First Use of “Turk”

A coin from the 6th century with a notable inscription was unearthed near Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Written in Sogdian script, the coin’s legend reads “Turk-Kagan,” representing the earliest known written use of the name “Turk”—approximately 150 years earlier than any previously recorded instance. 

The coin was part of a small hoard consisting of several coin types. Dr. Gaybulla Babayarov, an expert at the Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences National Archaeology Center, posits that the coins originated during the Yabguluk period of the Western Göktürk Khaganate in the years 580 to 610. The existence of these coins suggests that the Götürks were more established and less nomadic than previously thought. 

The discovery offers a new perspective on some of the oldest settlements in Turkestan (a large region in Central Asia) and serves as a tangible link to the dawn of Turkic identity. Further research could potentially lead to revising chapters of Eurasian history.

A version of this article appears in the July 2025 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).