[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [History of the Qaraunah Turks in India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.prasad-1936) › c8.149 # History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c8.149 History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c8.149 - **Language:** English ### [c8.149](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.prasad-1936.c8.149) Fully alive to the dangers of changing the usual rate of exchange as between the coins of the two metals—a rate to which people were accustomed—he adopted the third course and reduced the weight of the silver coin to 140 grains, while increasing the weight of the gold coin to 200 grains. Obviously, he wished to avoid interference with the usual rate of exchange for that would have disturbed the public mind, and dislocated business also to some extent. The change which he effected made it possible for one gold coin to pass in exchange for ten silver coins, while bringing the relative metallic values in conformity to the market values of the two metals which implied a ratio of 7:1. The validity of this assumption is established by the fact that the Sultan after the failure of his token currency reverted to the old \*tankah\* and there are coins of 175 grains issued in 732 and 734 A.H.⁷¹ The experiment of 200 grain \*dinar\* and 140 grain \*‘adali\* did not work satisfactorily, and there is clear numismatic evidence to the effect that the Sultan withdrew them after 732 A.H.⁷² It does not imply increase in the quantity of silver in the country, but indicates an attempt on the part of the Sultan to restore his credit and to regain public confidence which must have been shaken by the unlimited supply of the token coins. Another piece of corroborative evidence is furnished by Ibn Batūṭah, which even Thomas says he cannot contest.⁷³ The traveller writes that when the Sultan ordered the payment of 67,000 \*tankahs\* which included the amount of his debt, 55,000 \*tankahs\* and a gift of 12,000 \*tankahs\*, he received only 6,233 \*tankahs\* of gold after the usual deduction of 10 per cent. at the royal treasury.⁷⁴ When worked out, this establishes a ratio of about 10:1. The receipt of gold coins by Ibn Batūṭah for the payment of his debts, though not conclusive evidence of the scarcity of silver, is significant, and furnishes incontestable evidence of the fact that ten silver \*dinars\* exchanged for one of gold. It may be argued that Ibn Batūṭah accepted gold coins for convenience sake, but this argument does not hold good, because it was immaterial to him whether he paid his debts in gold or silver. Certainly he did not want to hoard the - [Previous: c8.148](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.prasad-1936.c8.148) - [Next: c8.150](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.prasad-1936.c8.150) - [Up: c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.prasad-1936.c8) ## Linked texts (1) - [تحفة النظار في غرائب الأمصار وعجائب الأسفار](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.ar.rihla.ibn-battuta) — Ibn Baṭṭūṭa, Arabic --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.prasad-1936.c8.149](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.prasad-1936.c8.149) · Pramāṇa