A question on the coins of Malwa.

[asm]

During the period AH 927 to the end of the Sultanate in 969, Malwa was ruled by various powers. There is a coin of AH 927 in the name of Ibrahim Lodhi (which suggests that the Lodhi's conquered Malwa for a bried period) and then 10 years later the Sultans of Gujarat took over the state (AH 937). The mighty Mughals took control of Malwa in AH 941 - 942 only to loose it back to the Sultans of Gujarat. Then The Suri's of Delhi took Malwa (it appears no coins were struck at that time) and later Baz Bahadur regained Malwa only to loose it to the Mughals. Coins of Malwa in the name of the Rajput rulers of Mewar (Rana Sangramsinh) are also noted.

All the coins of Malwa of this period have been attributed to the Sultans of Malwa in the G&G book. Though these are all coins issued in  Malwa, would they or rather should they not be attributed to the power that ruled or conquered the state rather than to the Sultans of Malwa.

I do know that in this period of confusion, not many coins were issued or may be have been lost (withdrawn and melted by the following rulers?) and there are not too many known veraities of these coins.

My reason for asking is that if they are classified along with the coins of the entity ruling the area, it could show the extent of the borders of the kingdom of that ruler. By classifying them as Malwa, they show the listing by mint or area. This question would also hold true for some of the coins of Akbar which have been attributed to Malwa (Malwa issues in the name of Akbar). Were they issues of Malwa or were they imperial Mughal issues of Akbar (as also of Jahangir).

Amit

 

[akona20]

I have received a rather extensive library (older publications) of the coins of the sub continent, perhaps I can do some research in these to see what is said.

[Oesho]

Dear Amit, I can well understand your question. Malwa is a geographically defined area a part of it was ruled by a dynasty known as the Sultans of Malwa, residing at Shadiabad (Mandu).
The coins of this Sultanate are splendidly covered by Stan Goron in his book of the Coins of the India Sultanates.
When the Gujarat Sultans occupied part of Malwa, they replaced the former Sultans and became for the new territories also rulers of Malwa. So did the Lodi’s in Chanderi or the Ranas of Mewar.
In other instances the may have obeyed or acknowledged stronger powers. We know of several other instances were local rulers acknowledged the central power, without being occupied by it.
The other fact is the continuity of the currency. Malwa was a melting pot of different powers. The weaker the Sultan, the more they became overruled by neighbouring powers, but the currency in general remained of ‘Malwa fabric’. This applied also to the Malwa fabric Mughal coins. It’s not likely that they were of any Imperial Mughal mint, but struck local ‘governors’ or potentates, who acknowledged Akbar on its coin.
By the chapter of the Sultans of Malwa, not only one dynasty is covered, but also a complex series of  different powers all producing a similar, Malwa style coinage. In fact more the continuity in currency, rather than the issues of one dynasty is covered, but all rulers were either Sultans (or Rana’s) of Malwa in its geographical sense.