The Mughals hardly require any introduction, as this is perhaps the most

famous dynasty in Indian history. The dynasty was founded by Babur, a

descendant of both Timur (Tamerlaine) and Genghis Khan, who was a
minor prince in Afghanistan and who nevertheless was dispossessed of
his kingdom. Looking for a place to make his mark, he ended up
invading India and defeated the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi, in 1526.
He ruled until 1530. His son, Humayun, ascended the throne, but was
forced to flee in 1540 by Sher Shah Suri, a general of Babur's army who
had been appointed governor of Bihar and staged a rebellion against the
emperor. Humayun fled to Persia and sought asylum with the Safavid
emperor, Shah Tahmasp. Eventually, in 1555, with Tahmasp's help,
Humayun was able to regain his empire in India, but he died soon after.
Humayun was succeeded by his son Akbar, who was only 13 years old
when he became emperor. Despite his tender age, Akbar proved to be an
able ruler. He expnded the empire and created an atmosphere of tolerance
in his realm.

Babur
Babur (Zahir ud-din Muhammad), Silver
tanka or shahrukhi, c. 1526-1530
Weight: 4.62 gm. Diameter: 22-23 mm Die axis:
8 o'clock
Legend /
Legend
Babur's coinage was on the pattern of the
coinage in Kabul at the time. The thin Babur
coins are normally quite flat on one side or
the other. This coin is exceptional for the type
in that both sides of the coin show portions of
a strong strike.

Humayun

Humayun (Nasir ud-din Muhammad), Silver

tanka or shahrukhi,
c. 1530-40 and 1555-56
Weight: 4.63 gm. Diameter: 28 mm Die axis: 3
o'clock
Legend /
Legend
Haidar Dughlat (1546-50) Silver sasnu in
name of Humayun
Weight: 6.15 gm., Dimensions: 15 x 15 mm.
Legend: al-sultan al-a'zam muhammad
humayun ghazi /
Within central ornamental diamond: zarb
Kashmir, spelled out in margins:
AH date 953 (= 1546-47 CE)
Ref: Rajgor 2853, Goron-Goenka K104
This coin was struck in Kashmir in the name
of Humayun. Haidar Dughlat was a cousin of
Babur who had originally ruled Kashmir in
the name of Sa'id Khan of Kashgar. He
fought for Humayun in his struggle against
Sher Shah and then ruled Kashmir in his
name.

Akbar
Akbar (Abu'l Fath Jalaluddin Muhammad),
1556-1605, Silver rupee, Agra
Weight: 11.36 gm. Diameter: 24 mm Die axis: 3
o'clock
Legend /
Legend, with AH date 979 (= 1571-72 CE)
The first Mughal rupee! The rupee was first
introduced by Sher Shah Suri, who had
overthrown Humayun, and Akbar continued
the practice and converted the currency to
the rupee standard.

Akbar (Abu'l Fath Jalaluddin Muhammad),

1556-1605, Silver rupee, Urdu Zafar Qarin
Weight: 11.41 gm. Dim: 21 x 20 mm Die axis: 6
o'clock
Legend /
Legend
Akbar struck these square rupees, which
were called jalalah.
Akbar (Abu'l Fath Jalaluddin Muhammad),
1556-1605, Silver 1/2 tanka, Malwa
Weight: 3.52 gm. Diameter: 13-14 mm Die axis:
6 o'clock
Legend, Kalima /
Legend, with Akbar's name and titles
This coin conformed to the Malwa standard
and style.
Akbar (Abu'l Fath Jalaluddin Muhammad),
1556-1605,
AE tanka or double dam, Ahmedabad
Weight: 40.97 gm. Diameter: 27 mm Die axis:
11 o'clock
Legend /
Legend, with Ilahi date 44 (=c. 1598 CE)
A massive coin, 9 mm thick! Akbar's copper
coinage was based on
the dam(pronounced daam; the
word daam today means "price" in
Hindustani.
Akbar (Abu'l Fath Jalaluddin Muhammad),
1556-1605, AE fractional dam, Malwa
Weight: 3.16 gm. Diameter: 10 x 13 mm Die
axis: 7 o'clock
Legend fulus Ujjain /
Legend, with AH date alf (1000) (= c. 1591-92
CE)