2017-01-25 Wed

In the year AH 620-621, growing power of Ghiyath Al-Din Iwad in Bengal and Bihar made Shams Al-Din Iltutmish concerned. Iltumish wanted to bring Bihar under his control. In the year 622, he obtained Iwad’s submission including the issue of the coin in his own name. But, this submission ended within a couple of years, later Iwad was killed in the battle with Mahmud, Iltutmish's eldest son.

After the death of Mahmud, the eldest son of Iltutmish, one Daulat Shah Bin Maudud seized the control of Bengal. This made Iltutmish march against him with a strong force which led in capturing him in the year AD 1230.Iltutmish appointed governors to look after the Bengal region. Malik ‘Ala’ al-Din Jani was appointed as his first governor, later he was replaced by Malik Saif Al-Din Aibak, after death of Malik Saif Al-Din Aibak, Izz Al-Din Tughral Tughan Khan succeeded him for the next ten years.

After the death of Iltutmish, his son Rukn Al-Din Firuz succeeded him. His coins minted in Bengal were struck by his governor Izz Al-Din Tughral Tughan Khan. One of his silver tanka coin minted in Lakhnauti, which weighs around 10.8g; was sold for INR 57,000 at Todywalla Auction held in Mumbai on 23rd September 2016.

The obverse of the coin reads as’Al-Sultan Al-Azam Rukn Al-Dunya Wa Al-Din Abul Muzaffar Firuz Shah bin Sultan’ within Double Square on the obverse, and the reverse of the coin is inscribed with ‘Fi-Ahad Al-Imam Al-Mustansir Amir Al Muminin’ within the circle mint name and date 633 written in the margin. This coin is very rare.

To view the similar coin click here.