1 Rupee - Akbar Sitpur ND
| Silver | 11.33 g | 20.84 mm |
| Issuer | Mughal Empire (India) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Akbar (1556-1605) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 963-1014 |
| Value | 1 Rupee |
| Currency | Rupee (1540-1842) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 11.33 g |
| Diameter | 20.84 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#394077 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
Persian legend "zarb Sitpur" with "Elahi 48" at the bottom & month "Mihr" at the top, in an octagonal border
Comment
The word ‘darb’ inscribed on the reverse poses a conundrum: one hand it has been listed by the author of Ain-e-Akbari as an official denomination issued by the royal mint during the reign of Akbar. The text explicitly lists ‘darb’ as being an official silver coin that is half a ‘Jalalah’ which in turn is described as a square silver rupee. However, the word is found inscribed on silver rupees issued from the mint of Sitpur, for the Ilahi years 48-49 (1011-12 CE). Another explanation of the word can be arrived at, by considering the meaning of the word ‘darb’ in Farsi / Persian which was the official court language of the Moghuls. In Farsi the word ‘darb’ has the additional meaning of a ‘port’ (for ships), in which case the word ‘darb’ can considered as an epithet of the mint name: port of Sitpur, similar to the usage of the word ‘bandar’ to designate a port town / city.
Interesting fact
The 1 Rupee coin from the Mughal Empire, issued during the reign of Akbar (Sitpur) between 963-1014, features an interesting blend of Islamic and Hindu motifs on its design. The obverse side of the coin bears the inscription "Al-Sultan Al-Akbar" in Arabic, while the reverse side features a stylized depiction of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, signifying the cultural fusion that characterized the Mughal Empire.
