Mongolian Golden Horde | Silver Dirham

The Mongolian dirhams minted by the Golden Horde between 1242 and 1500 represent one of the most fascinating blends of Mongol and Islamic traditions in medieval coinage. When the Mongols conquered large portions of the Islamic world, they quickly adopted many local customs to help administer their vast, multi-ethnic empire. One of these was the Islamic monetary system, which used the silver dirham as a standard currency. Under the Golden Horde, particularly starting from Batu Khan’s reign, dirhams began to be struck across the Horde’s territories, particularly in key mints such as Sarai (near the lower Volga River), Mokhshi, and others. The coins generally bore Arabic inscriptions, often including Islamic declarations of faith (the shahada), names of Mongol rulers, and occasionally the names of caliphs to give religious legitimacy. Even though the khans were not Muslim initially, the Islamic style of the coins helped reassure the Islamic merchants and populations who lived under Mongol rule.

Early Golden Horde dirhams, from the mid-13th century into the early 14th, were relatively large and of good silver quality. As time went on, however, the coins became increasingly debased, shrinking in size and weight. By the late 14th and into the 15th century, the coins had become much smaller, lighter, and more crudely struck. This later form of the silver coin is often referred to as a "dang," reflecting its reduced status compared to the heavier original dirham. Still, even the small and debased coins served as an important medium of everyday exchange, circulating widely across Eurasia, from the Russian principalities down into Persia and beyond. Many of these coins are anonymous or only partially readable today because of hurried minting, but they still provide crucial evidence for the spread of Mongol influence, the development of trade routes like the Silk Road, and the gradual Islamization of the Golden Horde rulers themselves over the course of the 14th century.

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

The coin you will receive will be of very similar size and quality as the ones shown in the pictures. A High quality coin is guaranteed or your money back! The display case included is openable so that you may easily handle and closely observe the artifact.

It is possible to own a Mongolian dirham from the Golden Horde today largely because of the sheer number that were produced and the way they circulated across a vast area. The Golden Horde was deeply involved in both local trade and long-distance commerce along the Silk Road, meaning millions of these silver coins were minted to facilitate economic activity across Eurasia. Because silver retains its value and utility, many coins were hoarded during periods of instability, hidden away in caches by merchants, soldiers, and villagers. Over time, many of these hoards were forgotten, lost, or buried during wars and invasions. In more recent centuries, archaeological discoveries and metal detector finds, especially in Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asia, have brought large numbers of these coins back to light.

Another reason it is possible to own a Golden Horde dirham is that many of them were minted cheaply, particularly in the later period when the coins became small and crudely struck. Unlike earlier, more prestigious coinages, these were everyday objects meant for common trade, not luxury items. As a result, while rare types and exceptional conditions can command high prices, most surviving dirhams and dangs are relatively affordable today. They often appear in auctions, antique markets, and specialized numismatic shops, accessible to collectors of many budgets. The widespread use of Islamic-style coins throughout Mongol-controlled territories also meant that even after the Golden Horde fragmented, the coins remained in use and were stored or buried long after their issuing authority had disappeared.