2018-08-25 Sat

After the death of Muhammad Shah, his son Ahmad Shah Bahadur ruled between 1748 to 1754 CE. When Ahmed Shah came to power, the rule of the Mughal Empire almost collapsed. He ruled for almost six years. He was deposed by Vazier Feroze Jung III who later blinded him along with his mother. He spent the remaining years of his life in prison and died in the year 1775 at the age of 50.

This silver Rupee was issued by Ahmed Shah Bahadur in 1166 AH. The obverse of the coin showed the inscription ‘Sikka Zad Dar Jahan Ba Fazl Ilah Ahmad Shah Bahadur ’. The reverse of a coin is depicted as ‘Zarb Koilkonda Sanah 6 Julus Mainamat Manus’.

The mint-name on this coin is more likely to be read as 'Golkondah' - however, there is no evidence that this fortress ever functioned as mint-place after the reign of Aurangzeb. On historical grounds, the name is better to read as 'Koilkonda', two dots or nuqtas below the 'L' would add to the substantiation of the added diphthong after the 'o' in 'Ko'. Koilkonda was one of the Samsthanas or semi-independent states under the rule of the Nizams. Many small feudatories like the Samsthanas appear to have issued a mint taking advantage of the turmoil in the Nizam court in the mid-1750s. Issued under the authority of Nizams of Hyderabad.

Image Source: Classical Numismatic Gallery