Later Mughals v1.c9.s41.t4.8

v1.c9.s41.t4.8

The square silver "legal drachma" or *dirham-i-sharai* is a curious coin, and to all appearance unique. By its weight it holds the proportion to a Rupee of about one-fourth (exactly it is ·23, or 3 annas and 8 pie, taking the standard Rupee to have weighed 176 grains). From an analysis of the weights of the 97 circular Rupees, I find more than half (54) range between 175 and 177 grains, the lowest weight (1) is 166·5 and the highest (4) is 187 grains. These latter coins come from the Katak and Murshidabad mints, and are probably a local variation. The diameters range from ·80 of an inch to 1·1 inch; there are 60 of ·85, 34 of ·90, 11 of ·95 and 9 of 1·0. Judging from the above facts, it is probable that the standard Rupee was 176 grains in weight, and ·90 of an inch in diameter.