Mongols. Golden Horde. Toqta, AH 690-713 / AD 1291-1313. Dirham (Silver, 19 mm, 1.41 g, 9 h), decorative knot type, Saqchi (Isaccea in Romania), no date. Within a circle, in three lines: khān / al-ʿādil / Tūqtā (‘The just Khan Toqtā’ in Arabic); Star above the letter ʿayn in al-ʿādil. Rev. In three lines: al-minnat-u li-llāh / ḍarb-i / Sāqchī (‘Gratefulness belongs to God. Struck in Sāqchī’ in Arabic); Tamgha in center; decorative knot motif below. Cf. Album H2063 (different motif). Exceedingly rare. Chipped flan with a small crack and minor weaknesses, otherwise, about extremely fine.


There has long been scholarly debate regarding whether this remarkable series should be attributed to Noghay (نوغای) or Tūqtā (توغتا). The reading of the legend توغتا on specimens of this group strongly supports attribution to Tūqtā Khān rather than Noghay.