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£250.00
House of Emirates® in London is thrilled to offer its elite clientele this exceptional Shaybanid Silver Tanga of Sultan Abdullah Khan II, struck during the reign of one of the most powerful rulers of the Shaybanid Dynasty. Abdullah Khan II ruled from 991–1006 AH (1583–1598 AD), presiding over a pivotal era of political consolidation, economic development, and cultural revival across Central Asia. Likely struck at Herat, one of the great intellectual, artistic, and commercial centres of the Islamic world, this remarkable silver coin represents the authority and sophistication of the Shaybanid state at the height of its influence. Measuring approximately 30 mm in diameter and weighing 4.6 grams, the tanga possesses an impressive physical presence, while its intricate Arabic inscriptions provide a direct connection to the political and religious world of sixteenth-century Central Asia.
The coin displays the characteristic dense Arabic calligraphy of Shaybanid coinage, with inscriptions carefully arranged across both sides of the flan. Far from being merely decorative, Islamic coin inscriptions served as powerful instruments of sovereignty, identifying the ruler and communicating legitimacy throughout territories connected by trade routes, military campaigns, pilgrimage, scholarship, and commerce.
Under Abdullah Khan II, the Shaybanid realm experienced a significant period of consolidation, with the ruler extending his authority across important Central Asian territories. Herat, if indeed the place of issue, was particularly significant: for centuries it had been celebrated as a centre of Persianate culture, scholarship, architecture, literature, and commerce. The surviving traces of circulation and gentle wear give this tanga an authentic historical character, suggesting a life far removed from the modern display cabinet—as silver currency moving through the hands of merchants, soldiers, officials, and travellers across the historic Islamic world.
For the discerning investor in ancient Islamic coins, this Shaybanid silver tanga represents a tangible fragment of Central Asian history and Islamic monetary heritage. Coins of the Shaybanid Dynasty, particularly those associated with the long and consequential reign of Abdullah Khan II, provide an important window into the political, economic, and artistic development of the region during the late sixteenth century.
Its substantial 30 mm diameter, 4.6-gram silver composition, historical attribution, and sophisticated calligraphy make it an especially compelling addition to a distinguished portfolio of ancient and Islamic numismatic treasures. More than a piece of silver, it is a surviving document of sovereignty—an object that has crossed more than four centuries to reach the modern world. For investors who value rarity, historical significance, precious metals, and cultural legacy, this Shaybanid Silver Tanga of Abdullah Khan II embodies the enduring principle that true treasures do not simply preserve wealth—they preserve history.
