Dehli Sultanat, Muhammad Bin Tughlaq, D402, Forced Tanka, Daulatabad, AH 732

Started by Ansari, February 10, 2012, 05:32:17 PM

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Ansari

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq's Brass Forced Currency

Unique among his coinage was the "forced" token currency. It was modeled after the Chinese example, using brass or copper tokens, backed by the silver and gold kept in the treasury. Tughluq had two scalable versions, issued in Delhi and Daulatabad. The currency was issued in the two different standards, undoubtedly to follow the local standards which preexisted in the North and in the South respectively. He engraved "He who obeys the Sultan obeys the compassionate" to fascinate people in accepting the new coinage. However, very few people exchanged their gold or silver coins for the new copper ones. Moreover, the tokens were easy to forge, which led to heavy losses, as Tughluq subsequently withdrew the forged currency by exchanging it for bullion coins. It is said that after the plan failed, there were heaps of copper coins lying around the royal offices for years.

Source: wikipedia   


Weight- 8.7 grams
Diameter-20mm.

Marginal inscription reads: dar takhtgah daulatabad sal bar hafsad-si-do (Struck at Takhtgah Daulatabad in sevenhundred-thirty-two)
Obverse- Min ata'al sultan faqad ala'al Rehman.(He who obeys Sultan obeys the merciful one)
The reverse reads: muhr shud tankah panchah gani dar rozgar bandah amidvar muhammad tughluq.(Sealed as a tanka of fifty gani, in the reign of the slave, hopeful of devine mercy, Muhammad Tughluq)

Ref.: G/G D401

Ansari

Few Day back went to Adilabad Fort (Built by Mohammed Bin Tughlaq), at Tughlaqabad, New Delhi. Here are some pics of the fort.

Ansari

Some more.......

Oesho

A very nice range of pictures.
BTW, the mint on the coin is Daulatabad.

Figleaf

Thanks, Ansari, especially for the remark that Muhammad Bin Tughluq was inspired by the Chinese coin system. That was an insight that enlarged my understanding of this coinage.

Those photos are excellent. I hope time and money wil be found to preserve this structure.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

capnbirdseye

Wow, interesting photo's there,   here is my version of that coin, ticket says AH 732 Dehli.    weight  8.68g

Another smaller coin next to it on my tray says 'legal Dirhem AH730
Vic

Ansari

Thank you Oesho, Is Daulatabad mint common?


Yes Peter, Much has already been repaired and still renovation work is under progress.

Ansari

Quote from: capnbirdseye on February 11, 2012, 11:52:24 AM
Wow, interesting photo's there,   here is my version of that coin, ticket says AH 732 Dehli.    weight  8.68g

Another smaller coin next to it on my tray says 'legal Dirhem AH730

Nice coin with full legends in the circle.

mitresh

Tariq / Vic

Do you have any further info or reading material re: the "Panchah Gani" denomination of forced tanka currency from Takhtgah Daulatabad?

I'm curious to understand the following:

1) Is it only Takhtgah Daulatabad mint known with mention of denomination name "Panchah Gani" or are there other mints?

2) What is the possible reason/rationale/conjecture, either recorded or as per your view, re: specific mention of denomination on the coin, given that no other issue is known bearing such denomination?

3) Is the denomination "Panchah Gani" signalling converison factor of the copper token into equivalent gold-silver coins by weight denominated in 'Ganis'?

4) Does the issue of this particular denomination has anything to do with shift of the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, at or around the same time, as the introduction of the currency reform (AH 730-732)?

5) As per GG, what does it say about rarity/scarcity of this denomination, known date(s) and mint(s)? Does GG provide any clues or details re: this denomination?

Grateful for further insights into this very interesting coin denomination!
In the quest for Excellence, there's no finish line.

capnbirdseye

I have no idea why this variation was produced either, in terms of weight it does not seem to add up. Taking into account that Tughluq issued 6,8 & 10 Gani coins in billon, all under 4g in weight, then a fifty gani should weigh far more than 9g which is Tughluqs average for a billon Tanka
Vic

Oesho

The 'forced token currency' is a feduciar token currency in copper or brassy copper. You may compare it with papermoney. It's worth the value mentioned on it. The weight of the token doesn't matter much. Nevertheless there are some different sizes, same as on modern papermoney, the higher the denomination the larger the size of the note.
The tanka of fifty gani of Daulatabad mint is common. As per G/G the weight should be ca. 9.2 g., which applies to all AE tanka tokens.
The ½ tanka tokens weigh around 7.2 g.
The legal dirham ca. 5.2 g
The ¼ tanka around 4.3 g.
The 8 gani c.3.5-3.7 g.
and the 2 gani, c. 1.6 g