d'une
victoire clatante remportee sur le roi des Mazkouths, il le tua et fit sur ses
terres un Imt in immense. La guerre termine, il envoya a la Porte une petite
portion des tresors provenant du pillage, avec un rapport sur la victoire. Blesse
de la mesquinerie du present, le roi donna 1'ordre . . . d'exiger le 1m tin entier.
A cette nouvelle, 1'armee se rSvolta contre Ormizd, proclama roi Vahram et" . .
Sepeos, quoted in Journal Asiatique, 1866, p. 187.