The Horde's Silver Crisis: How a Coin Shortage Shook Mongol Russia

In the mid-14th century, the Golden Horde faced an unexpected crisis: a severe shortage of silver that destabilized its economy and helped pave the way for Moscow's rise. This episode explores how the Horde's reliance on imported silver from Central Europe and the declining output of mines in the Balkans led to a coinage crisis, the debasement of the tanga, and the rise of the 'silverless period' (bezmonetny period) in Russian lands. Lucas and Luna discuss the role of the Genoese in Caffa, the silver mines of Serbia and Bosnia, and the ripple effects that weakened the Horde just as Moscow's Prince Dmitry Donskoy began asserting independence. They also touch on the archaeological evidence from Sarai Berke and how traditional steppe gift-giving customs clashed with the monetized economy. A story of economics, empire, and the hidden power of currency. #GoldenHorde #SilverCrisis #MongolEconomy #SaraiBerke #Tanga #BezmonetnyPeriod #DmitryDonskoy #Caffa #Genoese #CoinageDebasement #MoscowRise #LittleIceAge #MedievalEconomics #Numismatics #HordeDecline #SilverMines #CentralAsia #FexingoHistory #MongolEmpire #BatuKhan Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo