2018-01-09 Tue

The Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad, popularly known as the Nizam of Hyderabad, was a monarch of the Hyderabad.

The Asaf Jah dynasty was of Turkic origin from the region around Samarkand in modern day Uzbekistan. The dynasty was founded by Mir Qamar-ud-Din Siddiqi, a viceroy of Deccan under the Mughal Empire from 1713 to 1721. He intermittently ruled after Aurangzeb's death in 1707. In 1724, Mughal control lapsed, and Asaf Jah declared himself independent in Hyderabad.

Mir Usman Ali Khan was the last Nizam of the Princely State of Hyderabad and Berar. He ruled between 1911 and 1948 until it was merged with the Indian Union.

This Gold Ashrafi of Mir Usman Ali Khan was minted at Hyderabad in 1337 AH. The obverse of the coin bears Char Minar in the centre with ‘Ain’ in the doorway (Persian alphabet for ‘U’, the initial of Usman) and Persian legend 92 Asaf Jah on top, Bahadur in left, Nizamul Mulk on right, and Sanah 1337 at the bottom. The reverse of the coin is inscribed with Persian legend ‘Yak Ashrafi’ in centre circle and ‘Sanah 8 Julus Mainamat Manus Zarb Farkhandah Bunyad Hyderabad’ around the circle.

Numeral 92 is observed on almost all coins of Hyderabad. It is not the Regnal Year of the State or the Nizam Dynasty or something related to the title or rank of the Nizam or mint identification. It is the numerical value of the name ‘Muhammad’.

This Ain type Gold Ashrafi was sold for INR 1,20,000 by Classical Numismatic Gallery.