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Sumatra Aceh Sultanate
Sultan Ali Mughayat
1 Gold Kupang
Item number: A157
Year: AD 1514-1530
Material: Gold
Size: 9.0 x 9.0 mm
Weight: 0.60 g
Provenance: Spink 2023
This object is a gold coin minted and issued during the reign of Sultan Ali Mughayat, the first Sultan of the Sultanate of AcehDarussalam in Sumatra, Indonesia, from AD 1514 to AD 1530. It carries the weight of 1 Kupang.
The obverse of this coin features Arabic inscription which read “علي مالك أتطهر”, translating to “Ali Malik the pious.” The outer circle of this coin is adorned with decorative beads. On the reverse side, there are two lines of Arabic inscription reading “السلطان العادل”, meaning “The Just Sultan.” The outer rim of this side is similarly embellished with small beads.
Kupang: The “Kupang” was an ancient unit of measurement for gold, approximately equivalent to 0.6 grams. The use of this weight unit can be traced back to the 11th centuries in port areas along the Southeast Asian coast, indicating its connection to international trade.It was commonly employed during the Portuguese and Dutch colonial periods for transactions involving spices and other valuable commodities. With the Dutch colonial period and the influence of European trade on local currencies, this unit gradually supplanted by Western currencies.
Sultan Ali Mughayat Shah was the first ruler of the Sultanate of Aceh in Sumatra, reigning from AD 1514 to AD 1530, and his reign marked the establishment of the Sultanate of Aceh. He not only solidified his position as the ruler of Aceh but also expanded the territorial boundaries of the region during his tenure, conquering neighboring territories such as the Samudera Pasai Sultanate and Pidie.
His reign marked the onset of a period of prosperity and influence in the Aceh region. Under his leadership, Aceh emerged as a formidable maritime power, commanding vital trade routes and engaging in trade and conflicts with neighboring states and European powers.
However, during his reign, the Sultanate of Aceh encountered several conflicts with Portugal. Sultan Ali Mughayat Shah successfully repelled Portuguese incursions, thereby solidifying Aceh’s position as a formidable naval power in the region and enhancing its prestige at the time. Overall, Sultan Ali Mughayat Shah’s rule laid the foundation of the Sultanate of Aceh and ushered in a period of prosperity in the region, significantly impacting the political and cultural development of the area.
The Sultanate of Aceh was an Islamic powerhouse that ruled over the Aceh region of Sumatra, Indonesia, from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Its capital was Kutaraja (present-day Banda Aceh). Situated at the northern tip of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, the kingdom was one of the most influential sultanates in Southeast Asia. It was renowned for its strategic location along major trade routes and its influence in spreading Islam throughout the region.
The Sultanate of Aceh reached its zenith in the 16th and 17th centuries, becoming a significant maritime and commercial power that controlled the trade routes between the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Malacca.
One of the most notable reputations of the Sultanate of Aceh was its steadfast resistance against European expansion. Aceh successfully repelled attempts by Portugal and the Netherlands to conquer the region, gaining renown for its formidable military prowess.
The decline of the Sultanate of Aceh began in the late 17th centuries, attributed to factors such as internal conflicts, external pressure from the Dutch East India Company, and competition with other regional powers. In AD 1873, the Netherlands initiated the Aceh War with the aim of conquering Aceh and establishing colonial rule in the region. The war lasted for several decades, culminating in Aceh’s conquest by the Dutch in AD 1903.
Michael Mitchiner (1977): Oriental Coins and their Values: The World of Islam. London, Hawkins Publications.
Khan, Sher Banu A. L. (2017). Sovereign Women in a Muslim Kingdom – The Sultanahs of Aceh, 1641−1699. Cornell University. p. 28
Robert S. Wicks (1986): « Monetary Developments in Java between the Ninth and Sixteenth Centuries: A Numismatic Perspective ». Indonesia, No. 42, p44-59.
