Mongolian Golden Horde | Silver Dirham

History of the Artifact The Mongols were a nomadic people from the Central Asian steppes who, under the leadership of Genghis Khan in the early 13th century, forged the largest contiguous land empire in history. Renowned for their military prowess, strategic innovation, and brutal efficiency, they conquered vast territories across Asia and into Europe. Despite their reputation for destruction, the Mongol Empire also facilitated trade, communication, and cultural exchange along the Silk Road, contributing to a period of relative stability known as the Pax Mongolica. These Mongolian dirhams were minted by the 'Golden Horde' between 1242 and 1500. They represent one of the most fascinating blends of Mongol and Islamic traditions in medieval coinage. When the Mongols conquered large portions of the Islamic world, they quickly adopted many local customs to help administer their vast, multi-ethnic empire. One of these was the Islamic monetary system, which used the silver dirham as a standar