Silver rupee of Shah Alam II – Banaras
Year: 1222 AH (1807-1808 AD)
Regnal year: 49
Weight: 11.29 g
Mint: Banaras (Muhammadabad)
Obverse
|
Sikka Zad bar Haft Kishvar Saya-e-Fazl Ilah Hami-e-Din-e-Muhammad Shah Alam Badshah
|
सिक्का ज़द बर हफ़्त किशवर साया-ए-फ़ज़्ल इलाह हामी-ए-दीन-ए-मुहम्मद शाह आलम बादशा |
سکہ زد بر ہفت کشور سایہ فضل الہ حامی دین محمد شاہ عالم بادشاہ |
|
Struck this Coin in the Seven Climes the Shadow of the Divine Favour The Defender of Faith of Muhammad Shah Alam Badshah
|
सात क्षेत्र
में यह सिक्का ढाला ईश्वरीय कृपा की छाया में मुहम्मद के धर्म
का रक्षक शाह आलम बादशा |
سات اقلیم میں یہ سکہ ڈھالا الہی فضل کی چھایا میں حامی دین محمد شاہ عالم بادشاہ |
Reverse
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Julus Manus Sanah 49 (17) Mimnat Zarb Banaras Muhammadabad |
जुलूस मानूस सनह 49 (17) मीमनत ज़र्ब बनारस मुहम्मदआबाद |
جلوس مانوس سنہ 49 (17) میمنت ضرب بنارس محمد آباد |
|
Struck in the year 49 of his reign of tranquil prosperity at Banaras, Muhammadabad |
बनारस, मुहम्मदआबाद में शांत समृद्धि के उनचासवें वर्ष में ढाला गया |
بنارس، محمد آباد میں پرسکون خوشحالی دور حکومت کے اننچاسوے سال میں ڈھالا گیا |
Shah Alam II
Shah Alam II, born as Ali Gohar (reigned: 1759-1806) was the
seventeenth Mughal emperor. After the killing of Alamgir II, Imad-ul-Mulk set
up a new puppet, the grandson of Kam Bakhsh who was the youngest son of Aurangzeb,
under the name of Shah Jahan III. After his brief rule of 282 days, the rightful
heir, the son of Alamgir II, Shah Alam II was recognized as Emperor. Imad-ul-Mulk
had also planned the assassination of young Shah Alam II, however he soon fled
Delhi after the rise of Najib-ud-Daula of Rohilkhand and the Mughal army, which
placed Shah Alam II as the Emperor. [i]
‘Sultanat-e-Shah Alam, Az Dilli ta Palam’, which means to ‘The
empire of Shah Alam is from Delhi to Palam,’ is a proverb in Persian that
reflects how diminished his authority was throughout his rule. Similar to the
reign of his predecessors, his reign also experienced several invasions.
Under Shah Alam II, there were now eighty-one mints. This is
accounted for by the fact that a sizable portion of Shah Alam II's coinage only
indicate the nominal loyalty of independent States and European Companies.
The coin presents a beautiful Persian couplet on the obverse
alongside Shah Alam’s name and title. The reverse displays the ‘Julus formula’ with
the mint name of Banaras Muhammadabad.
In 1776, the East India Company acquired the mint at Banaras
from the Nawab of Awadh. Rupees issued after 1193 AH (1779 AD) contain two
regnal years: The regnal year 17 remains invariable and likely indicates the year
in which the British acquired the mint. The other regnal year is the one which
corresponds with the Hijri date.[ii]
The coin also has several ornamental symbols on both sides
including the several flowers and a fish which seems to be related to the fish
used in the flag and coat of arms of Awadh.
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