GIRAY KHANS: Shahin Giray, 1777-1783, AR 60 para (altmishlik, rouble) (22.89g), Baghcha-Saray, AH1191 year 5, A-2111, Ret-157, Sariev-454, 3rd monetary series; standard obverse, toughra reverse, with a floral sprig left & right, each with a flower, lightly cleaned, oblique reeding, lovely VF-EF, RR, ex Dick Nauta Collection, acquired from us in 1986.

The Giray Khans were the rulers of the Crimean Khanate from 1441 to 1783.  The Khanate was also known by following names; Qırım Hanlığı, Qırım Yurtu, Great Horde, Desht-i Kipchak, and in old European historiography and geography as Little Tartary or Tartaria Minor. This Crimean Tatar state was the longest-lived of the Turkic khanates that succeeded the empire of the Golden Horde. Established by Hacı I Giray in 1441, it was regarded as the direct heir to the Golden Horde and to Desht-i-Kipchak. The Giray Khanate was annexed by Catherine the Great of Russia. On 8 April 1783, in violation of the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, Catherine II intervened in the civil war, de facto annexing the whole Crimean Peninsula as the Taurida Governorate.

Estimate: 2,800-3,250 USD