Silver Coin

Alamgir II, Silver coin of Gwalior Mint

This double-die-struck silver coin from the Gwalior Mint (Madhya Pradesh) was issued by Alamgir II in 1753-54. Mughal Emperor Alamgir II (1699–1744), also referred to as Aziz–ud–Din Muhammad, ruled Delhi between 1754 and 1759. Regarded as a “puppet” monarch, Alamgir II was manipulated by other court officials and rulers. His four-year tenure saw a rise… Read more »

Tipu Sultan, Silver Double Rupee of Patan Mint

This coin is a Double Silver Rupee of the Mysore Kingdom, minted by Tipu Sultan ( r. 1783-1799). Tipu Sultan ascended the throne of Mysore on 4th May 1783. He is recognized for his military prowess, administrative skills, and battle against the British during the Anglo-Mysore Wars. Tipu Sultan issued gold, silver, and copper coins… Read more »

Jahangir, Leo Zodiac Silver Rupee of Ahmedabad Mint

This coin is a Silver Zodiac Rupee, minted by Jahangir (r. 1605-1627). Jahangir, a great patron of the arts, took a keen interest in coinage during his reign. The Zodiac coins were the most controversial yet unique ones among his innovative coinage.  The ”Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri” mentions that Jahangir ordered to replace the month with the zodiac… Read more »

Jahangir, Aries Zodiac Silver Rupee

Jahangir, a great patron of the arts, took a keen interest in coinage during his reign. Among his innovative coinage, the most controversial yet unique ones were the Zodiac coins. The ‘Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri’ mentions that Jahangir ordered for star constellation figures to replace the inscriptions detailing the month of issue, present on the reverse of the… Read more »

Nikusiyar, Silver Rupee of Akbarabad Mint

Nikusiyar, son of Muhammad Akbar and grandson of Aurangzeb, was the 12th ruler of the Mughal Empire. At the age of sixteen, he was appointed the Subehdar of Assam, a position he held for a brief period from 1695-1701. Following this he served as the Subehdar of Sindh from 1702 to 1707. However, with the… Read more »

Gondophares (Indo-Parthian), Silver Tetra Drachm

The Indo-Parthian kingdom was the largest sub-kingdom of the Parthian Empire, which at its peak expanded from Turkey to Eastern Iran. It was located west of the Parthian homeland and was founded in the late 1st century BC by the first of several kings named Gondophares – a Scythian or Saka king as well as… Read more »

Kam Bakhsh, Silver Rupee of Haidarabad Dar ul-Jihad Mint

After Aurangzeb’s death in the year 1707, a war of succession emerged among his three surviving sons. Muazzam, the Governor of Kabul, Azam, the Governor of Gujarat, and Kam Baksh who was the Governor of Deccan, fought each other for the throne. Towards Ahmednagar, Azam had proclaimed himself emperor while on the other hand, the… Read more »

Jahangir, Silver Rupee (Rupiya)

This silver square rupee coin was issued by Jahangir. An inscription in Persian on the obverse reads ‘”Noor ud din Jahangir Shah Akbar Shah.” The reverse shows the Persian month Shahrewar, Ilahi date, and zarb, with test marks appearing on both sides. The Ilahi month inscribed on this silver coin is ‘Shahrewar.’ Jahangir took a… Read more »

Murad Bakhsh, Silver Rupee (Rupiya) of Surat Mint

The coin was minted in surat and is a ‘kalima’ type. It reads “kalima shahada” inscribed around the name of four Khalifas (Caliphs) which are inscribed inside the square, on the obverse. It reads “muhammad murad baksh badshah ghazi” on the reverse. Murad Bakhsh was the youngest son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz… Read more »

Jahangir, Silver Rupee (Rupiya) of Kabul Mint

This coin is a ‘noordah’ couplet coin minted in the town of Kabul. It reads ‘Tazand az namme jahangir shah, sikka buwad noor dahe mihr-o-mah, do chashmi he, zarb kabul’. The coin is silver and struck inside a circle. The coin flan is broad and the inscription on both obverse and reverse appears interspersed with… Read more »

Jahangir, Silver Rupee (Rupiya) of Jalnagar Mint

This coin is a decorative ‘kalima type’ seen during the reign of Jahangir. It was minted probably in the brief period that Bijapur was in the possession of the Mughals. Both Akbar and Jahangir attempted yet failed to consolidate power in the state of Bijapur. The coin is silver and struck inside a circle. The… Read more »

Akbar, Silver Rupee (Rupiya) of Akbarpur Tanda Mint

This silver coin was issued by Akbar and minted at Akbarpur Tanda. The coins consist of the ‘Kalima’ inscribed on the obverse and the name and title of the issuer, date and mint on the reverse. This particular coin from the Akbarpur Tanda mint is considered to be very rare, with the ‘Maltese cross’ mint… Read more »

Akbar, Silver Rupee (Rupiya) of Agra Mint

This silver coin was issued in  by Akbar, minted at Agra, and is known as the ‘Kalima type’. Inscribed on both the sides, the coins consist of the ‘Kalima’ (Islamic affirmation of faith) on the obverse and the name and title of the issuer, date and mint on the reverse. On the obverse side of… Read more »

East India Company, Silver Rupee (Rupiya) of Chinapattam Mint

The East India Company (EIC) had established themselves in the village town called ‘Madrasapattam’ (now Chennai) in 1639-1640. This became the first major English settlement in India. In 1687, Aurangzeb’s conquest of Golconda and Bijapur led to the introduction of silver coins in southern India. The EIC sought permission from the Mughal Empire to mint… Read more »

Akbar, Silver Rupee (Rupiya) of Agra Mint

This silver coin is inscribed on both the obverse and reverse and the inscriptions appear inside a floral design motif. This qualifies it in the ‘Decorative type’ category of coin issued by Emperor Akbar. Akbar’s Ilai coins typically bore the Ilahi creed: Allahu Akbar Jalla Jalalhu. He issued silver Ilahi coins minted at Agra in… Read more »

Akbar, Silver Rupee (Rupiya) of Multan Mint

This silver coin is inscribed on both the obverse and the reverse and shows a floral design motif. The coin has a broad flan typical of a ‘Nazrana type’ coin issued by Emperor Akbar. A Nazrana coin was struck specifically for guests who wished to present it in the Durbar in honour of the Emperor.… Read more »

A Story of India in 12 Silver Coins

A rebellious empress, a great ruler of the south, a British queen taking the reins of a colony in revolt. Travel through time and discover Indian history through twelve exceptional silver coins

Jahangir, Silver Coin of Agra Mint

Among the Mughals, Jahangir was undoubtedly the greatest patron of the arts, the man with The Eye. To him, even an object of prosaic commerce like the coin deserved to have beauty poured upon it. Jahangiri currency encompasses a remarkable variety of coins with interesting calligraphy and portrait designs. Because he was passionate about poetry,… Read more »

Antialcidas, Silver Drachm of Bactria Mint

Greek coinage unlike the early Indian punchmark coins were very finely made. They went beyond the use of symbols to include bilingual legends, and bear-headed and helmeted busts of kings and gods from the Greek pantheon. The rule of the Indo-Greeks covers a period of 300 years from 2nd Century BC to 1st Century CE.… Read more »

Chitra Thirunal Bala Rama Verma, One Fanam of Travencore Mint

The kingdom of Travancore was a Hindu feudal kingdom till 1858 and later an Indian princely state ruled by the lankini Travancore royal family. In ancient times, the region had been ruled by the Cheras, Cholas and briefly by the Vijayanagara dynasty, until it became an independent state in the mid-18th century. The Travancore royals… Read more »