Copper Coins of Akbar Part1 PDF

Learning to Decipher the Copper Coins of Akbar Part I: The
Fundamentals.
Welcome to the World of the Copper Coins of Akbar.

(the work will also be available through Academia)
As we progress through presenting our work published by Manohar Publishers of Delhi

we receive a great deal of assistance from our cooperating research group. However with
the coins of Akbar we are seeking assistance from outside our usual group. Many of the
photographs provided for this series of Blogs have been provided by our cooperative
team.
We have thousands of photographs, thousands of pages of research and seen thousands

of coins but Akbar's coins, notably at this stage his copper coins, produce a wonderment
for research.
Not only for research but also for collecting because many of them can be found quite
cheaply. They contain on their inscriptions and great variety of historical evidence for
Akbar's rule. However even the simplest appear to undecipherable to many collectors.
With the advent of the overlay technique by co-author Tariq as demonstrated in our books
that have found increasing favour with coin collectors, numismatists and the technical
community at large we can bring to everyone the understanding of what is on the coins.
The work will also be presented on Academia.
Above is a rather simple but very special coin. It sits, by appearance, outside the norm.
These are the small things we need to look at, check and understand.
For collectors the copper coins present a wonderful opportunity to collect by many
themes. These can be, just to name a few, by size, by mint, by year and by type of which
there are a number. So welcome to our world and help us with our research so all can
benefit. Perhaps you will discover something new!
UNDERSTANDING THE CALLIGRAPHY ON THE COINS: THE THEORY OF
CLOSET FIT.
In the introduction we introduced a theme for learning inscriptions. That is the "THEORY
OF CLOSET FIT".
It is exceedingly difficult to learn and understand the language used on many coins from
the sub-continent. To fully attribute and correctly collect the coins there is a need to
understand what is inscribed on them. At least that is necessary if you wish to get beyond
collecting just by size. Here what were once viewed as major problems start. Although in
most cases the calligraphy is good certain what could be called liberties are taken. Letters
can be missing or elongated in form, vowels can be missing or apparently misplaced and
so the list goes on.
With our development of actual colour overlays on the inscribed calligraphy we can
demonstrate what is actually written on the coin to peel away the layers step by step but
first we must learn the basic words that appear on the coins. Some coins have few words
and other coins have many but each combination plays in part in ascertaining what exact
type of coin it is. Of course we have further problems because in many cases the dies
made for the coins are bigger than the coin flans themselves. So the aim of course is to
find coins with the most complete inscriptions on them.
Our first step in learning will be to learn to recognise the numbers on the coins. Then we
will move on to learning the other words. This is a step by step process and after the
simple process is completed we will be left, for the starting type of coins, with the mint
name and at times an addition to the mint name which is called an epithet. The epithet
describes and official title given to the mint town. These may change, added or dropped
over time.
So now we will learn the numbers. But wait numbers on some coins are written in numeric
and on others in alpha (the date is spelled out) and on some coins in both which is great
for checking. Oh wait more, on some other coins a new dating system is used. Relax we
will work through each number step by step.
THE REIGN OF AKBAR
The notes below are taken from our general manuscript notes in our published
books. The note of III next is Akbar's name denotes he is the third ruler of the
Mughal Empire. The note of (NT 115) refers to the coding used for Akbar in our
work.
III. AKBAR (NT 115)

‫جالل الدین محمد اکبر‬
Full Name HM Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram, Imam-i-'Adil, Sultan ul-Islam
Kaffatt ul-Anam, Amir ul-Mu'minin, Khalifat ul-Muta'ali Abu'l-Fath Jalal ud-din Muhammad
Akbar I Sahib-i-Zaman, Badshah Ghazi Zillu'llah
Birth Name: Badr ud-din Muhammad Akbar
Royal Lineage: Son of Emperor Humayun
Date of Birth: 4 Rajab 949 (October 14, 1542)
Place of Birth: Umarkot Fort, Sind
Reign Years: 963-1014 (1556-1605)
Date of Death: 24 Jumada t-Tania 1014 (October 27, 1605)
Place of Death: Fatehpur Sikri
Resting Place: Bihishtabad Sikandara, near Agra
Akbar, on ascending the throne, immediately set about a coinage reform. The introduction
of the gold Ashrafi and the silver Rupee in the same weight and style as the interregnal
Suri rulers of Humayun's reign set the tone for the coinage tradition for the whole Mughal
rule. Copper coins were minted from an increasing number of mints. There were
variations in type and style of coins with round and square coins in silver and gold being
introduced. The Kalma is placed on the obverse of the gold coins and remains on the new
silver coins.
Akbar also introduced a new method of dating in the thirtieth year of his reign called the
Ilahi system in which the months from the Persian calendar were placed on the coin as a
method of dating as well as the AH year. At this time a new statement was made on the
obverse "Allahu Akbar Jalla Jalala" (which is commonly used by the followers of Islam,
historically around the world. The statement literally means “God is the greatest, His
brightness shines forth”. For the first time this statement was used on coins.
THE COPPER COINAGE OF AKBAR (GENERAL NOTES)
Following the Suri interregnum during the reign of Akbar's father Humayun, it was
decided to follow the Suri introduced series of coins.
Over the long reign of Akbar several new size series were introduced. These provided for
a complete system of change for the users of the lowest value coins in the kingdom
noting that coins of gold and silver were also produced.
It should not be forgotten that humble money consisting for example of cowrie shells and
bitter almonds were used as the lowest form of exchange.
As in all currencies there is an exchange rate between sizes and metals. Although
exchange rates did vary from time to time and place to place but for the purpose of this
exercise an exchange rate of 40 Dam (the standard copper coin weighing on average just
over 20 grams each) to 1 Rupee (the standard silver coin weighing approximately 11.5
grams each). The copper coins were produced in various weights and the weights were in
direct relationship to their value. That is to say a coin of half the weight of another coin of
the same metal was worth half the value.
In fact over the reign of Akbar a number of series of copper coins were produced so that
various combinations of change from transactions could be given. With this it has
become convenient to call various coins by specific names. Some names actually appear
on the coins while others do not.
1. The Original or DAM Series.

Noted on the coins by the word FALUS in general. When we investigate step by step their
may be more added to each series.
DAM 20.4 grams. (All weights approximately)

HALF DAM 10.2 grams. Also called Adhela or Nisfi
QUARTER DAM 5 grams. Also called Paulah or Damra
EIGHTH DAM 2.5 grams. Also called Damri
2. The TANKA Series.

Here sits some confused because coins of both twice the weight of the DAM and equal to
the weight of the Dam are called TANKA.
TANKA 40.8 grams

HALF TANKA 20.4 grams. Also called NEEM Tanka on the coins. Note: some coins of the
DAM weight are inscribed "TANKA".
QUARTER TANKA 10.2 grams. Also called CHARHARAM HISSA Tanka.
EIGHTH TANKA 5 grams. Also called HASHSTUM HISSA Tanka.
SIXTEENTH TANKA 2.5 grams. Also called SHANJDAHUM HISSA Tanka.
3. The TANKI Series

The one TANKI equals one fifth of the weight of a DAM or one tenth the weight of a
TANKA
TANKI 4 grams. Also called EK Tanki

TWO TANKI 7.8 grams. Also called DO Tanki
FOUR TANKI 15.8 grams. Also called CHO Tanki
4. The JITAL
Once thought to be merely a coin of account it is by weight one fiftieth of a Tanka and
therefore one thousandth of a Rupee.
General Note.
Other types will be found but as this is purely an introduction these will be added as
special types when we progress through the series.
The various sizes provide fertile ground for collectors.
A DAM of Akbar carrying wonderful inscriptions. Now we are about to embark on a

journey of discovery to decipher these magnificent coins.
Zarb Alf Falus
Urdu Zafar Qarin

A proforma page from our upcoming work on Akbar showing the coin above and
mint number etc.
A full dictionary will also be provided step by step as we work our way through
the coins. This coin is wonderfully simple and shows on a beautiful clear strike all
the information available.

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Learning to Decipher the Copper Coins of Akbar Part I: The

Welcome to the World of the Copper Coins of Akbar.

As we progress through presenting our work published by Manohar Publishers of Delhi

We have thousands of photographs, thousands of pages of research and seen thousands

III. AKBAR (NT 115)

Birth Name: Badr ud-din Muhammad Akbar

Royal Lineage: Son of Emperor Humayun

Date of Birth: 4 Rajab 949 (October 14, 1542)

Place of Birth: Umarkot Fort, Sind

Reign Years: 963-1014 (1556-1605)

Date of Death: 24 Jumada t-Tania 1014 (October 27, 1605)

Place of Death: Fatehpur Sikri

Resting Place: Bihishtabad Sikandara, near Agra

1. The Original or DAM Series.

DAM 20.4 grams. (All weights approximately)

2. The TANKA Series.

TANKA 40.8 grams

3. The TANKI Series

TANKI 4 grams. Also called EK Tanki

The various sizes provide fertile ground for collectors.

A DAM of Akbar carrying wonderful inscriptions. Now we are about to embark on a

Urdu Zafar Qarin

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