HEPHTHALITE coins
    The Hephthalites were nomads who showed up in Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan-Kashmir starting in the 4th century AD.  They came, as all Eurasian nomads did, from the northeast.  Their ethnic makeup is unknown at this time.  Their cultural aspects are for the most part obscure.  It is a matter of debate whether they were related to the Huns who invaded the Roman empire, though they call themselves "Hono" on some of their coins.
      Most of their relics are the coins they struck from eastern Iran to India.  They captured the Sasanian shah Peroz and held him for ransom.  The millions of Sasanian silver coins with which that ransom was paid marked the start of their venture into coinage.  They countermarked them and copied them, and went on from there.  Hephthalite coinage continued for a few hundred years before the Hephthalites dissolved into the local populations.
    Hephthalite coins are all imitative.  Most imitate Sasanian types, a few imitate Kushans, and there are some imitations of Greek and Scythian coins that may also be Hephthalite, notwithstanding the half millennium gap between the originals and the the imitations.
    It is possible that some of the coins typically classified as Hephthalite these days are not ethnically Hephthalite at all.  There are enough gaps in the history of the region to hide large kingdoms and longlived dynasties.
    A lot of newly seen Hephthalite types are coming out these days (1990s-2000s).  Nice ones in gold and silver can be quite expensive.

HEPHTHALITE, Khingila, c. 430-490 AD, 27mm silver drachm, G-79, tall bust R, RAJA LAKHANA (UDAYA) DITYA / traces of fire altar, VF $250.00 sold 10/25/2010
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HEPHTHALITE, Khingila, c. 430-490 AD, 23mm silver drachm, MA-1424v, like Göbl Em. 81, tall moustached bust R, tamgha behind, flowers in vase before / traces of fire altar, Afghanistan issue, compact flan, nice VF $240.00 sold 5/5/2013
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HM1491a) HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1491, Napki Malka type bust, SRIO SHAHO in cursive Greek / fire altar, western Afghanistan, aVF $63.00 sold 11/9/2008
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HM1491b) HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1491, Napki Malka type bust, SRIO SHAHO in cursive Greek / fire altar, western Afghanistan, small split on edge, VF $65.00 sold
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276-81. HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1493, Napki Malka type bust, SRIO SHAHO in cursive Greek / fire altar, nice style, decent rev., porous obv, crude planchet, aVF $35.00 sold
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1494, Napki Malka type bust, SRIO SHAHO in cursive Greek with "beetle" countermark / fire altar, western Afghanistan, slightly dirty F $45.00
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1494, Napki Malka type bust, SRIO SHAHO in cursive Greek with "beetle" countermark / wreath(?) rev.  I showed this coin to several people, all of whom guessed it was a multiple strike of some sort.  I do not find that idea convincing.  The "wreath" is poorly struck, apparently nothing is inside.  Patinated, aVF/aG $80.00
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon 1/4 drachm, MA-1495, Napki Malka type bust, SRI SHAHO in cursive Greek / fire altar, VF+ $70.00
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon 1/4 drachm, MA-1495, Napki Malka type bust, SRI SHAHO in cursive Greek / fire altar, slightly porous VF $65.00
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, silver drachm, MA-1500, Napki Malka type bust, SRI SHAHO in cursive Greek / fire altar, F $48.00 sold
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, silver drachm, MA-1500, bust R with bull head crown, Napki Malka in Pahlavi, angular S behind / fire altar, Kabul/Zabul region, VF $65.00 sold 3/27/2017
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1500, bust R with bull head crown, Napki Malka in Pahlavi / fire altar, Kabul/Zabul region, VF $38.00 sold 6/7/2008
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, silver drachm, MA-1500, bust R with bull head crown, Napki Malka in Pahlavi, angular S behind / fire altar, Kabul/Zabul region, F+ $53.00 sold 11/9/2008
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, silver drachm, MA-1500, bust R with bull head crown, Napki Malka in Pahlavi / fire altar, Kabul/Zabul region, excellent XF $150.00 sold 9/21/2013
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, silver drachm, MA-1501, bust R with bull head crown, Napki Malka in Pahlavi / fire altar, Kabul/Zabul region, VG $48.00
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HM1502a) HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1502+, bust R with bull head crown, Napki Malka in Pahlavi / fire altar, Kabul/Zabul, excellent VF+ $120.00
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HM1502c) HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1502+, bust R with bull head crown, Napki Malka in Pahlavi / fire altar, Kabul/Zabul, superb XF+ $150.00
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1502, bust R with bull head crown, Napki Malka in Pahlavi / fire altar, Kabul/Zabul region, VF $48.00 sold
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1502, similar, angular S behind head / fire altar, Kabul/Zabul, F $33.00 sold 11/9/2008
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, silver plated, MA-1507+, bust R with bull head crown, cursive S behind, Napki Malka in Pahlavi / fire altar, Kabul/Zabul region, VF+ $63.00 sold 10/14/2013
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, silver plated, MA-1507+, bust R with bull head crown, cursive S behind, Napki Malka in Pahlavi / fire altar, Kabul/Zabul region, both sides clear, VF $52.00 sold 11/9/2008
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1508+, similar, cursive S behind / fire altar with sun wheels above attendants, Kabul/Zabul, F $32.00 sold 6/7/2008
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1508+, similar, cursive S behind / fire altar with sun wheels above attendants, Kabul/Zabul, VF $56.00 sold 11/9/2008
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1509, bust R with bull head crown, Napki Malka in Pahlavi, S behind / fire altar with sun wheels above attendants, bits of crust, VF $40.00 sold 11/9/2008
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1510, bust R with bull head crown, Napki Malka in Pahlavi, S behind / fire altar with sun wheels above attendants, XF $83.00 sold 10/14/2013
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1510, bust R with bull head crown, Napki (or Nezak) Malka in Pahlavi, S behind / fire altar with sun wheels above attendants, Kabul/Zabul, crude, base, aF/aG $24.00 sold 6/7/2008
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1520+, bust R, NAPKI MALKA in Pahlavi, Gandhara, split edge, aVF $65.00 sold 11/9/2008
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1520+, bust R with tendril hat, NAPKI MALKA in Pahlavi, Gandhara, VF $56.00 sold
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1520+, bust R, NAPKI MALKA in Pahlavi, Gandhara, VF $56.00 sold 11/9/2008
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, MA-1523v, bust R with trident over moon crown, abbreviated NAPKI MALKA in Pahlavi, baton before, Gandhara, aXF $84.00 sold
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576, copper drachm, MA-1527, bust R / large tamgha, F $48.00
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576, copper drachm, MA-1527, bust R / small tamgha, F $51.00
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576, copper drachm, MA-1527v, bust R / small tamgha, VF/F $64.00 sold
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576, copper hemidrachm, Sasanian types with Sri Shaho legend in Pahlavi, MA-1529,
a) nice F $24.00
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b) a bit crusty, VF $24.00 sold 6/7/2008
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576, copper hemidrachm, MA-1529, Sasanian types with Sri Shaho legend in Pahlavi, F/VF $19.00 sold 6/7/2008
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576, 14mm copper (1/8 drachm?), like MA-1529, XF $51.00
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576, copper hemidrachm, MA-1533, NAPKI MALKA in Pahlavi / fire altar, XF $53.00 sold
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274-42. HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576, 18mm copper 1/4 drachm, MA-1541, bust R, standard before / fire altar, nice aVF/VF $30.00 sold 6/13/2015
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576, 13mm copper, 0.7g, MA-1541v1, unusual style, VF $48.00 sold
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576 (?), 12mm copper , 0.1g, Napki type bust R / tamgha like Chach in Uzbekistan!, obv. like MA-1534, rev. see Ziemal, VG $33.00
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576 (?), 11mm copper, 0.6g, Smast type, Zem-x2, imitation of Kujula Herakles type tetradrachm, VF $65.00
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576 (?), 11mm square copper, 1.4g, imitation of Menander elephant head / club chalkous, VG/G $21.00
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576 (?), Kashmir Smast series, 15mm copper, 1.2g, Zem-x4, beardless bust 1/4 R, scepter held in raised L hand / fancifully evolved fire altar with attendants, a bit porous obv., aVF/VF $55.00
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576 (?), Kashmir Smast series, 9mm square copper, Zem-x5, Sasanian bust R / schematic fire altar, VF $55.00
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576 (?), Kashmir Smast series, 10-13mm, standing king / Ardoksho seated, VF $45.00
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576 (?), Kashmir Smast series, 9mm square copper, Zem-x5, Sasanian bust R / schematic fire altar, crude F $27.00
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576 (?), 12-13mm copper, standing figure / tripod, types adapted from Apollodotos I bronze, F $36.00
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576 (?), 15mm copper, seated king facing / Zeus R, types adapted from Azes bronze, aVF $36.00 sold 4/17/2008
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, c. 475-576 (?), 12x13mm rectangular copper, fragmentary (elephant head?) / Ardoksho enthroned facing, types adapted from Menander (?) & late Kushan types, VF+ $35.00
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274-43. HEPHTHALITE, Gandhara, c. 5-6th c. AD, Kashmir Smast series, AE11x12 rectangular, standing king / Ardoksho seated, 1.5g, off center rev., VF+ $21.00 sold 11/1/2011
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274-44. HEPHTHALITE, Gandhara, c. 5-6th c. AD, Kashmir Smast series, AE11x12 rectangular, standing king / Ardoksho seated, 1.7g, VF $55.00
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, "Narendra," c. 570-600 AD, billon drachm, 21mm, 4.1g, MA-nl, "Gidrifi" style bust R / trace of design, "Narendra" fully written, very unusual with anything on reverse, VF $250.00 sold 5/29/2014
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HEPHTHALITE, GANDHARA, "Narendra," c. 570-600 AD, billon drachm, MA-nl, "Gidrifi" style bust R / blank, aVF $275.00
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***A hoard of these camoe out in late 2007.  I know of at least 75 pieces.  My guy told me that's all there are but I don't believe it.  Such assurances are pretty much never true.  So immediately the price is $100 less than it used to be.  How low will they go?  Only the Shadow knows.  And note that I call the bust style "Gidrifi," which is the nickname of the type put out by the Abbasids few centuries later.  Probably the Gidrifis should really be nicknamed "Narendroid."
 
 

HEPHTHALITE, Gandhara, "Narendra," c. 570-600 AD, billon drachm, 22mm, 6g,  bust R / blank, "Narendra" fully written, F $250.00
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HEPHTHALITE, Gandhara, "Narendra," c. 570-600 AD, billon drachm, 22mm, 6g,  bust R / blank, "Narendra" fully written, 22mm, 6.5g, VF $335.00
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269-92. HEPHTHALITE, Gandhara, "Narendra," c. 570-600 AD, billon drachm, 5.5g, MA-nl, bust R / blank, "Narendra" fully written, slight porosity, VF $155.00
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269-93. HEPHTHALITE, Gandhara, "Narendra," c. 570-600 AD, billon drachm, 6.5g, MA-nl, bust R / blank, "Narendra" barbarously written, aXF $265.00 sold 5/30/2014
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276-83. HEPHTHALITE, NW PAKISTAN, Mihiragula, c. 515-530 AD, copper stater, MA-3779v, haloed king standing / Ardoksho seated facing, 4.5g, G $45.00 sold 3/27/2017
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HEPHTHALITE, NW PAKISTAN, Mihiragula, c. 515-530 AD, 21mm copper stater, king standing / Ardoksho seated facing, F $55.00 sold
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HEPHTHALITE, c.700 AD, silver drachm, MA-1399v, Arab-Sasanian dirham of 'Umar bin Ubaidallah, ART year 70, with bird countermark, clipped down to 18mm, 1.5g, slightly porous VF $40.00 sold 4/17/2008
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HEPHTHALITE, c. 475-576 AD, billon drachm, G-200+, bust R, NEZAK MALKA in Pahlavi, crudely schematic portrait, BEWARE: THIS COIN IS A FAKE!!!
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