INDIA. MUGHAL EMPIRE. Nur al-Din Muhammad Jahangir, AH 1014-1037 (1605-1627 CE).
Gold Mohur, AH 1031//16 (1620). Agra. Class A.
Zodiac constellation of Nemasp/Dhanusa.
Obv.: Centaur, galloping left, head and upper torso right, preparing to fire arrow from bow; radiate sun surrounds.
Rev.: Legend and date in Persian.
<i>In secure plastic holder, graded PCGS Genuine - XF Details (98 - Damage) , certification number <a title="PCGS 44168938" href="https://www.pcgs.com/cert/44168938" target="_blank" rel="noopener">44168938</a>.</i>
Reference: Wright-581; Hull 1400-2; KM-180.17; BM-348; Fr-770
Weight: 10.85 g.
Composition: Gold.
The Memoirs of Jahangir [Tuzk-e Jahangiri] (Entry for 20 March 1619)
In the 29th year of his reign, the Mughal emperor Akbar (1556-1605) established the Din-e Ilahi (literally faith of God), a syncretic belief system that incorporated elements of the different religious beliefs in his empire. Immediately thereafter, Akbar began counting his reign in accordance with the tenets this new belief system. Known as the Ilahi Era, dating was now based on a solar, rather than lunar, calendar with the year divided into twelve Ilahi months.
Akbars early successors continued to employ this dating system. Jahangir (1605-1628), Akbars son and immediate successor, used the Ilahi Era to great artistic effect by issuing two series of mohurs that incorporated Ilahi Era elements. The earliest series, known as the portrait series, since the coins show the emperor on the obverse, all show the constellation Leo superimposed over the sun – a reference to Jahangirs birth in August. This series was struck within a three-year span early in Jahangirs reign and are quite rare. The second series, known as the zodiac series, since each of the twelve constellations of the Zodiac is represented on the reverse, was a much larger series. Struck both in gold and silver, the zodiac series was issued from several mints (with Agra being the primary), and like the previous series, minted over three or four years. Since the Ilahi months were solar months and corresponded with the solar ecliptic (an imaginary line in the sky that marks the annual path of the sun), each month was represented by an appropriate sign of the Zodiac, recording its particular month of issue.
Because many of these coins had been recalled and melted by Jahangirs successor, Shah Jahan, original strikes are very rare. Collector restrikes were periodically issued over the following century, and though they are more often encountered than the originals, are relatively rare themselves. Numismatists have divided the portrait and zodiac series mohurs into four classes:
Class A: undisputed original strikes, characterized by deep relief, somewhat uneven flans, and rounded calligraphy.
Class B: possibly original strikes, but more likely minted in the first decade or two following Jahangirs death. The relief is shallower, of a more uniform appearance, and the calligraphy is more square.
Class C: mohurs of Class A or B that have had the zodiac type removed and re-engraved.
Class D: later imitations and forgeries.
