History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c22.4

c22.4

The coin weighs 151 grains, about six grains less than the weight of a silver *tankah* of the time of 'Alāūddīn. It is 1.25 inches in size. On the obverse the legend in Arabic reads on the margin "Sikandar us Sānī Nāsirul Amīrul Mauminīn Yāmīnul Khilāfat" and in the middle within a small Ashtakon or double square there is a small winged lion of the Nepal type. On the reverse within a triple circle the Arabic legend reads "Al Āzam Assulatān Abul Muzaffar Muhammad Shāh Alāud Dunya va Dīn", with a small conch in the margin. In the middle, within a small circle, the words "Sri Sri"—with two crescents and stars above each and a floral design below, are inscribed in Nagri characters of the 13th century. The Arabic characters of the legend are rather crude, and it appears that although the die-cutter copied the legend from an original coin of the sultan yet he did not know Arabic and has committed several mistakes in engraving the Arabic characters.