2017-03-01 Wed

Ala Al-Din Mahmud Shah I was the sultan of Malwa. He came to the throne after his father Muhammad I. Malwa Sultanate was founded by Dilawar Khan Ghuri, who was the governor of Delhi Sultanate in Malwa.

Ala-Al-Din Mahmud Shah I issued coins in gold, silver, copper and billon. The most amazing coin which he issued in gold is the 5 tankas coin which weighs around 55.4g. He must have struck this coin for some special occasion. This coin was minted at Hadrat Shadiabad in the year 868. He also issued two more varieties of gold coins. ‘Sikandar al thani’ type which comes with the legend ‘Sikandar al thani’ and other comes with his basic titles.

The silver coin issued by him also comes with the legend ‘Sikandar al thani’ and comes in two varieties, were the obverse legend is in a plane area and reverse legend is within a circle. Other type were both obverse and reverse legends are within a double square.

One of his gold tanka, minted in Hadrat Shadiabad, which weighs around 11g, was sold for 45,000 at Classical Numismatic Gallery held on 21st January 2017. The obverse of the coins reads as ‘Al-Sultan Al-Azam Ala Al Dunya Wa’l Din Khalji Abu’l Muzaffar Mahmud Shah Khallada Allah Khilafatahu”. And the reverse of the coin reads as ‘Sikandar Al-thani Yamin Al-Khilafa Nasir Amir Al Mu’minin” within a circle; date 867 and mint name written in the margin. This is a rare coin.

To view similar coin click here.