HUNNIC TRIBES, Western Turks. Sandan, Lord of the Oxus (?), circa 690-730. Drachm (Bronze, 30 mm, 2.40 g, 4 h), uncertain mint in Bactria. Draped bust of Sandan to right, wearing earrings and an elaborate crown with two pelleted crescents, holding pennant in his left hand; all within dotted circle; in outer margin, legend in Bactrian containing the word 'αζρoβδδiyo' ('Chiliarch' in Bactrian). Göbl 256. Vondrovec, Type 244B. Extremely rare, apparently the third and best known example. Holed twice and with two edge cracks, otherwise, about very fine.


The title 'Chiliarch', an old Greek military rank designating the commanding officer of 1000 soldiers, appears otherwise only on the drachms of Sandan, Lord of Oxus, to whom this coin is thus tentatively attributed.