Watch List notes:

WESTERN LIAO: Xu Xing, 1151-1164, AE 2 cash (8.18g), H--, 28mm, barbarous local calligraphy, lovely patination, unique, VF, RRRR, ex Shèngbidébao Collection. Possibly cast in Balasagun, which was an ancient Soghdian city in modern-day Kyrgyzstan, located in the Chuy Valley between Bishkek and Issyk-Kul Lake. Balasaghun was the capital of the Qara Khitay state in 12-13th Centuries. This coin was unearthed at the Aq-Beshim site in Kyrgyzstan. To the South-East from the Ak-Beshim site is an ancient residential area inhabited in the past by Kidans (Qidan). Tang dynasty cash kai-yuan and Northern Song cash are usual finds there. This coin was found in this area. The Western Liao (1124-1218) dynasty, also known as Qara Khitay state, was founded by Yelü Dashi, a member of the Liao royal family, who led the remnants of the Liao Dynasty to Central Asia after fleeing from the Jurchen conquest of their homeland in the North and Northeast of modern day China. The empire was usurped by the Naimans under Küchlük in 1211. The empire was finally destroyed by the Mongol Empire in 1218. Please read the articles (in Russian, Chinese & English) about this interesting dynasty at: http://www.zeno.ru/showgallery.php?cat=9299.

Estimate: 9,000- 11,000 USD