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Dirham - Möngke Bolghar mint
| Issuer | Great Mongol Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 1251-1259 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Dinar (1206-1368) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Central field bears a multi-line Arabic legend in an informal hand, reading the name and title of Great Khan Möngke, enclosed within a partial dotted border running along the coin's irregular periphery. The inscription occupies the majority of the flan, with the legend arranged in two or three horizontal registers across the field. The fabric is typical of mid-13th century Mongol hammered silver coinage, with an uneven, slightly irregular planchet. No figurative imagery is present; the design relies entirely on calligraphic legend for identification. The dotted inner border is visible along the upper arc of the coin. |
|---|---|
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| Mintage | ND (1251-1259) |
| Additional information |
Möngke's reign as Great Khan saw aggressive monetization of the western territories, with the Bolghar mint — operating in the Volga Bulgaria region — producing dirhams that circulated through a trade network stretching from the fur routes of the north to the caravan roads of Central Asia. The Bolghar mint was one of the few in the empire's western reach that maintained relatively consistent silver output during this period, partly because Volga Bulgaria's position on the Volga trade corridor made stable coinage a practical necessity rather than a political gesture.
At 1.3g, these pieces fall notably below the classical dirham standard — a deliberate adjustment reflecting local silver availability and regional market norms rather than debasement.