The Institutes of Akbar 21: A. Gold Coins.
The Áín i Akbari (Blochmann, Jarrett) 21
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A. Gold Coins.
21.1
1. The S’hansah is a round coin weighing 101 tólahs, 9 máshahs, and 7 surkhs, in value equal to 100 La'li jalálí-muhurs. On the field of one side is engraved the name of his Majesty, and on the five arches in the border, alsultánu ala’zamu alkháqánu almu’azzamu khallada alláhu mulkahu wa sultánahu zarbu dári-lkhiláfati Agrah,—“The great sultan, the distinguished emperor, may God perpetuate his kingdom and his reign! Struck at the capital Agrah.” On the field of the reverse is the beautiful formula, and the following verse of the Qorán:—Alláhu yarzuqu man yasháu bighairi hisábin,—“God is bountiful unto whom He pleaseth, without measure;”—and roundabout are the names of the first four califs. This is what was first cut by Mauláná Maqsúd, the engraver; after which Mullá ’Alí Ahmad made with great skill the following additions. On one side, Afzalu dínárin yanfuquhu alrajulu, dínárun yanfuquhu ’ala ashábihi fí sabílilláh,—“The best coin which a man expends, is a coin which he spends on his co-religionists in the path of God.”
And on the other side he wrote,
Alsultánu al’alí alkhalífatu almuta’álí khallada alláhu ta’álá mulkahu wa sultánahu, wa abbada ’adlahu wa ihsánahu,—“The sublime sultan, the exalted calif, may God the Almighty perpetuate his kingdom and his reign, and give eternity to his justice and bounty !”
Afterwards all this was removed, and the following two Rubá’ís of the court-poet and philosopher Shaikh Faizí were engraved by him. On one side,
21.2
Khurshéd kih haft bahr azú gauhar yáft Sang i siyáh az partaw i án jauhar yáft Kán az nazar é tarbiyat é ú zar yáft Wán zar sharaf az sikkah i Sháh Akbar yáft.
“‘It is the Sun from which the seven oceans get their pearls, The black rocks get their jewels from his lustre. The mines get their gold from his fostering glance, And their gold is ennobled by Akbar’s stamp.”
and, Alláhu akbar, jalla jaláluhu,—‘God is great, may His glory shine forth !” in the middle. And on the other side,
Ín sikkah kih píráyah i umméd buwad Bá naqsh i dawám u nám i jawíd buwad Símá i sa’ádatash hamín bas kih badahr Yak zarrah nazar-kardah i khurshéd buwad.
“This coin, which is an ornament of hope, Carries an everlasting stamp, and an immortal name. As a sign of its auspiciousness, it is sufficient That once for all ages the sun has cast a glimpse upon it.”
and the date, according to the Divine era, in the middle.
2. There is another gold coin, of the same name and shape, weighing 91 tólahs and 8 máshahs, in value equal to 100 round muhurs, at 11 máshahs each. It has the same impression as the preceding.
3. The Rahas is the half of each of the two preceding coins. It is sometimes made square. On one side it has the same impression as the s’hansah, and on the other side the following Rubá’í by Faizí:—
Ín naqsh i rawán i ganj i shahansháhí Bá kawkab i iqbál kunad hamráhí Khurshéd biparwarash azánrú kih badahr Yábad sharaf az sikkah i Akbarsháhí.
21.3
“‘This current coin of the imperial treasure Accompanies the star of good fortune. O sun, foster it, because for all ages It is ennobled by Akbar’s stamp!”
4. The Atmah is the fourth part of the s’hansah, round and square. Some have the same impression as the s’ansah; and some have on one side the following Rubá’í by Faizí—
In sikkah kih dast i bakht rá zéwar bád Píráyah i nuh sipihr u haft akhtar bád Zarrín naqdést kár azú chún zar bád Dar dahr rawán banám i sháh akbar bád.
‘This coin—May it adorn the hand of the fortunate, And may it be an ornament of the nine heavens and the seven stars!— Is a gold coin,—May golden be its work! Let it be current for all ages to the glory of Sháh Akbar.’
And on the other side the preceding Rubá’í.
5. The Bínsat, of the same two forms as the átmah, in value equal to one-fifth of the first coin.
There are also gold coins of the same shape and impression, in value equal to one-eighth, one-tenth, one-twentieth, one twenty-fifth, of the s’hansah.
6. The Chugul, of a square form, is the fiftieth part of the s’hansah, in value equal to two muhurs.
7. The round La’l i Jalálí, in weight and value equal to two round muhurs, having on one side “Alláhu akbar,” and on the other Yá mu’ínu—“O helper.”
8. The Aftábí is round, weighs 1 tólah, 2 máshahs and 4¾ surkhs, in value equal to 12 rupees. On one side, "Alláhu akbar, jalla jaláluhu," and on the other the date according to the Divine era, and the place where it is struck.
21.4
9. The Iláhí is round, weighs 12 máshahs, 1 3/4 surkhs, bears the same stamp as the Áftábí, and has a value of 10 rupees.
10. The square La'l i Jalálí is of the same weight and value; on one side "Alláhu akbar," and on the other "jalla jaláluhu."
11. The 'Adlgutkah is round, weighs 11 máshahs, and has a value of nine rupees. On one side "Alláhu akbar," and on the other, "Yá mu'ínu."
12. The Round muhur, in weight and value equal to the 'Adlgutkah, but of a different stamp.
13. Mihrábí is in weight, value, and stamp, the same as the round muhur.
14. The Mu'íní is both square and round. In weight and value it is equal to the La'l i jalálí, and the round muhur. It bears the stamp "yá mu'ínu."
15. The Chahárgúshah, in stamp and weight the same as the Áftábí.
16. The Gird is the half of the Iláhí, and has the same stamp.
17. The Dhan is half a La'l i Jalálí.
18. The Salímí is the half of the 'Adlgutkah.
19. The Rab'í is a quarter of the Áftábí.
20. The Man, is a quarter of the Iláhí, and Jalálí.
21. The Half Salímí is a quarter of the 'Adlgutkah.
22. The Pán, is the fifth part of the Iláhí.
23. The Pandau is the fifth part of the La'li Jalálí; on one side is a lily, and on the other a wild rose.
24. The Samní, or Ashtsiddh, is one-eighth of the Iláhí; on one side "Alláhu akbar," and on the other "jalla jaláluhu."
25. The Kalá is the sixteenth part of the Iláhí. It has on both sides a wild rose.
26. The Zarah is the 32nd part of an Iláhí, and has the same stamp as the kalá.
21.5
As regards gold coins, the custom followed in the imperial mint is to coin La'l i jalálís, Dhans, and Mans, each coin for the space of a month. The other gold coins are never stamped without special orders.