Afghanistan is an ancient country with a long history, too long for us to attempt to recount briefly here. It sits astride strategic trade routes, which probably account for the turbulence of its history dating back to its invasion by Darius the Great. It has been in the world news in recent years. We show one of the last coins from the short-lived Republic which lasted from 1973 to 1978, showing a snow leopard on its reverse. Since decimalisation in 1929 under Muhammed Nadir Shah, the main Afg