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

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• the Lower Kama river
• Volga Bulgaria
• tenth century
• numismatics
• oriental coins
• Western European coins