RRRR AE cash, unknown King, c.600-700 AD, Tokharistan, Pre-Islamic Central Asia

Bust right, Soghdian prn in front of bust // Complicated double tamgha. 17mm, 1.07 grams. Cf. Zeno #298411 (for a representation of this series, but a different ruler).

Unique ruler from this newly identified series. Coins of this particular ruler (whose portrait is distinguished by a wide-brimmed hat) are known only from this particular coin. High quality, well-centered and very interesting. 

The tamgha on the reverse is almost identical to that found in the Chach series of the late 6th - early 7th century, and it is possible that these two royal families (in Chach and elsewhere) were closely related. Coins from this series are nearly completely unknown, though a few examples, belonging to at least 3 or 4 different rulers, are now known. Locating this principality is difficult - on the basis of two finds known to him, Zeimal considered them to be Kobadian. But they are also found in Tirmidh, in Khushvar of the Surkhandarya basin, there is one in Balkh (from the French excavations in Zargar-tepe), and Dovutov recorded small hoards in southeastern Tajikistan.  These coins remain exceedingly rare, with only a handful of examples known.