Silver rupee of Shehab-ud-din Muhammed Khurran, also known as Shah Jahan ("king of the world"), who ruled Hindustan from 1628-1658 at the height of the Mughal empire. He is best known for his architectural endeavors, including the Taj Mahal, which he dedicated to his wife.
Each emperor approached coinage differently. Shah Jahan allowed the use of Islamic religious messages (Kalima) in the inscriptions on the obverse, along with the name of the mint and the Hijri date. On the reverse is the name and title of the ruler. His son, a more conservative Muslim, removed Islamic messages from coinage.
References: Mahesh A. Kalra, “A Brief History of the Mughal Empire Through Its Coins,” https://bit.ly/3mtV9Hn; “The Coins of Shah Jahan,” https://bit.ly/3d12x9V
- Subject Matter: coin
- Inventory Number: 2016.16
- Collections: Sacred World Art Collection