Note: Bidar, in present-day Karnataka, emerged as an important political and cultural centre under the Bahmani Sultanate. Originally known simply as Bidar, it was renamed Muhammadabad by Sultan Muhammad I Bahmani (1358–1375). Following the decline of the Bahmanis, the city served as the capital of the Barid Shahi Sultanate before being annexed by the Adil Shahis of Bijapur. In 1656 AD, the city was conquered by Aurangzeb, who renamed it Zafarabad, and coins of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb were subsequently struck there under that mint-name. Following Aurangzeb's death, however, the older mint-name Muhammadabad reappeared on the coinage.
During the early eighteenth century, rare issues bearing the mint-name Muhammadabad were struck in the names of Shah Alam Bahadur, Jahandar Shah, Farrukhsiyar, Shah Jahan II, and Muhammad Shah, indicating that the mint continued to operate, albeit intermittently. After the establishment of Nizam authority in the Deccan in 1724, coins struck in the name of Muhammad Shah can be securely attributed to the Hyderabad State. Of particular interest are the rare issues bearing the combined mint inscription Muhammadabad Bidar, uniquely preserving both the Islamic alias and the city's traditional name. A dated specimen of Shah Alam II from Regnal Year 2 (AH 1175–76 / AD 1761–62) confirms the continued operation of the mint during the early Nizam period.
The present coin, struck in the name of Shah Alam II during the reign of Nizam Ali Khan, belongs to this highly important series. A notable feature of these issues is the absence of the phrase Sikka Mubarak on the obverse, while the reverse consistently bears the mint-name Muhammadabad Bidar, often with the latter partially off the flan.
Most likely only the third known specimen from this mint, this is a coin of exceptional importance to the numismatics of the Deccan and Hyderabad State. A major rarity, it is being offered for the First Time in Our Auctions.

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