The Mughal era is well know for the iconic architecture built during the time, but on the opposite end of the spectrum of scale, Mughal coinage and numismatics had a significant and lasting impact on the culture and economics of the subcontinent. Between 1526 and 1857, the Mughals consolidated the monetary systems across the region. The introduced a uniformity of coinage and denominations which was adopted by other neighbouring kingdoms and continues to be influential well after their time. The Sarmaya story is intricately woven with Mughal coins and numismatics in general. Coins remain a significant part of our collection and we do like digging into the subject in great detail. Read our guide to Mughal coins as a good starting point.
Nisar coins are named for their main purpose, ie scattering into the crowd by royalty. They were deployed for occasions that demanded ceremonial generosity, like at investitures, weddings or grand entrances. These coins were particularly lightweight. In addition to the regular gold, silver and copper coins, Shah Jahan released unique silver Nisar coins to present… Read more »
This coin is a Silver Rupee of the Ajmer mint issued by Mughal king Jahangir (r. 1605-1627). Jahangir issued many gold and silver coins with poetic verses on them and was the only Mughal emperor to bestow the right of coinage to his royal consort. Read more about him in our Mughal Coins guide.
This is a gold mohur issued by Shah Alam II (1759-1806) was minted in Dar Ul Khilafat or the capital, Shahjahanabad. To read more on Mughal coins, click here.
Jahangir issued many gold and silver coins with poetic verses on them and was the only Mughal emperor to bestow the right of coinage to his royal consort. To read more on Mughal coins, click here.
Jahandar Shah was the son of Bahadur Shah I and ruled for a very brief period. After their father’s death on February 27, 1712, he and his brother Azim-ush-Shan both proclaimed themselves emperors and waged a succession fight. Jahandar Shah issued coins and reintroduced couplets inscribed in gold, silver and copper. He issued coins with… Read more »
Alamgir II was a Mughal Emperor who ruled from the capital of Delhi during the latter part of the 18th century. Being raised to the throne at the age of fifty-five, he was a relatively weak and incapable ruler, and was more likely a ‘puppet king’ controlled by other powerful authoritarians. He was, however, a… Read more »
Our first outreach workshop of 2019 was all about the money!
A Brief History of the Mughal Empire in Coins From 1526 to 1857, as the fortunes of the empire went from shaky to glorious before withering into decay, its currency too reflected these shifting sands. READ MORE Queen of Hearts Only one Mughal empress in history had the distinction of issuing coins in her… Read more »
Over the period from 1526 to 1857, as the fortunes of the Mughal empire went from shaky to glorious and then withered to decay, its currency too reflected these shifting sands.
Meet Paul Abraham, the collector who turned a childhood hobby into a lifelong quest for beauty and wonder. For the story of Sarmaya is the story of one man following his curiosity through the history and art landscapes of India.
Find out how the founder of Sarmaya was inspired to start his collection of rare Indian art and historical artefacts. Paul Abraham explains the power of old coins to instantly transport him to another world. It’s a kind of magic that has lasted a lifetime and led him to many other fascinating discoveries. This is… Read more »