Jahangir, Silver Rupee (Rupiya) of Patna Mint

This coin was minted in Patna with an ‘Alam Panah’ couplet. It reads ‘Shahe Nooruddin Jahangir, Ibn Akbar Badshah, Sikka e zad dar shahera patna, Khushru e Alampanah’.

Jahangir took a keen interest in coinage, minting some of the best specimens from the Mughal period. His reign saw a vast variety of coinage. He popularised the use of Persian couplets on coins; Noordah is one such couplet among many. On his accession to the Mughal Throne, Jahangir made two significant changes to coinage: he reintroduced the hijri date on the coins, keeping the ilahi months intact; he increased the weight of the rupee on certain mints by 20% (Jahangiri), and later by 25% (sawai). This coin is a ‘sawai type, weighing 14.32 g unlike the common 11g (approx) silver rupee seen during Jahangir’s rule.

However, due to certain trade inconveniences, they were reduced back to their original standard weights. Nūr-ud-dīn Muhammad Salīm was more popularly known as Jahangir – a title which means ‘conqueror of the world.’ He broadened the Mughal polity from 1605 to 1627 by bringing in more Rajputs, ending the long drawn war with Mewar, inducting Afghans to high positions, and enrolling Maratha sardars for imperial services. He continued Akbar’s liberal policies, much to the disappointment of orthodox elements. Jahangir was also an aesthete who achieved the highest level of merit in architecture, painting, gardening, and coinage. His downfall was abetted by his growing sickness and poor health (which led to the handling of his administration by his Persian wife, Nur Jahan), and rebellion from his son, Shah Jahan.

To read more about Mughal coinage, click here.