Silvered and Gilded Imitations of "Double-Headed Bird" Type Jochid Coins from the Middle Volga Region and the Southern Cis-Urals

Abstract

The article deals with the imitations of copper Jochid coins of the XIV century that have signs of silvering and gilding, imitating coins of the state «New Sarai» type with the image of a «double-headed bird» («double-headed eagle»). The author has established that they are not unique (their issue was serial). Hypotheses about the reasons for the appearance, methods of production, possible purpose and region of minting of silvered and gilded imitations of Jochid copper coins are put forward and analyzed.The most reasonable assumptions are that metal raw materials were used in their production, which were copper products coated with silver and gold (ware, plates, etc.). This practice could be due to a shortage of ordinary copper raw materials. The considered numismatic monuments were probably minted in the former Bolgar lands within the Jochid State («Ulus of Bolgar » or « Vilayat of Bolgar ») and were intended for local circulation.

Keywords

• archaeology
• numismatics
• state of the jochids (golden horde)
• bolgar lands
• copper coins of the xiv century
• type of coins with the image of a «double-headed bird»
• imitations
• silvering
• gilding
• tatarstan
• bashkortostan
• kirov region