Item number: A2034

Year: AD 1206-1526

The results after XRF testing

Material: Billon

Size: 14.8 x 14.0 x 1.9 mm

Weight: 2.95 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

The Delhi Sultanate refers to the Islamic polity established in the early 13th century by Turkic Muslim warlords from Afghanistan after their conquest of the Indian subcontinent, with Delhi as their capital. From its founding in AD 1206 to its fall in AD 1526 at the hands of Babur, the Turkicised Mongol ruler and founder of the Mughal Empire, the Delhi Sultanate was ruled by a succession of five dynasties.

The jital was a type of currency introduced to the Indian subcontinent by Afghan conquerors during the medieval period. Typically made of silver or billon, jitals were commonly used for low-denomination transactions.

The obverse of this coin features a zebu (humped bull) motif characteristic of Indian iconography. The zebu is divided into five distinct sections, each adorned with a single pellet. Above the bull motif, there are two Devanagari letters, which may represent the title of the ruling authority.

The reverse of the coin bears four lines of Arabic inscriptions, though due to age and wear, the details are not entirely clear. However, the third line remains legible and contains the name “Muhammad,” likely referring to the ruler’s name and title. Additionally, a vertical beaded border is present on the left side of the coin.

Additionally, XRF analysis of this coin indicates a high proportion of iridium. Iridium is a metal element rarer than gold in Earth’s crust. In its early applications, it was primarily used for fountain pen nibs. However, with the advent of the digital age, iridium has become an indispensable material in the manufacture of precision electronic components, leading to a significant increase in its market value.

物件編號: A2034

年代: 公元 1206-1526 年

XRF分析結果:

材質: 賤金屬

尺寸: 14.8 x 14.0 x 1.9 mm

重量: 2.95 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

德里蘇丹國是泛指公元13世紀初，來自阿富汗的突厥穆斯林軍閥進入印度次大陸後，以德里作為首都建立的伊斯蘭政權。自公元1206年創建至公元1526年遭到突厥化的蒙古人統治者巴布爾消滅為止，前後總計有五個王朝。

吉塔爾是來自阿富汗的征服者在中世紀帶入南亞次大陸的一種錢幣，其材質多為銀或其他賤金屬，通常作為小面額交易的貨幣。

這枚錢幣的正面有一隻具有印度特色的瘤牛圖騰，瘤牛被劃分為五個區塊，每個區塊之內皆以一枚珠點作為裝飾。牛圖騰的上方有兩個天城文字母，可能是統治者的頭銜。

錢幣背面則有四行阿拉伯銘文，只是年代久遠其外觀不甚清晰，不過尚能辨識出第三行是「穆罕默德」應該是統治者的名諱和頭銜。並且在錢幣的左側有一道直立的珠圈。

另外這枚錢幣經過XRF分析的結果，其具有高比例的銥。銥是一種在地球的蘊存量比黃金還要來得稀少的金屬元素，早期的應用多半是作為鋼筆筆尖，後續隨著數位時代的來臨，銥也成為精密電子零件製造不可或缺的原料，價格更加水漲船高。