Pre-Islamic Central Asia bronze Nice! RR unit, King Ashkade, c.700 AD, Principality of Nakhshab, Soghd circulated

Bust, three-quarters left // Horse standing right, Sogdian legends: xwb prn skδk ("glorious ruler, Ashkade"). 22mm, 3.16 grams. Smirnova 1452; cf.Zeno 331452.

According to Chinese "Tang-shu" Si-gin-ti and the Arab author al-Taberi "al-Ashkand" was the name of a pre-Islamic ruler of Nakhshab or Kesh.

These coins showing a bust were the earliest in the "horse right" series from South Soghd (later coins had a smooth obverse instead). They were very crudely cast and most have an illegible portrait. Because of the crude casting, many pieces were mis-cast. 

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