GIRAY KHANS: Shahin Giray, 1777-1783, AR 40 para (piaster, ghrush, ½ rouble) (14.90g), Baghcha-Saray, AH1191 year 5, A-2112, Ret-162/164var, cf. Sariev-457/460, 3rd monetary series; standard obverse (similar to Sariev-329 of the 2nd series), toughra reverse with ornate flower left & right with fancy floral sprig below the toughra, oblique reeding, couple small scratches in upper left field on the obverse, superb strike, finest style, unknown to Sariev and apparently unpublished, lovely EF, RRRR, ex Dick Nauta Collection, from our price list #57, Lot 568 (1989).

The Giray Khans were the rulers of the Crimean Khanate from 1441 to 1783. The Khanate was also known by following names; Qırım Hanlığı, Qırım Yurtu, Great Horde, Desht-i Kipchak, and in old European historiography and geography as Little Tartary or Tartaria Minor. This Crimean Tatar state was the longest-lived of the Turkic khanates that succeeded the empire of the Golden Horde. Established by Hacı I Giray in 1441, it was regarded as the direct heir to the Golden Horde and to Desht-i-Kipchak. The Giray Khanate was annexed by Catherine the Great of Russia. On 8 April 1783, in violation of the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, Catherine II intervened in the civil war, de facto annexing the whole Crimean Peninsula as the Taurida Governorate.

The obverse, with mint, date, and tamgha, is elegantly engraved, most notably with the "5" for regnal year slightly to the right of the first letter of "baghcha". The reverse is also superbly engraved, with two gorgeous floral objects slightly different from the selection found on the silver coins of both the second and third monetary series. This piece was likely produced from a pair of dies that failed, or was some sort of initial pattern, or struck from standard engraved dies that were only briefly used or forgotten. This is one of the most important coins of Shahin Giray that we have ever handled.
Estimate: USD 4000 - 5000