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Sultans of Gujarat, Silver Mahmudi of 'Mahmud bin Dariya Khan', a new ruler, undated but struck arou

Currency:INR Category:Coins & Paper Money / Indian Coins - Sultanates Start Price:NA Estimated At:125,000.00 - 175,000.00 INR
Sultans of Gujarat, Silver Mahmudi of 'Mahmud bin Dariya Khan', a new ruler, undated but struck arou
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Sultans of Gujarat, Silver Mahmudi of 'Mahmud bin Dariya Khan', a new ruler, undated but struck around 1542-1543 AD, not listed in G&G and believed to be unique, 5.22g. Obv: Arabic legend in a star-shaped cartouche al-Sultan Mahmud Shah bin Dariya Khan. Rev: Arabic legend al-Sultan al-'Azam Nasir al-Dunya wa al-Din Abu al-Fateh.

NGS of India graded MS60, Unique.

This coin marks an interersting phase in the politics of the Gujarat Sultanate. Dariya Khan emerged as a powerful nobleman in the aftermath of the sudden death of Sultan Bahadur Shah in AH943 (1536 AD). He was instrumental, along with other nobles of the court, in the installation of a young nephew of Bahadur, Mahmud bin Latif, as the Sultan. For the next five years, he kept the Sultan firmly under his control, becoming the de facto ruler himself. This was conceivably resented by other nobles, particularly Imad ul-Mulk and Alam Khan Lodi. As the Sultan came of age a few years later, these nobles plotted against Dariya Khan with him and managed to persuade him to fleefrom the 'golden cage' custody of Dariya Khan. The Sultan fled to Alam Khan, leaving Dariya Khan empty-handed and enraged.

At this moment, Dariya Khan installed another boy on the throne - the khutba was read in his name and coins were reportedly struck. Most likely, the coin represents this ephemeral issue, although some historical texts mention the name of the new puppet being 'Muzaffar' and not 'Mahmud'. Soon after the installation. Dariya Khan attacked the combined army of Alam Khan and Mahmud bin Latif and defeated them; however suspecting the people of Ahmadabad would no longer support him, he retired first to Dholka and then to Champanir. The design of the coin is very similar to the issues of Champanir so it is likely that it was struck after Dariya Khan's flight to that city.