The New York Sale
Auction 30 9 January 2013
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WORLD COINS. INDIA. Mughal. Muhammad Akbar II (first reign, AH 1203 / 1788 AD). Silver Rupee, AH 1203, ahd (Year 1), Shahjahanabad (Delhi). AR, 11.18g, Obv. Titles of Muhammad Akbar II and date (not listed in KM; Bhandare 2; only three specimens are known, see Spink-Taisei Singapore Auction 14, lot 1060, and Baldwin's Auction 45, 2006, lot 1340 for the others). Good very fine. Extremely rare.
The Hijra year 1203 was a period of turmoil and change for the Indian Emperors. It saw the rule of Delhi changing from the hands of Shah Alam II to Bedar Bakht, from Bedar Bakht to Muhammad Akbar II and from Muhammad Akbar II to Shah Alam II again. The young Prince Akbar II was enthroned by the Rohilla chief Ghulam Qadir. Mirza Akbar Shah wrote to Nawab Faizullah Khan: " ...on 14th Muharram (15th October) the imperial throne was illuminated by our august accession and the sound of the kettle-drum of felicitations reached the ears of the inhabitants of earth and the world above ... the face of Gold and Silver coins shone brighter than the sun and the moon by the effluence of the impression, of our name on them". This reign was very short lived when Ghulam Qadir ran away and Mahadaji Scindhia captured Delhi to reinstate the blind emperor Shah Alam II to the throne on 17 October 1788.
It is very interesting to note that the emperor has left us a written record of the fact that Khutba was read and coins were struck in both gold and silver for such a short reign and that both such coins have been discovered.
For detailed discussion of the event and coinage of the puppets see the article by Dr Shailendra Bhandare "Muhammad Akbar: A pawn in politics: the first reign" ONS Newsletter 175, Spring 2003, pp.18-30
Estimate: $2,000
The Hijra year 1203 was a period of turmoil and change for the Indian Emperors. It saw the rule of Delhi changing from the hands of Shah Alam II to Bedar Bakht, from Bedar Bakht to Muhammad Akbar II and from Muhammad Akbar II to Shah Alam II again. The young Prince Akbar II was enthroned by the Rohilla chief Ghulam Qadir. Mirza Akbar Shah wrote to Nawab Faizullah Khan: " ...on 14th Muharram (15th October) the imperial throne was illuminated by our august accession and the sound of the kettle-drum of felicitations reached the ears of the inhabitants of earth and the world above ... the face of Gold and Silver coins shone brighter than the sun and the moon by the effluence of the impression, of our name on them". This reign was very short lived when Ghulam Qadir ran away and Mahadaji Scindhia captured Delhi to reinstate the blind emperor Shah Alam II to the throne on 17 October 1788.
It is very interesting to note that the emperor has left us a written record of the fact that Khutba was read and coins were struck in both gold and silver for such a short reign and that both such coins have been discovered.
For detailed discussion of the event and coinage of the puppets see the article by Dr Shailendra Bhandare "Muhammad Akbar: A pawn in politics: the first reign" ONS Newsletter 175, Spring 2003, pp.18-30
Estimate: $2,000