Note: The legends are in Nastaliq style (Perso-Arabic script).

During the reign period of Akbar, the Mughal Empire reached the peak of its success. The Mughal Emperor helped to elevate the empire by accelerating the cultural, social and the economic affairs of the era. Coins of Akbar include gold, silver and copper coins. The Mughal emperor used to have struck coins that followed the patterns of the earlier Suri coinage and gradually the weight and fabric of the coinage were also adopted. T he coins of Akbar were distinguished for the styles which he incorporated in their designs and the coins gained the distinct characterstics due to the content of their inscriptions. His coinage can be divided into several categories among them ‘ Kalima’ and ‘Ilahi’(Non-Kalima) also. Kalima Type T he coins were issued with the ‘Kalima’ along with the names of the four Khalifas on the obverse. On the reverse side of the coin was the emperor with or without his titles, the pious wish, the name of the mint with or without an epithet and the date in the Hijri era. The dates in the Hijri era were inscribed in a regular manner till 988 A.H. then the word ‘Alaf’ was put on them to represent 1000. The coins of Akbar also reflect the change in the religious thinking of the Emperor. During this period the ‘Kalima’ was removed & also the Hijri dates were replaced by the Ilahi years, the month of issue was also depicted on most coins. Ilahi Era 1585/6 AD witnessed the promulgation of Akbar’s new religious system known as the Din-i-Ilahi (Divine faith) began to appear on his coins. The ilahi coinage of Akbar was issued from the 30th year of his reign. Akbar determined to use a regnal era based on solar years in his administration. His majesty is well renowned for using instead of the date in the Hijri era, his regnal year, that is the date in the Ilahi era as well as the Persian solar month. This system of reckoning was continued until his death and afterwards by his son, Jahangir.

Poetic Couplets: It is Akbar the Great who is credited with introducing poetic couplets on coins. Three different poetic couplets are known on Akbar’s gold coins and three more are found on silver. The rarity of Akbar’s poetic coin offered here is thus immense. Akbar introduced the use of metrical legends on some of his gold and silver coins and after Akbar this was practised by most of his successors as well. The earliest coins with a couplet were issued but were suspended shortly after. Later they were reissued and this practice was continued till the end of his reign. R.B. Whitehead in ‘Some Notable Coins of the Mughal Emperors of India, part I (Numismatic Chronicle, 1923) describes part of the couplet with ‘zewar’ as: The sun of the stamp of King Akbar is the honour of this gold /As long as the shining sun ornaments the earth and sky. In this specimen the couplet starts on both sides at the bottom. On the obverse (right image) with ‘mihr’ (Sun). In the couplet alternatively ‘muhr’(stamp) & ‘mihr’(Sun) are being used, but in none of the cases does it refer to the Ilahi month Mihr. T he piece must have been struck at Agra as all later coins with this couplet were also struck at Agra. Another metrical(poetic measure) legend on gold was used on the coins of the Agra mint. Akbar also reintroduced pictorial motifs on some of his coins. In later years, mint-less gold and silver coins were issued. Akbar issued this type of coins till the forty-fourth year of his reign. The time of Akbar was remarkable for the originality of designs of his coins and the sophisticated minting process. Mughal coinage during Akbar’s reign truly reflects originality and technical innovations like ornamentation of the background of the coin with floral scrollwork.

Silver Two Annas Coin of King Edward VII of Calcutta Mi ...

Silver Two Annas Coin of Victoria Empress of Calcutta M ...

Silver One Rupee Coin of Victoria Queen of Madras Mint ...

Silver One Rupee Coin of King George V of Calcutta Mint ...