Copper Falus of Humayun – Jaunpur

Year: 938 AH (1531/2 AD)

Regnal year: N/A

Weight: 9.07 g

Mint: Jaunpur

Obverse

Badar-ul-Zarb Mutabara[k] Khitta Jaunpur	बदार-अल-ज़र्ब मूतबर[क] ख़ित्ता जौनपुर	بدار الضرب [ک]متبر خطہ جونپور
The place of the Mint Blessed Territory of Jaunpur	सिक्के ढालने का स्थान पवित्र जौनपुर का क्षेत्र	سکہ ڈھالنے کی جگہ برکت والا خطہ جونپور

Reverse

Fi sanah Tarikh 93(8)	फ़ी सनह तारीख़ 93(8)	فی سنہ تاریخ 93(8)
In the year Date 938	वर्ष तारीख़ 938	سال تاریخ 938

 

 

Mughal Empire

 The founder of the Mughal Empire was Zahiruddin Muhammad Babar, a chieftain born in the province of Fergana (Uzbekistan) who after conquering Kabul and Kandahar in 1507, traversed the north-west frontier and occupied Lahore in 1525. The following year, the last Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi was defeated by Babur in the famous and decisive Battle of Panipat in 1526.[i] After this, Babar was free to occupy Delhi and Agra. His four-year rule of India was in reality nothing more than a military occupation but it laid the groundwork for an empire which lasted for the next three hundred years.

Humayun

Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Muhammad (Reigned: 1530-1540, 1555-1556) was the son and successor of Babur. His first enterprise was an unsuccessful attempt to conquer the Sultanates of Gujarat and Malwa. Humayun’s position during the first ten years of his reign was even more unstable than that of Babur’s. His attention was called away by the advance of Sher Shah Suri with the Afghan forces of Bengal.[ii]

After a prolonged struggle Humayun was decisively worsted in 1542, and took refuge in Sindh. After spending nearly the next fifteen years in exile, Humayun recovered his Empire from the sons of Sher Shah Suri in 1555.[iii]

The coin

The early period copper coins of Babur and Humayun are often called ‘Bahlolis’, due to being based on the standard devised by Bahlol Lodi. The influence of the Delhi Sultanate is also evident in the coin’s design. It is also worth noting that the copper coins of Babur and Humayun do not contain the Emperor’s name.[iv]

The city of Jaunpur was captured in the reign of Babur and was used as mint by both Babur and Humayun. The coin also possesses an epithet for the mint. [v]

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[i] Mitchiner, M. (1977). Oriental coins and their values: The World of Islam. London: Hawkins Publications.

[ii] Lane-Poole, S. (1892). The Coins of the Moghul Emperors of Hindustan. London.

[iii] Brown, C. J. (1980). The Heritage of India Series: The Coins of India. University of Toronto Library.

[iv] B.Whitehead, R. (1914). Catalogue of Coins in the Panjab Museum, Lahore : Vol. II Coins of the Mughal Emperors. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

[v] Wright, H. N. (1908). Coins in the Indian Museum Calcutta. London: University of Oxford.