1852.] Note on Col. Stacey's Ghazni Coins. 



No. 12. [lviii.] Gold, wt. 69 gr. Ghazni, A. H. 428 

 Reverse. 



123 



4ll 



Margin. Surah ix. 33 and lxi. 9. 



Unique. 

 Obverse. 



Margin. (H^^ c^ 5 ^' *WI fH 



Mr. B. Elliot has a Coin of this type dated Ghazni 427, A. H. 



I would draw attention to the modification that is seen to occur in 

 the characters in which the legends of this Coin are expressed, as con- 

 trasted with those in previous use. 



The change from the stiff outlines of the Kufic in Nos. 10 and 11, 

 to the Persian writing in No. 12 is most marked, and illustrates 

 effectively the lost supremacy of the Arabic tongue and the complete 

 recognition of the more intelligible Persian as the Court language. 

 Bihaki indeed shews that so early as A. H. 423 Masaiid's ministers 

 had some difficulty in corresponding with the Court of Baghdad, and 

 apparently still more in selecting fit speakers for the viva voce inter- 

 course of Embassies, &c. 



No. 13. [lxi. ] Silver, broken Coin. Balkh A. H. [4] 22. 



Margin. 



Reverse. 

 Surah xxx. 4, 5. 



Obverse. 

 511 «J| SI 



£**? f *Wi — — 



A second specimen bearing similar legends varies in having the 

 KhallPs name engraved in full sized letters. The Coin retains the 

 imperfect date of &t, U*J jlj &j&* 420 ? 



r 2 



