Priv.-Doz. Mag. Dr.

The fourth volume in the series of Studies in the Aman ur Rahman Collection (SARC) covers the coinage of the Iranian Huns and their Successors. At about 2.450 pieces this is probably the most complete assemblage of coins from this period, and also includes a substantial number of hitherto unpublished coin-types. Still the collection is further augmented by reference material from all major museums of the world, so that almost every known type is covered.

The aim of this volume, by providing a commented and most complete view of the entire coinage of the Iranian Huns, is to make coins as a primary historic source accessible to the reader and usable for further research for all historic disciplines. The groundbreaking book by Robert Göbl from 1967 is hereby considerably enhanced and partly revised.

The book contains 10 chapters, the Kidarites, Dinars (of the Kidarite and Alkhan period), Alkhan, Tobazini, the Hephthalites, Sasanian Coinage and Imitations, Nezak Shahs, Alkhan-Nezak Crossover, the Western Turk Period and finally Gandharan Copper. This term is newly introduced and covers a phenomenon which has been labeled “Kashmir Smast” before.

Each chapter discusses the numismatic evidence based on thorough typological analysis and a short historical overview summarizes the written sources. The catalogue is arranged by coin-type but pictures every specimen in the Aman ur Rahman collection. In addition, a fully illustrated typological index is provided. 

Coinage of the Iranian Huns and their Successors from Bactria and Gandhara (4th to 8th century CE)

Der vorliegende FMRÖ-Band enthält 1728 antike Fundmünzen aus den politischen Bezirken Wels-Stadt und Wels-Land, deren Großteil sich im städtischen Museum Wels befindet. Zusätzlich zur Materialvorlage in der bisher üblichen Listenform wird der Bestand einer numismatischen Auswertung unterzogen, wie sie ja im Konzept des 1971 ins Leben gerufenen Projektes FMRÖ (Fundmünzen der römischen Zeit in Österreich) vorgesehen ist. Erstmalig werden Münzen auch nach ihrem Geldwert gewichtet statt nur nach ihrer Anzahl. Die Verteilung und Zusammensetzung der Nominalien wird beleuchtet, gleichfalls die Frage nach Münzstätten und – ebenso ein Novum – der Erhaltung. Die Ergebnisse werden zumeist in Diagrammen präsentiert, die, neben der unerlässlichen Interpretation, auch einem numismatisch nicht bewanderten Publikum einen raschen Einblick ermöglichen. Ebenso sollen künftige Auswertungen von Fundmünzbeständen effektiver miteinander verglichen werden können. Zwar spiegeln Fundmünzen lediglich den Geldzustrom wider, dennoch trägt das Buch zur Verfeinerung der antiken Stadtgeschichte von Ovilavis/Wels bei und wird durch einen archäologisch orientierten Beitrag von Dr. Renate Miglbauer, Direktorin des Stadtmuseums, ergänzt.  This volume comprises 1728 ancient Roman coins found in the district of Wels in Upper Austria. A detailed numismatic analysis is provided in addition to the usual listing of coins. The number of coins is considered, as well as their overall ancient value. In addition statements are made on the relation of denominations to each other, on the influence of mints in late antiquity, and, for the first time, on their preservation.



Great effort is taken to visualize and explain all the results for the benefit of the reader. Another goal is to permit a more effective comparison of evidence in the future. All in all, the numismatic chapter is now added to the ancient history of Ovilavis/Wels, which is summarized in archeological terms by Dr. Renate Miglbauer, head of the Municipal Museum. 

Klaus Vondrovec

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Coinage of the Iranian Huns and their Successors from Bactria and Gandhara (4th to 8th century CE)

Die antiken Fundmünzen von Ovilavis/Wels