HUNNIC TRIBES, Western Turks. Khorasan. Iltäbär of the Khalaj, 8th century. Drachm (Silver, 29 mm, 3.50 g, 1 h). 'Sri-hitivira kharalava paramesvara sri sahi tiginadeva karita' ('His Perfection Iltäbär of the Khalaj, devotee of the highest divinity, the perfect King, the Sahi Tegin Lord had made this [coin]' in Brahmi) Draped bust of the King slightly to right, wearing a moustache and diadem with two tridents and a lion's head on top and two ribbbons hanging from the back of the diadem knot, earrings, two pearl necklaces and a rosette onhis chest; in field to right, σϸι ϸαυο ('His Perfection, King' in Bactrian). Rev. Tegin, King of Khorasan; year 77' (in Pahlawi) Draped bust of Adur facing and wearing flame nimbus. Göbl 208. Vondrovec, Type 208. Lightly toned. Light areas of weakness, otherwise, very fine.


This intriguing trilingual coin, featuring inscriptions in Bactrian, Brahmi, and Pahlavi, depicts a king named 'Iltäbär,' a title also found in several Bactrian documents from the same period. It has been suggested that 'Iltäbär' might correspond to the Chinese term 'xielifa,' which the Buddhist monk Hyecho (704-787) mentioned in his memoirs as one of the titles of the King of Huttalan. Conversely, the reverse of this coin displays the bust of Adur, the Persian God of Fire.