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MARCH, 1888.1
THE RUPEES OF THE SURI DYNASTY.
the improvements made by these inter- scarce, and are seldom met with in any bázár lopers.
of the Pañjab. Lately, during a tour of six A good history of the Sûri Dynasty has yet to months, I obtained but two of Sher Shah and be written. In Akbar's time they were not only two of Islam Shah. But, by way of compenneglected, but were written against, though sation, I obtained four rare copper coins of most of the improvements in coinage fathered Ibrahim Sar and two of Sikandar Sur, both on Akbar may with greater truth claim a Sûrî of which are extremely rare. paternity. Without discussing this question The British Museum has rupees of every now, I would simply state that for many years year of these kings, and possesses one of before the advent of Babar rupees had not Sikandar, a treasure I was never able to obtain. been coined in Indian mints. The Lodi | I believe the Madras Maseum is the only one Family coined neither silver nor gold, but in India which possesses a complete set as far mixed silver and copper, weighing about 140 as Muhammad Sur. No rupee of Ibrahîm grains; some of their coins having as much as 32 has as yet been found and no gold coin of grains of silver in them, while others had only either Muhammad or Ibrahim or Sikandar has a little more than one. How business with yet been seen. Indeed only one is known of such a coinage was ever transacted, I cannot Islam Shah, and that I found at Amritsar some imagine. And, wheri Babar came, he went years ago. It is square, and I parted with it on striking in India the silver tankahs of to my old friend, Sir Alexander Cunningham. Tarkistân,' each of which weighed about 60 There is no proper account of the coins of grains. His son Humayun followed his example the Sûri Dynasty, though their copper coins before he was expelled the country, and not are of great variety and beauty. They were until his return did he strike rupees;-only two, struck all over the south of the Panjab and however, of which are now known, one of 962 Hindustan proper, and were imitated by Akbar, A.H. and one of 963. Akbar again at the com- Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Their numbers mencement of his reign struck the old silver were so vast that the revenue of the country tankahs introduced by his grandfather. One was estimated in them under the name of Jams. of them is given by Mr. Thomas, p. 383 of the I hope some day to give a complete descripChronicles of the Pathán Kings, and I have a tion of these copper coins, as my own cabinet faller one, which gives the place of mintage as is particularly rich in them, and, as, amongst Lâhôr. These are the only two known. But the 400 coins I lately obtained for Government he must have soon reverted to the custom of during my tour, are some very rare specithe surts, as I have full rupees of every year of mens. his reign beginning with 963 A.H., and ending Before sending the rupoes now illustrated with his 50th Ilahî year. Thus we see that the to Madras, I veglected to weigh them. The rupees reintroduced by Sher Shah, became the weights of them given by Mr. Thomas vary standard of the Mughal Empire, and also of that from 163 to 176 grs., and the weights of those I of the British Indian Rule.
obtained on tour were about 170 grs. each. • The rupees depicted in the places attached The inscriptions on the rupees as far as they to this paper have now become exceedingly can now be deciphered are as follows:
ضرب گوالیار
(a). SAER SHAH. No. 1. Obverse : Square area. per aslo dulala ulale Le for TV
Margin: Reverse: Square area. The Kalimah.
Margin : Probably names and titles of the four Companions of Muhammad. No. 2. Obverse: Square area. Same as in No. I but year ev we are
Margin: Illegible.
Reverso : The Kalimah and
السلطان العادل
Margin: Illegible.
