2017-10-13 Fri

Zain Al Abidin (AH 823-874; AD 1420-1470) was a Sultan of Kashmir. His real name was Shahi Khan. After the death of Sikandar Shah I in the year AD 1413, his eldest son Ali Shah succeeded him. In the year AD 1420 Ali Shah was defeated in the battle by his brother Shahi Khan. Shahi Khan took the throne under the title Zain Al Abidin.

Zain Al Abidin issued coins in gold, silver and copper. Gold coins issued by him are extremely rare, whereas silver sasnu and copper kaserah were issued in large numbers. All the silver sasnus issued by him were struck with a fixed date 842 till the end of his reign. His silver sasnus were struck with an irregular period. Copper Kaserahs issues have a date 841, 848 and 851, with the number 25 which may refer his regnal year which corresponds to the AH year 848.

This extremely rare silver tanka issued by him was sold for INR 80,000 at Todywalla Auction. The obverse of the coin is inscribed as ‘Na’ib Amir Al-Mu’Minin Ghiyath Al-Dunya Wa’l Din’ and reverse of the coin is inscribed as ‘Abu’l Muzaffar Sultan Zain Al-Abidin’.