2017-11-16 Thu

Khalji was a Muslim dynasty which was founded by Jalal ud Din Firuz Khalji. They were of Turkic origin and got their name from having in the area of Khalji in what is now Afghanistan.

Ala Al-Din Muhammad Shah was the second and the most powerful ruler of the Khalji dynasty of the Dehli Sultanate.

He is famously known as the conqueror of the Yadavas of Devgiri. His first attack on Devgiri, which reduced the Yadavas as a vassal state, happened soon before his accession as the Sultan. The Sultan’s armies subsequently vanquished the Kakatiyas, the Hoysalals and the Pandyas too.

He was very ambitious and liked to call himself as ‘The Second Alexandar’ Therefore he also issued coins with the title ’Sikandar-Al-Thani’ .

This gold Asu or Gadyana (Pagoda) was minted during the reign of Ala Al-Din Muhammad Shah. This coin bears no date but it has the same title that Alauddin held on his other coins ‘The Second Alexander’. The obverse of the coin is inscribed with ‘Ala Al-Dunya Wal Deen’, while the reverse of the coin inscribed with Arabic legend ‘Sikandar Al-Thani’.

This coin is listed at INR 4,00,000-5,00,000 in the upcoming auction of Classical Numismatic Gallery which will be held on 15 December, 2017.