Life Science Journal 2013;10(4) http://www.lifesciencesite.com Circulation of Money in the Cities of Medieval Kazakhstan (by Numismatic Data) Moldir Aldabergenova *, Shynar Nurmanova, Nazygul Kattabekova Faculty of History and Pedagogy, A. Yasawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Turkestan, 161200, Kazakhstan [email protected] Abstract: This paper studies coins as a numismatic source that allows for a fresh look at the socio-economic history of the medieval cities of Kazakhstan. Classification and periodization of coins (copper and silver) dated from the 15th to the 18th centuries from the cities of the Syr Darya region of Kazakhstan, that is, in the region located on both sides of the Syr Darya River, the largest water source in the south of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The economic and trade relations in the region are discussed, revealing the role of cities and their potential in the local and inter- city trade during the said period. [Moldir Aldabergenova, Shynar Nurmanova, Nazygul Kattabekova. Circulation of Money in the Cities of Medieval Kazakhstan (by Numismatic Data). Life Sci J 2013;10(4):2730-2739]. (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 365 Key words: Silver coins Copper coins Numismatics of medieval Kazakhstan 1. Introduction types of coins (dinar, dirham and fels) of three different Comprehensive study of the socio-economic metals (gold, silver and copper). In pre-Islamic times, development of southern Kazakhstan in the period the basic monetary unit was a bronze coin with between the 15th and 18th centuries seems impossible depictions. Coins were cast; this technique was without discussing the issue of money circulation and introduced under the influence of China. Under the numismatics. The coin is considered to be a valuable Arabs, the technology of production had been changed resource and one of important indicators of the level of as well as the form, shape, and weight of the coins. urban life development. While analyzing copper coins They were minted with a new standard of weight. Yet, from the 15th and 16th centuries found in the South- central and circular inscriptions in Arabic script and Kazakhstan region, we followed the chronological sayings from the Koran, the holy book of Muslims, frames recommended by E.A.Davidovich (a scholar- appeared on the coins. It had become a traditional event expert who has been studying the coins of Central in the coinage in Central Asia and southern Kazakhstan Asia), as the cities located in the Syr Darya region in for many years in the succeeding periods. The right to the 15th century were supplied completely and in the issue copper coins granted to governors appointed by early years of the 16th century were partially supplied the central government was also introduced by the with money of Maverannahr (Mawaraunnahr, aka Arabs and became a traditional one. As a rule, the Transoxiana), namely with the coins which were central inscriptions contained the name of a suzerain, minted in cities located in the interfluve area between the name of a governor was inscribed in the circular the two rivers: the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya. In legends on the coin skirts. Such a separation or division the first decade of the 16th century, local mints revived of placing the names on coins allowed the researchers their work in Yasi-Turkestan, Sygnak and Sauran, to trace the existed hierarchy of political relations Sairam, Jend and Tashkent, which were the largest between the central and the apanage authorities and trading and administrative centers of the time. Coins of identify the names of local rulers in some domains, Tashkent started playing a significant role in the often non-available in the written sources. It had monetary trade. A new stage in the monetary policy become traditional to mark the date and place of was registered, when the cities of the Syr Darya region mintage on the coins, what provided ample possibilities began to use their own coins and coins minted in for socio-economic characterization of regions and Tashkent to replace the Central Maverannahr copper cities with their own mints (Burnasheva 1989). coins circulated in the markets. This research work is based on the largest The invasion of the Arabs in Central Asia in the numismatic complex (about 10,000 pieces) obtained 8th century brought new culture, history, and economy, from Otrar, Kuyruktobe, Turkestan and Sauran cities. what affected all spheres of intellectual, religious, In addition, there are some finds and hoards of coins cultural and socio-economic life of the region, discovered in other settlements in the Syr Darya region, including the monetary system. Under the influence of which allowed thorough examination of social and Arab coinage, an entirely new monetary system was economic life and urban culture of the region as a formed in Central Asia, it was based on issuing three whole. This became possible due to many years of 2730 Life Science Journal 2013;10(4) http://www.lifesciencesite.com archaeological work carried out since 1969 headed by specific features of coin circulation and organization of K.A.Akishev, an outstanding scholar and archaeologist the money economy in the south of Kazakhstan, of Kazakhstan in Otrar and the Otrar oasis by the South suggested the periodization and gave an interesting Kazakhstan Complex Archaeological Expedition material for characterization of each stage separately (SKCAE) of the Institute of History, Archeology, and (Burnasheva 2006, p. 6). Ethnography named after Ch.Ch.Valikhanov of the Academy of Sciences of the KazSSR, now named the 2. Main part Institute of Archaeology named after A.Kh.Margulan. On the archeological site of Otrar, there were Investigation of coin circulation in cities in the discovered 14 hoards dated back to the 15th and 17th south of Kazakhstan between the 15th and 17th centuries centuries (five silver and nine copper-coins hoards). is hindered by the lack of written sources that provide During the period between the 15th and 17th centuries, information with descriptions of money, which used in the city of Otrar was a trading center on the Great Silk commercial transactions or some data on prices and Road. One hoard of silver coins dated from the late 14th fluctuations in the rate of exchange of coins, etc. to the 15th century was found at Kuyruktobe, the city Therefore, to address issues of coin circulation in the located near Otrar city; six hoards of copper coins from cities of the Syr Darya Region between the 16th and 18th the 15th – 17th centuries were unearthed in Turkestan, centuries, in the first instance we used the set of mint and in its vicinities, on the ancient site of Orangay there obtained from archaeological sites, as well as was found the 7th hoard of copper coins dated from the numismatic collections both in regional museums of 16th century. Alongside with the archaeological Shymkent and Taraz of the Republic of Kazakhstan, material, the coins represent such a source with the help and in the Museum of History of Peoples of Uzbekistan of which it is possible to highlight a number of in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan. Yet, there were problems of social and economic history of a city in examined the coins from numismatic collections kept in addition to information reported in written sources, for the Numismatic Departments of the State Hermitage instance, the development of commodity production and the State Historical Museum in Moscow, Russian and monetized trade, as well as the degree of Federation. Thus, the considerable material has been involvement of the broad cross-section of the analyzed, the material obtained not only from the population in money trading and economic ties with excavations, but also the artifacts kept in the largest other regions. Coins issued in Maverannahr cities were museums in foreign countries related to the period in circulation not only in Otrar, but in many big cities under consideration. The most valuable of this complex like Yasi, Sauran and Kuyruktobe (Davidovich 1983, p. are hoards of silver and copper coins. Hoards are 8). always unique, even if they do not consist of well- 2.1 Silver coins known types. In them, as in a mirror, there are reflected Monetary trade that existed during this period in the socio-economic changes and processes that took many cities in the region was exercised by means of place in the economic life of the city, region and the silver coins issued in Maverannahr cities, as evidenced region as a whole. The investigation of hoards from the by the composition of the coin hoards in the following period between the 15th and 17th centuries revealed tables Table 1. Hoard Inventory №. Number of coins Type Mint Coinage Time of coin issuing 1 435/18-24 6 58, 59 Janid tanga Imamkuli Khan 17th c 2 unknown Nadir Muhammad 17th c Khan 4 unknown unknown unknown 1 copper unknown unknown Total number: 13 2 437/10-57 14 43-44 Abd al-Aziz-khan 1649 13 67-72 Imamkuli-khan 1634-35 9 17 Nadir Muhammad 1645 Khan 4 unknown Baburid Shah-Jakhan mid-17th c I 2 obliterated unknown unknown 6 new unknown unknown Total number: 48 2731 Life Science Journal 2013;10(4) http://www.lifesciencesite.com Analyzing the data given in Table 1, we can Hisar. The Mint in Bukhara produced most abundant conclude that the found in the Syr Darya cities coins of and regular production consisted mainly of coins issued the Janid dynasty dating from the 15th -18th minted in in the name of Imam-Kuli-Khan (1611-1642). This fact the name of the three rulers: Imam-Kuli, Nadir- is probably due to that, his reign was very long (31 Muhammad and Abdalaziz.