Coins Sultans of Kashmir by Iqbal Ahmad

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FWIW, a review from Greater Kashmir

Peter

THIS NUMISMATIC STUDY ABOUT COINS OF A MUSLIM PERIOD IS FIRST OF ITS KIND
by Naveed Ahmad

Apart from archeological discoveries and their study, the numismatic research has thrown new light on the history and culture of olden civilizations and brought out unknown events and facts before the contemporary historians. The scientific study of ancient coins known also as numismatics revealed the histories of several unknown civilizations. The clearly written histories were reconfirmed and reconstructed by this source. These served as the most important source to the history and culture. For certain periods of history it constituted the only evidence for the historians for example there were very little records available of ancient Indo-Greeks, Bacterian-Greeks, Romans, Scythians, Parthians, Kushans and other few dynasties, coins which the emperors of these dynasties had issued during their respective periods when found in hoards or in excavations helped numismatists to provide information to the historians whom filled the historic gaps and reconstructed the history of the mankind.

However, the discovery of ancient coins is not so easy, it is a difficult task to haunt for ancient coins. More difficult is their study. It requires proper know how and technical qualification to decipher a coin. Alexander Cunningham was first archaeologist who discovered coins in Kashmir during his visit of the valley in 1846. He deciphered several Kashmir coins, and published his observation in a numismatic chronicle in the same year. This journal was being published from London. The royal numismatic society of London its publishers C J Rodgers and R B Whitehead were other two European scholars who followed Cunningham and worked on Kashmir coins. That was the period when Muslim coins of this land were attended first time. Several Muslim periods coins were discovered and published in journals and Indian catalogues.

R C Kak, P N K Bamzai, Hassan Khuhami, Sofi and Mohib-ul-Hassan also made mention of a few Kashmiri coins which were already published by European archeologists, and till year 2003, there was not a single booklet available on Kashmir coins published or authored by a local archeologist. In year 2003, Iqbal Ahmad the learned archaeologist came across several ancient coins and studied them. He deciphered several panch marka and Greek coins and published them in his small book ?Greek Kashmir?. It became the first book on Kashmir ancient coins which was written by a local archaeologist.

This time the learned author has under taken the study of Muslim coins of Kashmir under the title ?Coins Sultans of Kashmir?. According to the author the Muslim numismatics has its own importance and significance, like reading of Khutba in the name of a Muslim ruler was essential and basic requirement, so was the strucking of coins to recognize his royal authority over the empire.

The book besides being the first book on Kashmir coins is the first book on Sultanate coins of Kashmir. It has a fine getup the cover page carries the photographs of gateway of Khankhan Moullah of Srinagar, shown with flying pigeons. It is an illustrated book which depicts thirty two illustrations.

Prof. Fida Muhammad Hussnian, the reputed historian has written the introduction of the book. The book besides providing a chronological outline of Muslim Sultans of this land has discussed all most all coins issued by these Sultans. As per the researches of the author, Sultan Sikander, who ascended the throne in 1389 AD has been the first Sultan of this land credited with to had introduced the Islamic numismatic tradition of this land, the author in the book claims no coins are known of Shams-ud-Din, Jamsheed Alua-ud-Din, Shuhab-ud-Din and Qutub Din. The five sultans ruled before Sultan Sikander. The later is declared as the founder of Islamic coins in this land.

These Muslims coins are inscribed ones, and bear legends in Arabic and Persian letters. The book makes mention of Muslim numismatic terms, denominations weights and values, besides various types and metals introduced in these coins. The most significant chapter of the book deals with numismatic treasure of Barthana-Srinagar which was few years back discovered in a graveyard of this locality. The learned numismatist too had made a close scientific study of this coin hoard and classified its different types. The author has been successful to decipher the coins of about eleven Sultans besides about thirty coins of Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar had been also identified.
The coins mentioned of this hoard are published first time as claims the author. Besides coins, there are given certain illustrations of Muslim epigraphic which learned author has documented from historical graveyard of Srinagar. In one of the illustration an officer has been shown engaged in discovery of Muslim coins while one another illustration shows a pitcher discovered from somewhere and filled with coins.

The book is full of illustrations. It is a descriptive and reference book providing its readers a complete documentation of Muslim coins of this land. However, the chronograms are not so well separately described, neither its illustrations are given in colour, which could have added more glory to this fresh book. Despite of lack of these two aspects, the book undoubtedly is an outstanding one, wherein Muslim coins of this land has been documented first time by any local author.

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One of my friends, who has contributed a great deal to determinations on this forum, is interested in buying this book when it appears. If you see it offered for sale, please let me know!

Peter