2016-01-09 Sat

A gold dinar issued under the rule of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, realized $170,000 at the CNG Triton XIX auction held this month in New York. The coin was issued between May 22 and June 21, 1605 CE with the dinar displaying a beautiful example of Mughal numismatic art. While the duck is the main subject on this coin, the beautiful floral background is artistically and aesthetically designed. Motifs and images are forbidden on Islamic coins and rarely do we come across coins issued by Muslim rulers bearing images. But Akbar and, later, Jehangir are known to have issued coins bearing various images, one of which is the Duck-type dinar issued by Akbar.

The obverse depicts a duck facing right against an intricate floral background while the reverse bears the Persian inscription ‘Allahu Akbar/Khurdad Ilahi/50 Zarb Agra’. The date on the coin is according to the Ilahi calendar which corresponds to the regnal year of Akbar’s rule.

The coin weighs 11.19 grams and measures 20 mm in diameter. The coin sold at the auction bears areas of minor roughness and was struck with a worn die. It was estimated to fetch $5000 but realised a whopping $170,000.