The Malwa Sultanate was a late medieval independent kingdom in the Malwa region of the present-day Madhya Pradesh state in India. This Sultanate was founded by Dilwar Khan Ghuri, the governor of the Delhi Sultanate in 1392 AD with its capital at Dhar. They later shifted their capital to Mandu, which was renamed as Shadiabad by the Malwa Sultanate. The Malwa Sultanate is well known for its art and architecture which flourished under their rule. Coins of the sultanate were issued in Gold, Silver, and Copper and were issued in various denominations.

It has been said that the history of Malwa is fragmented and can be concluded only from the chronicles of the Mughal Emperors and a few original Malwa texts. The kings of Mandu had great artistic taste; they made their coinage, their architecture in various geometrical shapes including the arched design known as the Mehrabi.

This gold tanka which weighs around 10.99 g was issued by Mahmud Shah I during his reign in Malwa Sultanate from the mint Shadiabad. The obverse of this coin is inscribed as Al Sultan Al Azam Al Dunya Wa'l din Khalji Abu'l Muzaffar Mahmud Shah Khallada Allah Khilafatahu. The reverse of this coin is inscribed as Sikandar Al Thani Yamin Al Khilafa Nasir Amir Ul Mominin.

Image Courtesy: Todywalla Auction