The Title of Saheb Qiran on The Coins of The Mughal Emperors in India (932-1275 AH/ 1526- 1857 AD)

Abstract

The Mughal emperors in India struck many types of gold, silver and copper coins, which varied in their forms, decorations and inscriptions. The most important of these inscriptions are "titles", whose study is an important aspect of the study of coins, which provides us with a lot of historical facts about the countries where it is struck. One of that important titles on the coins of this period, which the study dealt with in this research is the title "sahib qiran". It is a Persian title that was called the one who associated more than one star in the sky on the day of his birth. This means that he is auspicious and blessed. The first to be called by this title of the Mughal emperors of India, Emperor Shah Jahan (1037 - 1068 AH / 1628-1658 AD), who was imitating his grandfather Timur Lank, who was also named this title after defeating and killing his rival Amir Hasan in (771 AH / 1369 AD). Emperor Shah Jahan mint the title on his coins with the text of "sahib qiran sani" meaning that he had the second qiran after Timur Lank. A number of the following sultans took this title such as Muhammad Shah (1131-1161AH / 1719-1748 AD), Alamgir II, (1167-1113 AH / 1754- 1759 AD), Shah Alam II (1173-1221 AH / 1759-1806 AD) and Muhammad Akbar II (1221- 1253 AH / 1806- 1837 AD). There is also a rare silver rupee of Farrukh siyar (1124-1111 AH / 1713-1719 AD) which was named in a new title that was not repeated again, it is "thaleth sahib qiran". The title "sahib qiran" was also found on the contemporary Iranian coins of the Mughals in India, such as the Safavid coins. That is like the coins of the Shah Tahmasib II (1135-1144 AH / 1722-1731 AD) and the Shah Abbas II (1052-1077 AH / 1642-1666 AD). As well as the coins of Nader Shah Al Efshari (1148 - 1160 AH / 1736 - 1747 AD) and the coins of Nasir Al Deen Qajar (1264 - 1313 AH / 1848 - 1896 AD)

Keywords

• coins; india; mughal; title