Iranian Huns, page 2

h e p h t h a l i t e s

There is an article in the Spring 1996 Oriental Numismatic Society newsletter (#148) by Shoshin Kuwayama, originally published in South Asian Archaeology 1993: Proceedings of the 12th International Conference of the European Association of South Asian Archaeologists that states fairly convincingly that these 'Buffalo-head' crown issues are not Hephthalite at all but belong to a late 6th, early 7th century kingdom with its capital in Kapisi called the 'Cao' (Gobl refers to it as 'Tso'). It turns out that Chinese Sui/Tang literary sources mention a kingdom located there in which the ruler wears a golden crown decorated with a bull's head. Notwithstanding that however, there must be a 'Hephthalite' connection as the busts still rest on 'wings', etc.

Early Bull-Crown Types ['Nezak']
(Göbl's "Zabul/Arachosia: Ghazni" Hunnen 217-224)
Principal control mark behind head:

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 217, Mitchiner ACW 1500-1501
27 mm.
3.51 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=26 mm.; diameter of reverse border=26 mm.
Die position=4h
Obverse: Bust of king right with small earring.
Reverse: Fire altar with attendants; four-spoked (?) sun wheels above.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 217, Mitchiner ACW 1500-1501
29 mm.
3.28 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse border=25 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust of king right with small earring.
Reverse: Fire altar with attendants; six-spoked sun wheels above.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 217, Mitchiner ACW 1500-1501
25 x 27 mm.
3.62 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=23 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust of king right with medium earring.
Reverse: Fire altar with attendants; six-spoked sun wheels above.

AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 217
28 x 29 mm.
3.05 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=25 mm
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right.
Reverse: Altar and attendants.
Note: Courtesy Alexander Akin collection.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 222 type
24 mm.
2.48 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse border=23 mm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Bust right.
Reverse: Altar and attendants.
Note: Courtesy Jamison Graaf collection.

AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 222 type
26 mm.
3.72 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=24 mm
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right.
Reverse: Altar and attendants.

AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 222 type
27 mm.
3.51 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=25 mm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Bust right.
Reverse: Altar and attendants.

AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 222 type (?)
25 x 27 mm.
2.93 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=27 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right.
Reverse: Altar and attendants.
Note: Clipped.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 222.21/III (same dies), Mitchiner ACW 1502-1504
27 mm.
3.58 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse border=24x25 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right.
Reverse: Altar and attendants.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 223
25 mm.
2.69 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse border=25 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right.
Reverse: Altar and attendants.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 223
26 mm.
3.17 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse border=25 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right.
Reverse: Altar and attendants.

AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 224v.
26 mm.
2.86 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=25 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right.
Reverse: Altar and attendants.

____________________

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. -; unpublished
27 mm.
2.47 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=23 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Blundered legend with tamgha (!) before bust.
Reverse: 4-spoked sun wheels.

Bull Crown Types ['Nezak']
(Göbl's "Kapisa: Kabul" Hunnen 198 - 205; 267 - 271)
Principal control mark behind head:

Principal control mark behind head:

AE Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 198 type
26 x 25 mm.
2.88 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=26 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=n/a
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:

AE Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 198 type
25 x 26 mm.
3.52 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=26 mm
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:

AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 198 type
27 x 26 mm.
2.92 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=26 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=25 mm
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:

AE Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 198 type
27 mm.
3.34 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=26 mm
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:

AE Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 198 type
26 mm.
3.65 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=24 mm
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:

AE Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 198 type
26 mm.
3.62 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=24 mm
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:

AE Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 198 type
27 x 25 mm.
2.80 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=n/a; diameter of reverse dotted border=n/a
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:

AE Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 198 type
27 x 26 mm.
3.44 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=26 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=23 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note:

AE Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198 type
27 mm.
3.07 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=25 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note:

AE Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198 type
27 x 26 mm.
3.46 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=26 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note:

AE Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198 type
26 mm.
3.45 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=n/a mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=n/a mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note:

AE Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 198 type
25 mm.
3.40 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=23 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right.
Reverse: Altar and attendants.
Note: Ex-Spengler.

AE Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 198 type
26 mm.
3.40 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=24 mm.
Die position=2h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note:

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198 type
25 mm.
3.24 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse border=24 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'S' behind bust.
Reverse: 6-spoked sun wheels.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198 type
26 mm.
3.25 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse border=23 mm.
Die position=4h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'S' behind bust.
Reverse: 6-spoked sun wheels.
Note: Similar die as previous coin.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198 type
25 mm.
3.25 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse border=24 mm.
Die position=4h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'S' behind bust.
Reverse: 6-spoked sun wheels.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198 type
26 x 27 mm.
3.14 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=26 mm.; diameter of reverse border=n/a
Die position=4h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'S' behind bust.
Reverse: 6-spoked sun wheels.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198 type
27 mm.
2.86 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse border=25 (?) mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'S' behind bust.
Reverse: 6-spoked sun wheels.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198 type
26 mm.
3.27 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=4h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'S' behind bust.
Reverse: 6-spoked sun wheels.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198 type
26 mm.
3.14 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse border=24x23 mm. (oval)
Die position=4h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'S' behind bust. Pellet behind bust; stylized buffalo head.
Reverse: 6 (?)-spoked sun wheels.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198 type
26 mm.
2.73 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse border=25 mm.
Die position=4h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'S' behind bust.
Reverse: 6-spoked sun wheels.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198 type
25 mm.
3.11 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 x 23 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'A' behind bust.
Reverse: 6-spoked sun wheels.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198.34
26 mm.
3.07 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse border=26x24 mm. (oval)
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'A' behind bust.
Reverse: 8-spoked sun wheels.

AE Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. -; unpublished.
26 mm.
3.30 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse border=n/a
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'A' behind bust. Unpublished variation of legend.
Reverse: 8 (?)-spoked sun wheels.

AE Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198 type
25 mm.
3.78 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse border=n/a
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse: 8-spoked sun wheels.

AE Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 198 type
26 mm.
3.39 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=26 mm.; diameter of reverse border=n/a
Die position=2h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'A' behind bust (?).
Reverse:

____________________

Principal control mark behind head:

AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 200v.
30 mm.
3.29 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=25 mm
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:

AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 200v.
30 mm.
3.44 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=25 mm
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:

AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 200v.
30 x 31 mm.
3.52 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=25 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=25 mm
Die position=2h
Obverse:
Reverse:

AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 200
31 x 30 mm.
3.12 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=26 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=25 mm
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Same dies as ___ example.

AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 200A
27 mm.
3.31 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=25 mm
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 200 type
32 mm.
3.30 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=26 mm.; diameter of reverse border=25 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'A' behind bust.
Reverse:
Note: Very large flan.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 200v.
30 mm.
3.29 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse border=25 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'A' behind bust.
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert A. Schaaf collection.

AR Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 200A type
25 mm.
3.21 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'A' behind bust. Pellet above buffalo skull.
Reverse:

AE Drachm (plated AR)
Gobl Hunnen Em. 200A type
26 mm.
3.61 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=22 mm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'A' behind bust. Pellet above buffalo skull.
Reverse:

____________________

AE Drachm
Gobl Hunnen Em. 203
21 mm.
3.13 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=20 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; Pahlavi 'A' behind bust.
Reverse: Tamghas.

AR Obol
Gobl Hunnen Em. 268v.
19 mm.
1.42 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=17 mm.; diameter of reverse border=18 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right wearing bull headdress; tamgha (?) behind bust (?).
Reverse: Figure standing left, arms raised (?); tamgha in right field, star within crescent in left field.
Note: Holed.

Later Bull Crown Types
(Göbl's "Kapisa: Kabul" Hunnen 262 - 266; 270B)

AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 263
26 x 29 mm.
3.54 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=20 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=21 mm.
Die position=4h
Obverse: Khusro I imitation.
Reverse:
Note: Holed and filled.

AR Drachm
circa 720 AD (?)
Gobl Hunnen Em. 266
33 x 34 mm.
3.38 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=21 mm.; diameter of reverse border=21 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust right; three crescents with tamghas outside border. Pahlavi legend bhlk'n (?) in front; legend starting at 11h.
Reverse:

AE Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 270B (Supp. Orient. II (1987); Mitchiner ACW 1546
23 x 21 mm.
1.79 gm.
Diameter of obverse border=16 mm.; diameter of reverse dotted border=16 mm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust right; Symbol 173.
Reverse: Three line legend.

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