Note: Mirza Rafi-ud-Darjat ascended to the throne on 9 Jumādā al-Ūlā AH 1131 (28 February 1719 AD) as Sultan Shams-ud-din Muhammad Rafi-ud-Darjat at the ripe age of 19 years, under the control of the Sayyid Brothers, as yet another puppet king of the declining takht of the Mughal Empire.

Much like his older brother Rafi-ud-Daula (later Shah Jahan II), Rafi-ud-Darjat was born of poor health, which continued to decline due to the strain of imperial responsibilities and palace confinement. Rafi-ud-Darjat died an unfortunate death on 19 Shaʿbān AH 1131 (6 June 1719 AD), having reigned for just three months and nine days.

Coinage under Rafi-ud-Darjat is extremely rare, owing to the brevity of his reign. This specimen bears an enchanting poetic couplet:

“Zad Sikka-e-Ba Hind Hazaraan Barkat,
Shahenshah-e-Afaq Rafi-ud-Darjat”

translated as:

“Struck coin in India with a thousand blessings,
the Emperor of the Horizon, Rafi-ud-Darjat.”

The presence of this poetic couplet on gold mohurs is known from only two mints — Arkat and Khujista Bunyad, and is generally encountered only on the silver rupees of this short-lived Mughal ruler.

This exceptionally rare gold Mohur, seldom seen in the marketplace, stands among the most significant and desirable gold issues of the Later Mughal Empire.

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