ISLAMIC, India, Mughals, Jahangir

India / Mughal Empire. Jahangir, AH 1014-1037 / AD 1605-1627. Rupee, AH 1025 / AD 1616; RY 10; month Isfandarmuz. Agra. Lane-Poole 441 (similar). KM 147.1. Zeno 49303. Silver. Square, 20mm × 20mm, 11.04 grams.

Obverse: Shah Nur-ud-din Jahangir, ibn Shah Akbar.

Reverse: "mah-i isfandarmuz-i ilahi / zarb agra / sanat 10 / 1025" (the month of Isfandarmuz of the ilahi month, struck Agra year 10, 1025).

Prince Salim's accession to the Mughal throne occured in 1605 AD following the death of his father, Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar. Prince Salim chose the titular name of Nur-ud-din Muhammad Jahangir and ruled in a fair and just manner. Jahangir was born amidst luxury and opulence and he was a refined, educated and cultured man. He excelled in astronomy, zoology, painting etc and was liberal and tolerant towards other religions. As a prince, he was known for his affair with Anarkali, a courtesan, who, as rumoured, was buried alive by an incensed Akbar. Later Jahangir married a Persian widow, Nur Jahan, who became his favorite wife and a capable administrator as in the last few years of his reign Jahangir's mental and physical health deteriorated under the influence of alcohol and opium. Jahangir died in 1627 AD.

Under Jahangir, numismatics reached its greatest zenith. Jahangir minted some of the best known coins of the world including the largest gold coin ever minted, a 1,000 Tola (12 Kg) gold mohur, zodiac coins in gold and silver, portrait coins of himself and Akbar, and coins featuring poetic couplets. Some of these innovations were radical and defied the Islamic tradition viz zodiac & portrait coins. Shah Jahan, Jahangir's son and successor, ordered death penalty for anyone found using the zodiac coin series (consider as un-Islamic) as well as coins bearing the name of his step-mother, Nur Jahan, as she had undue influence over Jahangir and had interfered in Shah Jahan's accession, that makes them a great rarity today. No wonder coins of Jahangir are considered works of art and are much sought after by collectors around the world.

The featured specimen is an elegant square coin of Jahangir with magnificent work of calligraphy and depiction of vines, creepers, flowers, sunbursts and what not on the coin. It is most certainly struck from the Gold Mohur dies. All square rupee's were intended as 'nazrana' or tribute. The Ilahi coins were struck as round or square shape in alternate months. The ornate multiple dotted borders (thin inner border, thick outer border) together with the artistic scroll work, calligraphy and the flora depicted on the coin makes it an exquisite specimen, more so remarkable due to the absence of any shroff 'test' marks that disfigure and plague the Mughal coin series. The coin has great eye appeal and is a fine tribute to one of the best known numismatic innovator of his time.