Golden Horde
Jani Beg II khan

Vladimir Belyaev
Jim Farr
June 9, 2000
Obverse:

Reverse: Kalima

Metal: AR
Size: 14.6 x 16.6 mm
Weight: 1.4 g

Existence of Jani Beg II khan became known thanks to the unit dated coin with his name (767 AH) found by Grigoriev in the Sarai hoard (V.V.Grigoriev, Opisanie klada iz zolotoordynskih monet, naidennogo bliz razvalin Saraya - 'Desription of the Golden Horde hoard, found near Sarai site' , Sank-Petersburg, 1849; coin number 147, tab.III/42).
Written ancient sources didn't mention Jani Beg II khan. Numismatics stuff shows that exists few die varieties of his coins and inscriptions degraded with time; hence can be assumed the conclusion that it was not virtual ruling and probably coins were minted in the different mint (so we have many varietis of the coin). Saveliev listed 36 examples of this coin:

  • first found and unit dated coin - Grigoriev N147;
  • 30 coins - from the Saveliev ref. (4 coins NN75-78, 30 coins/10 types NN392-401)
  • one Fraehn's N389.

    In the publication by G.A.Fedorov-Davydov, Klad serebryanyh juchidskih monet s Selitrennogo gorodishcha (Hoard of the silver Juchid coins from the Selitrennoe site), Numismatica and Epigraphica, XIII, Moscow, 1980 listed once more Jani beg II coin under N312 (identical to Saveliev N76).

    H.M.Fraenh, Monety hanov ulusa Juchieva, Sankt-Petersburg, 1832.
    N389 (tab.X, CCCLIV) is the closest to above coin.
    Fraenh doesn't identify it in the text.

    P.S.Saveliev, Monety Juchidskie, Jagataiskie, Jelairidskie i drugie, obrascshavshiesia v Zolotoy Orde v epohu Toqtamysha (Juchid, Chaghatayid, Jelayrid and other coins used in the Golden Horde during Toqtamysh period), Sankt-Petersburg, 1854.
    N401a (p.197), coin weight 1.4 g.
    I -
    II -
    III -
    IV -
    Compare Saveliev's reading with shown coin (rotated on 180°):

    • Saveliev, notes about Jani Beg III and his coins: Golden Horde coins