2017-09-12 Tue

At the end of 12th Century, in a northern part of India, few dynasties came to power making Delhi the center of their rule. These dynasties were ‘Mamluks’, ‘Khaljis’, ‘Tughluks’,’Sayyid’ and ‘Lodis’. The rule of these 5 dynasties came to be collectively called as the Delhi Sultanate.

Khalji dynasty was the second dynasty to rule Delhi Sultanate. They were of Turkic origin but belonged to a region of Afghanistan known as Khalj. They had adopted Afghan manner and custom and had migrated to India. The first ruler of Khalji dynasty was ‘Jalal-ud-Din Firuz’. He came to the power in the year 1290 AD after killing the last ruler of the Mamluk dynasty.

Ala-Al-Din Muhammad was the third ruler of Khilji dynasty. He came to power in the year 1296 AD and ruled it till 1316 AD. Coinage of Ala-Al-Din Muhammad is the most copious of the whole Delhi series. He issued coins in gold, silver, copper, and billon. His gold and silver coins were struck in large quantity from the mints like Delhi, Dar-al-Islam, and Deogir. Billon coins issued by him are of two types. Both the coins have the same weight but one contains 25% of silver known as ‘Six gani’ and other contains 7.5% of silver known as ‘Two gani’.

This gold tanka which weighs around 11.9g, Sikandar Al-Thani type, minted at ‘Hazrat Delhi’ is listed for INR 40,000-45,000 in the forthcoming auction of Todywalla which will be held in Mumbai on 16th September 2017. The obverse of the coin is inscribed as ‘Al Sultan Al-Azam Ala Al-Dunya wa’l Din Abul Muzaffar Muhammad Shah Al-Sultan’. The reverse of the coin is inscribed as ‘Sikandar Al-thani Yamin Al-Khilafa Nasir Amir Al Mu’minin’. Date and mint name in the margin around.