Tenga: Silver Coinage of Central Asia (Bukhara coin)

Illustrated Specimen Details: Silver 1 Tenga (1883)

Example Specimen: 1 tenga, 1883 (AH 1300)

Design & Script: In accordance with Islamic numismatic traditions, the coin features calligraphic Arabic inscriptions instead of portraits. The Persian legend translates to "Struck in Bukhara". The date is indicated as AH 1300 (Anno Hegirae), which corresponds to 1883 in the Gregorian calendar.

1. EMIRATE OF BUKHARA (1827-1920): 1 tenga = 10 falus = 4 miri
2. KHANATE OF KHIVA (1832-1920): 1 tenga = 10 falus = 4 miri.
3. KHANATE OF KOKAND (1826-1876): 1 tenga = 55 pūl = 4 miri.

The name of the tenga coin has deep Turkic and Mongol roots. One theory suggests it derives from the term tamga, meaning a stamp or a royal seal on a coin. Another linguistic path points to a root meaning "a weight" or "measured unit".

Historical Context: The Emirate of Bukhara

The Emirate of Bukhara (1785-1920) was a major Central Asian state that served as a key political and cultural center along the Silk Road. During the 19th century, particularly under the Mangit dynasty, the tenga was the backbone of the region's monetary system.

The specimen above was issued during the reign of Muzaffar bin Nasrullah. This period was marked by the increasing influence of the Russian Empire in Central Asia, though the Emirate maintained its own minting rights and distinctive currency system until the early 20th century. Similar tenga coins were also issued by neighboring states, such as the Khanate of Khiva and the Khanate of Kokand, forming a common economic zone.

Evolution and Etymology

The tenga (also known as tanka or tanga) traces its roots to earlier Islamic and Mongol traditions, especially the silver dirham-type coins of the Timurid era. It functioned as a standard silver unit, though its exact weight and value varied significantly by region and period. Unlike more rigid European systems, Central Asian currencies were not strictly standardized, and the value of the tenga could fluctuate depending on local reforms and economic conditions.

Linguistic Legacy

The legacy of this name is exceptionally strong. It is the direct ancestor of the modern Kazakh tenge and the Turkmenistan teňňe. Furthermore, the historical tenga influenced the Russian language, giving rise to the word denga (деньга), an early term for money that eventually became the modern russian word for "money" (деньги).

Note for collectors: It is important to distinguish between the historical tenga of the 19th-20th century Central Asian khanates and the modern tenge. While they share the same etymological origin, they represent entirely different monetary eras.

▶