Lot 1897

Description

Humayum, (A.H. 937-963, A.D.1530-1556), Gold quarter ashrafi, (0.835 grams), struck in Badakhshan province, issued A.H. 955-963, no hirji or Regnal Year, no mint signature, obv. Kalima, rev. legend, (BMC 8-10, Punjab Museum Cat. 38-9, Lowick No.1 [Num. Chron. 1972], cf.Senior list 2, No.570-1). Slightly off centre, otherwise good very fine, very scarce.

Ex. Glendining's London auction sale, Dec. 8, 1982 (lot 187 part). $$ Badakhshan province, now in north-western Afghanistan, was the area where these pieces were struck, although without mint name it is believed to be located at either Qil'at-i Zafar or Qunduz. The weight standard is that of the contemporary Safavid coinage of Iran, based on an ashrafi weighing one mithqal (4.61 grams), but few specimens actually attain the theoretical weight of 1.15 grams, The range is considerable from less than 0.5 grams to 1.2 grams. Contemporary Safavid coins adhered closely to the standard.