India - Mughal Empire. MUGHAL: Muhammad Shah, 1719-1748, AR nazarana rupee (11.61g), Murshidabad, AH1147 year 17, KM-436.46var, standard Mughal inscriptions, from finely engraved dies on a broad flan, unpublished and probably unique, EF to About Unc, RRRR. In 1704 (AH1116), the quasi-independent Mughal governor of Bengal, Murshid Quli Khan, moved his capital from Dacca (Dhaka) to Makhsusabad, changing its name to Murshidabad in honor of himself. He acquired the title of Nawab of Bengal in 1717, which he held until his death in 1727, succeeded by Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Shah, who remained the Nawab until his death in 1739. This coin is clearly a carefully engraved presentation rupee on a broad flan, struck from special dies of greater calligraphic elegance than the ordinary rupees of the same mint & period (e.g., the rupee of the same date & regnal year illustrated in the KM catalog). The Hijri year 1147 extended from June 1734 to late May 1735, but I have not found a specific reason for the issuance of this exquisite rupee. It is possible that some event occurred between Shuja-ud-Din at Murshidabad and the East India Company in Calcutta, perhaps a token of honor presented to the British in exchange for an end to previous conflicts. Mintage at Murshidabad commenced about AH1115 as Makhsusabad, changed to Murshidabad in 1116, remained the capital of the Nawabs of Bengal until ceded to the British in 1174 (1761 AD).
