2018-01-16 Tue

Nawab Itimad-ud-Daula Mir Qasim was put on the throne of Murshidabad by East India Company, replacing his father-in-law Mir Jafer, on 20th October 1760. Mir Qasim soon began to show a will of his own and to cherish dreams of independence. He eventually shifted his capital from Murshidabad to Munger in Bihar where he raised an independent army.

This silver Rupee of Mir Qasim which weighs around 11.57g was minted at Munger in 1176 AH. The obverse of the coin depicts Persian couplet for Shah Alam II which reads ‘Sikka (Zad Bar Haft) kishwara Saya Fazl Ilah Hami Deen Shah Alam Badshah’. The reverse of the coin reads ‘Zarb Munger Sanah 4 Julus Mainamat Manus’.

This coin is very important for Indian Numismatics. There is some debate about whether this rare issue could be a British attempt to run a mint at Munger. But the coins clearly bear 1176 AH, which ended in July 1763, almost three months before the British took the charge of Munger. Therefore, it's more likely that they are Nawab’s issue, apparently struck for financing the war.

This extremely rare coin was sold for INR 2,50,000 by Classical Numismatic Gallery.