2017-03-31 Fri

During 1290-1320 AD Delhi was ruled by Khilji Dynasty. Khilji Dynasty was founded by Jalaluddin Khilji in the year 1290 AD, and he was killed by Ala ud Din Muhammad Khilji to access the throne of Delhi. With the help of general Malik Kafur and Khusraw Khan; Ala ud Din Muhammad Khijli played a vital role in expanding the Delhi Sultanate into South India. He laid campaigns in the Deccan and brought back vast booty with him.

Ala ud din Khliji issued coins in gold, silver, copper and billon. Gold and silver tankas issued by him are very common and were struck at three places: Delhi, Dar Al Islam, and Deogir. He also struck some square tankas in both the metals, but they did not have the mint name inscribed on it. Some of these tankas are heavier than the usual.

Billon coins issued by him are of two types, both of them have the same weight, but the silver quantity in both the coins are different; one has around 25% of silver and other is a bilingual type which contains around 7 ½ % of silver.

This gold Asu or gadyana (Pagoda), which weighs around 3.6g, was estimated for INR 3, 50,000 to 4, 00,000 at Classical Numismatic Gallery. The obverse of the coin is inscribed as ‘Ala Al Dunya Wa Al-Din’ and the reverse of the coin contains ‘Sikandar Al Thani legend’.