CHINESE COINS DISCOVERED AT THE GOLDEN HORDE SETTLEMENTS OF THE LOWER VOLGA REGION
The article considers two Chinese coins discovered at Selitrennoye settlement and a single coin-shaped item for playing the game of “Trained Horse” from the burial mound at Krasnoyarsk settlement. All these items corresponding to the reign of the Northern Song dynasty (11<sup>th</sup> century) were brought to the Lower Volga region in the 14<sup>th</sup> century. As noted by researchers, in the course of several emissions the monetary craft of the Golden Horde was influenced by Central Asian tradition established under the Chinese influence. This was reflected in the design of the certain types of Juchid coins dated 13 th century, closely corresponding to the Chinese era name (nianhao) in terms of the meanings of the legends, but written in Arabic script. The Chinese coins discovered in the territory of the Lower Volga region should be regarded as a significant proof of a cultural exchange between the East and the West.