Numismatic Complexes of 10th Century from Semyonovsky Island (the Republic of Tatarstan)

• Published in: Povolzhskaya Arkheologiya (The Volga River Region Archaeology)
• Main Authors: Begovatov Evgeniy A., Kazakov Evgeniy P., Mukhametshin Dzhamil G., Singatullina Alfira Z.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Russian
• Published: Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan, A.Kh. Khalikov Archaeology Institute 2013
• Subjects: the Lower Kama river; Volga Bulgaria; tenth century; numismatics; oriental coins; Western European coins; Archaeology; CC1-960; Kama; Semyonovsky Island
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.24852/pa2013.4.6.47.63; https://doaj.org/article/9b56cbc9232c45148786fc5213600333

The study results of 255 10th-century coins, which have been found on the Volga Bulgar unfortified sites, located on Semyonovo Island in the mouth of the Kama River, are offered. The collection includes 251 silver coins, 2 Oriental copper ones, and two Western European coins. A fragment of the older Oriental coin has been identified as a Sassanian drachm dated to the 6th through to the 7th century; the more recent Oriental coin is a dirham of Nuh ibn Mansur of the Samanid dynasty, 366 АН (976/977 AD). The Western European coins originate from Denmark: they have been identified as denarii of Sveyn Estridsson (1047-1075). The chronological structure of the complex is shown in the figure, which demonstrates that within a 60-year period (295-355 AH) the frequency level of dirham findings has been roughly uniform and low; however, later (within a 10-year period corresponding to 361-370 AH), it dramatically increases 10 times. The lack of finds of coins minted after 367 AH (978/979), indicates the end of the settlement existence.