Lot 1213

Description

Bijapur, Adilshahi kingdom, Muhammad (A.H. 1037-1068, A.D. 1627-1657), gold pagoda, (3.386 grams), with Persian inscriptions both sides forming a rhymed couplet, (Rajgor 657, G&G.BJ32, Spink-Taisai sale No.9 lot 316 [realised $1300 US]). Good very fine and very rare.

This is the only Islamic gold coin struck by any of the successor states to the Bahmani kingdom of Kulbarga. It was struck to the pagoda standard of the Karnataka. Ismail had five examples having an averaage weight of 3.37 grams. The legends read 'The World has gained ornament and glory from these two Muhammads, One Muhammad the Prophet; two Muhammad the Shah'. This coin type was briefly described in 1912 by Taylor and more adequately by Ismail in 1925. Previously only the Spink-Taisai example had been illustrated, another washed out photo in Ragjor and now published by Goran and Goenka.