2017-12-27 Wed

The town of Patiala, which later became a state, was founded by Ala Singh, the chief of one of the Phulkian families in 1753. In 1762, Ahmed Shah Durrani of Afghanistan attacked Punjab. Ala Singh of Patiala was subdued and had to give an annual tribute to Ahmed Shah Durrani. Ahmed Shah conferred the title of Raja upon Ala Singh. In 1763, Ala Singh acquired parts of Sirhind territories and added them to Patiala.

In 1767, Ala Singh’s grandson, Raja Amar Singh, was granted authority by Ahmed Shah Durrani to issue coins in Patiala (Sirhind Mint) which were in the name of Ahmed Shah.

The above-shown Gold Mohur of Patiala which weighs around 10.76g was struck in the name of Ahmed Shah. The obverse of the coin is inscribed with Persian Couplet for Ahmed Shah Durrani. The reverse of the coin depicts ‘Suaad’ within the ‘seen’ of julus and group of four dots which may be part of the flower mintmark found on the coins of Amar Singh.

These rare issues are usually encountered with the absence of date, but on this coin,’4’ is visible on the obverse. It probably stands for 1174, the AH year in which Ahmed Shah Durrani invaded India for the final time. This coin was sold for INR 1,10,000 by Classical Numismatic Gallery.