2016-08-27 Sat

A 76.7-millimeter, uniface bronze medal features a high-relief bust of the last king of Afghanistan, Muhammad Zahir Shah who ruled from 1933 to 1973. The coin also depicts with an ornate Tughra or royal signature. He belonged to the Pashtun Barakzai dynasty and came into power after his father Muhammad Zahir Shah was assassinated. He and his father were responsible for the modernization of their multicultural land under ‘Abd-ur-Rahman.

He introduced the 1964 constitution which extended women’s rights but the country failed to make any economic progress. In 1973, the king was taken over by his cousin, Sardar Muhammad Daoud Khan, who proclaimed himself as president. Daoud was overthrown and killed after five years. The Soviet invasion took place in 1979 and was resisted by Mujahidin who then fought the seizure of power by the radical Islamist Taliban.

Taliban was driven out of Afghanistan by the American Military and a new government was formed which was led by Hamid Karzai. The king returned from exile in Rome but the country failed to restore the monarchy. Zahir Shah was declared “Father of the Nation” in the new constitution.

The medal’s artist, Haiderzad, has contributed to popularise art in his war-torn land and his works are highly appreciated all over the world.