HUNNIC TRIBES, Western Turks. Sandan, Lord of the Oxus, circa 690-730. Drachm (Silver, 32 mm, 2.88 g, 2 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 Sandan, 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); a countermark below the bust. 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. An unusually well struck and attractive piece. Very fine.



Sandan's identity is shrouded in mystery, but the titles 'Bactrian Kagan' and 'Lord of the Oxus' allow us to locate his kingship in Bactria, whose multiculturalism is reflected in the use of no less than three different languages and scripts on this coin (and, of course, in the use of the title 'Chiliarch', an old Greek military rank designating the commanding officer of 1000 soldiers). Of particular interest is the small piece of gold, which is almost always found on the neck of the Lord. Its exact meaning is unknown: perhaps it was a procedure to raise the value of the coin, or to guarantee its authenticity.