Andrey Gomzin

The article analyzes the fragmented Kufi c coins from 9th – early 11th-century hoards and single fi nds in the Middle and Lower Oka regions. The author identifi es the types of damage to the coins and the possible purpose of such damage. Analysis of whole and fragmented coins with various types of damage (apertures, loops, graffi ti, etc) allows assuming that some of that damage testifi es to the movement of the dirhams along the trading routes inside Eastern Europe, and that the movement was not transit. In addition, the hoards and individual fi nds allow assuming that in some of the cases the fragmentation of the dirhams was not aimed at obtaining just any part of the coin, but had the purpose to get ½ or 1/3 of the whole coin. The assemblages from the last quarter of the 10th c. also indicate that within the region in question payment in dirhams was accepted both in whole coins and fractions and by weight, depending on the circumstances of the payment.