Image
Jahangir, AR Rupee, Ahmedabad, AH 1027/13, Zodiac type, Aries
Aries Sign. AH 1027/13. Obv: Ram emerging from the Sun. (Rev: Zarb Ahmedabad Ra Dad Zewar, Shah Jahangir Shahenshah Akbar 1027, surrounded by dotted outer circle. Corresponds to Ilahi month Farwardin. In his autobiography, the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, the Emperor Jahangir details his idea of issuing coinage with the zodiac signs stamped on the obverse, substituting the normal practice of inscribing the Ilahi months. Pictorial depictions were considered heresy by Islamic scholars and therefore these coins were recalled from circulation by Shah Jahan and melted down. Coins bearing the first five Zodiac signs are known from the Ahmedabad Mint in Silver, only from the year AH 1027. This was the time when Emperor Jahangir was in residence in Ahmedabad and therefore the mint dutifully struck the coinage. When he left, he entrusted care of Ahmedabad to his son Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan) who ordered the minting stopped. Zodiac coinage of Jahangir is amongst the great rarities and beauties of Mughal Numismatics, and one of the most sought-after objects in Indian Medieval coinage.

Accession No

C/A/6/096

Weight

11.23 g

Diameter

19.42 mm

Metal

Silver

Mint

Ahmedabad

Denomination

Rupee

Shape

Round
AH Date
1027
Regnal Year
13