Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Mughal Empire
Akbar the Great
Square Mohur Gold Coin
蒙兀兒帝國
阿克巴大帝 方形莫哈爾金幣
Item number: A278
Year: AD 1556-1580
Material: Gold
Size: 18.3 x 18.1 x 2.1 mm
Weight: 12.04 g
Manufactured by: Lahore, India
Provenance: Spink 2023
This is a square Mohur gold coin, rich in Indian characteristics, minted approximately during the early reign of Akbar, known as the “Great Emperor” in the history of the Mughal Empire. On the obverse side of the square coin is a diamond-shaped outline, within which the familiar Muslim Kalima is inscribed in Persian, stating, “There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” At the corners surrounding the outline are the names of the four rightly guided caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali. On the reverse side of the coin, written in the Nastaliq script popular in the Indian subcontinent, is the emperor’s title and the place of minting: Lahore.
While the Mughal Empire’s commercial trade primarily revolved around silver coins, the Mohur gold coin, often issued by the emperor as gifts or to commemorate special occasions, held significant cultural and ceremonial value. During Akbar’s reign, there was a peak in the minting of Mohur coins in the empire.
Besides the commonly seen circular coins, there were also rectangular and even polygonal coins, reflecting the distinct characteristics of the Indian subcontinent. Around the year AD 1580, Akbar adjusted the inscriptions and calendars on the coins to lessen the Islamic influences. Additionally, he minted a few Mohur coins featuring imagery of living creatures, particularly duck, which was considered controversial and potentially conflicting with Islamic doctrines.
During the reign of Akbar, from AD 1556 to AD 1605, as the third emperor, he led the Mughal Empire to its zenith. Not only did Akbar expand the empire’s territories externally, but he also implemented policies of religious tolerance domestically. He elevated the status of indigenous Hindus and encouraged the development of culture and education, earning him the title of the greatest emperor of the Mughal Empire.