2018-08-16 Thu

Ghiyath Al-Din Balban was a Sultan of Mamluk Dynasty of Delhi. He was one of the greatest sultans of Delhi Sultanate. He ruled Delhi from 1266 CE to 1287 CE. When Balban was young he was captured by Mongols, carried to the Ghazni and was sold to Khawaja Jamal din of Basra. In the year 1232 CE he was brought to Delhi along with the other slaves and all of them were purchased by Iltutmish.

Ghiyath Al-Din Balban, like his master Iltutmish rose to power and became the Sultan of Delhi. Balban started his carrier from a slave, from a slave he was appointed as Wazir by Nasir Al-Din Mahmud, the last sultan of Mamluk Dynasty, and from Wazir, he was ascended to the throne of Delhi. The journey of Balban from being a slave to the throne of Delhi is not less than a miracle. Balban was one of the most powerful rulers of the sultanates between Iltutmish and Alauddin Khilji.

Balban issued coins in gold, silver, copper, and billion. Silver coins which he had issued were struck at Hadrat Delhi, Khitta Alwar, Khitta Sultanpur, and Lakhnauti. Some Lakhnauti mint silver tankas also have the name of the month as well as year inscribed on it.

This gold Tanka issued by Balban which was struck in Hadrat Delhi weighs around 10.9g. The obverse of this coin is inscribed as ‘Al-Sultan Al Azam Ghiyath Al-Dunya Wa’l Din Abul Muzaffar Balban Al-Sultan’. The reverse of the coin is inscribed as ‘Al Imam Al-Muntasir Ameer-Ul-Mominin, Mint and Date in Margin’.

This rare gold tanka is listed for INR 43,000 in the upcoming auction of Classical Numismatic Gallery which will be held on.

Catch out more details about similar coin on our website.

Image Courtesy: Classical Numismatic Gallery