A.D. 740–761 Silk Road Hoard Khursshid Silver Hemidrachm NGC Mint State

Silver Treasure from the Famous Silk Road

When one thinks of the famous Silk Road, exciting scenes of merchant caravans lurching across barren roads and treacherous mountain trails instantly come to mind. While those images are indeed based on fact, the Silk Road wasn’t just one long winding path; it was actually a series of routes connecting China and the Far East to the Middle East and Europe. In fact, one might even say the Silk Road was the ancient world’s version of the internet serving as a way of exchanging not just commerce, but culture, religion and customs between unique civilizations.

Most historians agree the Silk Road was first “open for business” between China and the west in about 130 B.C., and was named for the fabulous silks China was exporting to new trading partners in the West. The routes would remain in use for hundreds of years until the Ottoman Empire decided to boycott China in 1453 and closed the routes. Its fame has endured thanks to the tales told by Italian merchant and adventurer Marco Polo.

Historic Remnants of An Epic Highway

While the Silk Road has been closed for more than 500 years, historic remnants of the epic highway are still with us to this day. One of the most dramatic — and valuable — discoveries from this era is this hoard of well-preserved coins, each of which is over 1,200 years old. These coins are Silver Hemidrachms from the ancient Persian province of Tabaristan. Located on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea in what is today northern Iran, Tabaristan was among the last Persian strongholds to fall to the advancing tide of Muslim invaders. Despite being ruled by caliphs from their capital in Baghdad in modern-day Iraq, Tabaristan was spared from destruction and maintained its place as a key trading region along the Silk Road.

These silver coins are remarkable! Not only are they authentic treasures from one of the most historically significant episodes in human history, but their condition is simply astounding. In fact these coins have all been certified and graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) as being in at least Mint State condition! That means that these coins probably exchanged hands only with merchants and never circulated in the markets, taverns and outposts along the Silk Road. Instead, these valuable coins were kept safe in hiding places that remained secret until now!

Graded by NGC in Mint State Condition

This Tabaristan Silver Hemidrachm from the Silk Road Hoard was struck from 740–761 during the Abbasid Dynasty’s reign over Persia. This silver Hemidrachm was struck in the name of Tabaristan Governor Khurshid, who is depicted on the coin’s obverse wearing a winged crown in the style of the Sassanian King Khusru II. The reverse shows a Sassanian-style fire altar with two attendants, symbolizing the use of fire and ash in ritual purification ceremonies. It has been graded by NGC as being in Mint State (MS) condition. What’s also interesting to note is that this coin was struck during the so-called “Golden Age” of the Abbasid Dynasty when the Muslim caliphs of Baghdad formed military and trading alliance with the emperors of China and gave their non-Arab Persian subjects in Tabaristan a free hand at governing their territories.

Don’t miss this chance to take a journey on the famous Silk Road with this Silver Hemidrachm that was struck in ancient Persia more than 1,200 years ago. Add it to your cart today!