Item number: A1364

Year: AD 1803 (AH 1218)

Material: Silver

Size: 20.9 x 20.9 mm

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024

This is a silver rupee coin minted in AH 1218 (AD 1803) by the prosperous Oudh princely state, a province under the Mughal Empire. The obverse of the coin is inscribed in Urdu, indicating that it was minted during the reign of Shah Alam II and bearing the Hijri year “۱۲۱۸” (1218). Additionally, the design includes two decorative six-pointed stars.

The reverse of the coin features more intricate motifs compared to the obverse, including a fish, a flower, and a triangular flag emblem on the right side. At the centre is the Persian numeral “۲۶” (26), signifying that the coin was originally minted in the 26th regnal year of Shah Alam II, corresponding to AD 1785. This suggests that the die for the reverse side continued to be used without modification, regardless of the passage of years.

At the four o’clock position on the reverse of the coin, there is a triangular notch at the corner. This notch was created by merchants during the coin’s circulation to test the purity of its silver. Similar marks can be observed on numerous coins unearthed from various parts of the world, reflecting a common practise in historical trade.

The Oudh State was originally established as one of the subahs (provinces) in north-central India during the founding of the Mughal Empire. By the 18th century, as the imperial authority under Shah Alam II declined, Oudh gradually consolidated greater autonomy. However, the coins continued to bear the name and titles of the Mughal emperor, symbolising nominal allegiance. It was not until AD 1819 that Ghazi-ud-Din Haidar Shah, the ruler of Oudh, began minting coins featuring his own name and state emblem, marking the state’s formal break from Mughal control.

物件編號: A1364

年代: 公元 1803 (回曆 1218) 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 20.9 x 20.9 mm

來源: 福君錢幣 2024

這是一枚回曆1218年 (公元1803年)，蒙兀爾帝國轄下最為富饒的奧德土邦所鑄造的盧比銀幣。錢幣正面已烏爾都文標示錢幣鑄造於沙·阿拉姆二世任內和回曆年份「۱۲۱۸」(1218)，並且有兩枚六芒星作為裝飾。

錢幣背面較正面有更多的圖騰作為裝飾，有一條魚和一枝花朵，右側還有一副三角形旗幟圖騰。錢幣中間有一個波斯數字「۲۶」(26)，代表這枚錢幣於沙·阿拉姆二世統治的第26年鑄造，其對應的年份應為公元1785年。由此判斷背面的模具應該被持續使用，並未隨著年份的遞增去作修改。

錢幣背面的四點鐘方向，角落有一個三角形的切口，這個切口是錢幣在流通時，商人為了確認銀純度所留下來的痕跡。在世界各地出土的許多錢幣上都能看到類似的現象。

奧德土邦為蒙兀爾帝國創立之初，設置於印度中北部的其中一個「蘇巴」即行省。公元18世紀中，蒙兀爾帝國的皇權在沙·阿拉姆二世衰弱之際，奧德土邦逐漸強化自身的自主性，但仍持續在硬幣上註記蒙兀爾皇帝名諱和頭銜。直到公元1819年，奧德土邦統治者的加齊·烏德·丁·海德爾·沙阿方才在硬幣打印自己的名諱和國徽，標示奧德土邦脫離蒙兀爾帝國的控制。