Jahangir as Prince Salim, Rupee, Ahmadabad mint, ND (RY2), KM#140.2

[Overlord]

Jahangir, Rupee in the pre-ascention name Salim Shah, Ahmadabad mint, Ilahi month (03) Khurdad (Zodiac sign Gemini), ND (RY2), "Malik-al-Mulk" couplet, KM#140.2


Emperor Jahangir, Color and gold on paper, 17th century (Info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jahangir)


Description (from Catalogue of Coins in the Panjab Museum, Lahore: Vol. II by R.B. Whitehead):
"On the silver coins that issued from the Ahmadabad mint during the first nine months of Jahangir's reign, the emperor is called by his pre-ascention name Salim. The first five coins starting from the month Aban are dated '50', referring to the fiftieth year of Akbar's reign, while the other four are of regnal year 2. Salimi coppers are also known."


Emperor Jahangir receiving his two sons, Gouache on paper (c. 1605-1606 AD)


This coin has the Malik-al-Mulk (Lord of the Realm) couplet:

Malik-al-Mulk Sikka-e-Zad Bar Zar
Salim Shah Sultan, Shah Akbar

The Lord of the Realm Struck Money of Gold
Salim Shah Sultan, Shah Akbar('s son)

Mass=11.4 g

Obverse Malik-al-Mulk Sikka-e-Zad Bar Zar (The Lord of the Realm Struck Money of Gold); Zarb Ahmadabad (Struck at Ahmadabad)



Reverse Salim Shah Sultan, Shah Akbar [Salim Shah Sultan, Shah Akbar('s son)]; Ilahi month Khurdad (Zodiac sign Gemini); RY 2

[asm]

Overlord,
A stupendous job.
Amit

[Overlord]

I have a couple of questions about coins with the pre-ascention name Salim:

1. If these coins were issued during the first nine months of Jahangir's rule, as Whitehead reports, why do those struck in the last four months have RY 2, and not RY 1?
2. Whithead indicates that Salimi coppers are also known. However, I was unable to find any listed in the standard catalogue. Are examples of such coppers known?

[Rangnath]

My guess would be that Ry 1 and Ry 2 were divided by year; 7 months in one year followed by two months in a subsequent year. 
richie

[Overlord]

My guess would be that Ry 1 and Ry 2 were divided by year; 7 months in one year followed by two months in a subsequent year. 
richie

The same thought struck me while I was taking a bath today morning. Thanks Richie.

[Figleaf]

Maybe. Another possibility is that since Salim probably thought of himself not as a rebel, but as a legitimate successor to the throne, he dated the beginning of his "reign" a bit earlier than modern historians.

Maybe one day, he said, "dad, I really think the doctor should take better care of you". And Akbar, absent-mindedly mumbled something like "yes indeed" while ogling another pretty dancer and Salim thought "the old man has finally admitted he is bonkers. I'm in charge now". Only to find out the next morning that nothing had changed, of course, but still, a good date for the beginning of his reign.

Peter

[Oesho]

The questions raised about the Salimi coins of Jahangir of Ahamadabad mint, are of course not new and were subject to some discussion in the Numismatic Supplement (NS) I, X and XII.
G.P. Taylor in NS I (1904, p.68-73) gives an quite convincing explanation for the use of Yr. 50 and Yr.2, the succeeding solar year.
Akbar died on 2 Aban, 50th Jalus; Jahangir's coronation took place on 10 Aban, 50th Jalus Akbarshahi (24-10-1605)
The official date of accession and Jalus starts from Nauroz, entrance of the moon into Aries, 11 Zi-l-qa'da 1014AH (11-03-1606).

The Salimi coins are known of:
Yr. 50 – Ilahi month: Aban
Yr. 50 – Ilahi month: Azar
Yr. 50 – Ilahi month: Dai
Yr. 50 – Ilahi month: Bahman
Yr. 50 – Ilahi month: Isfandarmuz
2nd solar year, Ilahi month: Farwardin (=11-03-1606; beginning of 1st Jalus)
2nd solar year, Ilahi month: Ardibihist (AH1015, starts on 19 Ardibihist)
2nd solar year, Ilahi month: Khurdad
2nd solar year, Ilahi month: Tir
(Amardad) > AH1015/Ry. Ahd. Jahangiri rupee (20% overweight)


It's clear that up to Nauroz (new year = 1 Farwardin), it was the 50th Jalus of Akbarshahi as well as the first year of Jahangir, the next solar year was the 2nd year.
Ahmadabad was given as a personal fief to Prince Salim, the future Emperor Jahangir. This may be the reason that they adopted his princely name on the coins, until the introduction of the Jahangiri rupee (20% overweight) in AH1015/Ry.Ahd

Hereafter the coins bear the Hijri (lunar) year and the number of the regnal (solar) year – thus 1015/1, 1015/2, 1016/2, 1016/3, 1017/3, etc.
Therefore there are no coins of Ahmadabad dated AH1014/Ry.Ahd.

[Overlord]

Oesho, thanks a ton for your excellent explanation.

[Rangnath]

Wow, thanks so much Oesho. 
richie

[Overlord]

Liddle type S-1.

[noor]

nicely explained Oesho