Two busts facing // Uncertain Sogdian legend, various readings of "Qagan Tuun" had been proposed around an angular tamgha with a cross. 13mm, 0.73 grams. Shagalov/Kuznetzov #191.
Interesting type. The reverse legend is unclear, various reading of "Qagan Tun" or "Qagan Tuun" had been proposed.
Chach was an ancient and early medieval region in Central Asia, centered around the area of modern-day Tashkent in Uzbekistan. Known from Chinese, Arabic, and Persian sources, Chach existed as an independent or semi-independent principality from at least the 5th century CE and was often ruled by local kings known as Ikhshids. Strategically located along the Silk Road, it became an important center for commerce, agriculture, and cultural exchange, blending Iranian, Turkic, and Sogdian influences. Chach maintained its autonomy despite being influenced by larger empires such as the Hephthalites, Western Turkic Khaganate, and the Tang dynasty, which occasionally claimed suzerainty. It was known for its coinage, urban development, and diverse population practicing Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and local religions. In the early 8th century, Chach was conquered during the Muslim expansion into Transoxiana, becoming part of the Umayyad Caliphate, and gradually integrated into the Islamic cultural world. Its legacy survives in the archaeological remains around Tashkent and in medieval historical texts.