Shah Jahan, Akbarabad Mint, Silver Nazarana Rupee, AH 1054/18 RY, Obv: The Kalima Shahada (The Islamic affirmation of the faith) within a square and four khalifas names with the titles: by the truth of Abi Bakar (Basadq Abi Bakr), and the justice of Umar (Wa Adle-e-Umar), by the modesty of Uthman (Ba Razm-e-Usman), and the wisdom of Ali (Wa Ilm-e-Ali) within a four mehrab-shaped cartouches emanating in cardinal directions from the borders of the central square, and the date AH 1054 in the right-hand cartouche, Rev: Shahjahan Badshah Ghazi within a square frame, the laqab (shihab ud din) ism (Muhammad) and title (saheb-e-qiran sani arranged in three mehrab-shaped cartouches, clockwise from bottom around the central square, followed by a fourth cartouche on the right containing the mint-name, zarb Akbarabad, 10.15g, 34mm, (KM # 249.1, Liddle # Type S-13), aesthetically restored and some legends redrawn, signs of wear and tear, otherwise about very fine, Exceedingly Rare.

AH 1054 spans the period 10 March 1644 to 27 February 1645. In early 1644, Shahjahan left Lahore and came to Agra also known as Akbarabad and remained here till the mid of 1645 when he departed for Kashmir.

Andrew Liddle in his book mentions that, Princess Jahan Ara was involved in a serious accident when her garments caught fire on 4th April 1644 (AH 1054) and she was severely injured. She was treated by the court Physicians and an expert who had arrived from Persia. There was steady improvement in her condition for some time but then her wounds opened up again. She was now treated by Hakim Daud and was completely cured. According to the Badshahnama, "on the festival held to celebrate Jahan Ara Begum's recovery (3 Shawwal 1054 Ah/18 RY) Hakim Muhammad Daud who had treated her was given one mohur of 500 tolas and one rupee. This coin therefore is the silver rupee presented to Hakim Daud, among other dignitaries, by the emperor (For detailed study please refer Badshahnama, vol. II, p.399)

Shailendra Bhandare in one of his article in JONS 205 mentions that Shahjahan was present in Agra during that time and most likely these were struck for one of his annual celebrations, the Persian New year (Nowruz) or his lunar birthday. It was also in 1645 in Agra that the English East India Company secured rights to trade freely anywhere in the Mughal Empire. This concession was granted by Shahjahan when Gabriel Broughton, an English surgeon successfully treated his sister, Jahan Ara, for her burn injuries which she had sustained earlier as a result of an accident.

We assume that both Hakim and English surgeon would have treated the princess and these were struck as special presentation issue.

A really beautifully struck and historically important rupee coin, on most probably, the widest flan ever known.

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