2018-02-05 Mon

The Mughals hardly require any introduction, as this is perhaps the most famous dynasty in Indian history. Descendants of the Mongols, this family put together the last of the great personal empires of human history. At its height, the Mughal Empire stretched from Afghanistan to Burma and almost, but not quite to the southern tip of India.

With help from Safavid ruler in Persia, Babur successfully defeated the Delhi Sultanate of Ibrahim Lodi in the first battle of Panipat in 1526 and entered in India.

The coinage of the Mughal Empire occupies a unique position in Indian history of numismatics. The Shahrukhi standard was adopted by both Babur and Humayun. The Shahrukhis are thin broad pieces of silver with Kalima and the names of the four Khalifia-e-Rashidoons on the obverse and the king’s regnal title with date and mint place on the reverse.

This silver half Shahrukhi of Babur was minted at Lakhnur. The obverse of the coin bears Shahada ‘La Ilaha Illallahu Muhammadur Rasulullah’ in circle and names and titles of Rashidoons around the circle. The reverse of the coin is inscribed with Persian legend ‘Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Badshah Gazi’ in an ornamental cartouche and mint name and invocation visible below it.