2017-04-07 Fri

In the year 1347, a noble named Zafar Khan had established a first independent Muslim kingdom in Deccan in South India. This Kingdom is known as Bahamani. Zafar Kahan was a Turkish noble, who revolted successfully against Muhammad Bin Tughluq of Delhi Sultanate and founded this kingdom. He entitled himself as Ala Al-din Bahman Shah.

After sitting on the throne his first task was to establish his administration and to consolidate his position. He moved his capital from Daulatabad to Gulbarga and renamed it as Ahsanabad. He led his first campaign against Warangal in the year 1350 AD and forced Kapaya Nayaka to surrender to him.

Bahman Shah divided his kingdom into four provinces and appointed Governors for each province. It was at this time that a new kingdom in the south of Vijaynagar was developing; he later fought many wars with them.

His coinage consists coins in gold, silver, and copper. The Tanka issued by him is similar to the Tanka of Ala Al-Din Muhammad Khilji of Delhi Sultanate. The Tanka's minted during his reign are divided into two varieties.

a) This type depicts Hijri years on the reverse side of the coin toward the bottom.
b) In this type, the date in Hijri year is written in the margin.
The known date for these coins is AH 755 to AH 760.

The one-third Tanka issued by Bahman Shah weighs around 3.5g, The obverse flan of this coin inscribes a legend ‘Ala Al Dunya Wa Al-Din Abul Muzaffar Bahman Shah Al Sultan' in Persian. The reverse flan of this coin depicts a legend ‘Yamin Al-Khalifa Nasir Amir Al-Muminin' in Persian.

This Very rare one-third Tanka of Bahaman Shah was sold for INR 11,000 at Oswal Auctions.