Lot 4002

Description

Jahangir, (A.H. 1014-1037, A.D.1605-1628), round Gold mohur of standard weight, (10.9 grams), struck in Agra mint, issued A.H. [10]17 (A.D. 1608-9), Regnal Year 3, Agra mint signature, obv. 'Struck coin in the city of Agra, the monarch, refuge of the world' year lower left, all within flowered field, rev. 'King nuru-d-din, Jahangir, son of the emperor Akbar' Regnal Year to left, all within flowered fields, (cf.Punjab Museum Cat. 892, cf.KM. 185.1). A few edge cuts and bankers schroof mark in obverse field, otherwise very fine, and excessively rare.

The weight of this coin of the Akbari standard in year 3 represents a problem as Jahangir shortly after his accession introduced a new heavy mohur, called a nurjahani or jahangiri, 20% heavier than the traditional mohur of 11.0 grams, that he inherited from his father. Towards the end of year 3, the weight of the mohur was raised yet again to 25% above the Akbari mohur. Was this an issue of very short duration a transitional issue between the nujahani issue and the 25 % overweight issue when he reverted briefy to the Akbari standard, or was this a test piece for the new style and type issue with its distinctive flowered fields that represents the apogee of calligraphy in Mogul coinage? This coin type of this year from this mint set the standard for all subsequent coinage, an represents an example from the pinacle of Mogul coinage.