HUNNIC TRIBES, Western Turks. Sandan, Lord of the Oxus, circa 690-730. Drachm (Silver, 31 mm, 3.20 g, 3 h), uncertain mint in Bactria. Draped Sasanian-style bust of Sandan to right, wearing an elaborate winged crown with two pelleted crescents, and a lion’s head on top; before and behind head, ‘śrī candāna – vakhudevaḥ’ (‘His Perfection Candana, Lord of the Oxus’ in Brāhmī); in the margin, ‘σρι βαγo αζρoβδδιγo σανδανο βαγo χoαδηo (‘His Perfection, the Lord, the Chiliarch, Sandan, the Lord, His Majesty’ in Bactrian). Rev. Fire altar with ribbons, flanked by two attendants; above altar, star and crescent; to left and right, ‘ʾp̄zwn – PWN GDE …’ = ‘abzōn pad xwarrah …’ (‘increase from glory …’ in Pahlavi); in the margin, ‘σρι βαγo δδηβοο βαγδδιγγο καγαvο σρι βαγo’ (‘His Perfection, the Lord, his Majesty, the Bactrian Kagan, His Perfection, the Lord’ in Bactrian). Vondrovec, type 244. Very rare without the copper inlay. Minor areas of weakness, otherwise, good very fine.



Sandan's identity remains enigmatic, but the titles Bactrian Kagan and Lord of the Oxus situate his kingship in Bactria - a region whose multicultural character is reflected in the use of no fewer than three different languages and scripts on this coin. Notably, the title Chiliarch, an ancient Greek military rank denoting the commander of a thousand soldiers, further underscores this cultural blending. Particularly intriguing is the small piece of copper on the obverse, almost invariably positioned on the Lord’s neck. Its exact purpose is uncertain: it may have served to raise the coin's value or to certify its authenticity. Remarkably, this feature is absent from our specimen - a very rare exception to what appears to have been standard practice.