Pre-Islamic Central Asia Bronze 252-254 n. Chr. drachm, unknown local dynasty, 7th-8th centuries AD, Chach, Central Asia (Shagalov/Kuznetzov #252-254)

Lion walking right, tail raised / Blank. 16mm, 1.94 grams. Shagalov/Kuznetzov type 4 (#252-254). Rare. This type is reportedly found in the towns of Kanka and Banaket, which were the outlaying regions of Chach. They were probably minted by a local ruler using the casting method and were imitating the contemporary coins of Tarnvach of Chach (or were possibly issued by this ruler). The principality of Chach, whose main town had a square citadel built around the 5th to 3rd centuries BC, some 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) south of the Syr Darya River. By the 7th century AD, Chach had over 30 towns and a network of over 50 canals, forming a trade center between the Sogdians and Turkic nomads. The region came under the sway of Islam in the early parts of the 8th century.