16 N. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XVIII, 
of attaining his object but fortune favoured Bahlol Lodi who 
managed to save his kingdom. 
As remarked by Mr. Lane: Poole in his introduction of the 
British Museum Catalog ue of Coins of Muhammadan States 
and as discussed by Mr. eNeteok Wright! in Part II of Volume 
II of the Catalogue of Coins in the Indian Museum, Calcutta, 
there is some doubt as to the exact date of Mahmiid’ s death. 
Thomas states at page 323 of his ‘‘ Chronicles of the Pathan 
Kings of Dehli’? that General Cunningham had informed 
him that coins of Mahmid were known of A.H. 862 and 863, 
but Mr. Nelson Wright rejected this as he was unable to find 
such dated coins in any collection, having apparently over- 
looked the billon issue catalogued under No. 617 in the Bod- 
leian Library Collection Catalogue as dated A.H. 862, and also 
the copper coin dated 862 A.H. catalogued under No. 618. 
Colonel H. R. Nevill is now in possession of another billon 
coin of Mahmud dated A.H. 862. Coins both of Muhammad 
and of Husain exist dated A.H. 861, 862 and 863. Did Mah- 
mid die in A.H. 861 and was his kingdom then divided be- 
tween his two sons? Both sons aspired to supreme power and 
undoubtedly both issued coins in the same three years. The 
statement of Firishta that Muhammad reigned only five 
months is not in accordance with numismatic evidence, but 
further information is required before the date of the death of 
Mahmiad can be definitely fixed. A coin of his in the Indian 
Museum (No. 100 of the Catalogue) dated A.H. 865, should 
probably be considered a posthumous issue; but should those 
dated A.H. 862 be also so classed ? 
The accession to the Shargi throne of Bikhan Khan, son 
of Mahmud, under the title of Muhammad Shah caused strife 
within the kingdom, as Husain, another son of Mahmid, also 
aspired to paramount power. From contemporary histories it 
would appear that Muhammad Shah was the eldest son, but 
Fiihrer states that allusions by Faqir Khairu-d-din seem to 
indicate that this isnot certain. The usual murders occurred, 
Muhammad Shah was eventually killed, and Husain gained 
the throne. 
Husain, like his father, and to his eventual destruction, 
laid claim to the Dehli throne and the information regarding 
happenings during his reign which has descended to us is again 
a mere recital of military operations. Bahlol Lodi eventually 

his discussion ae the date of Mahmiid’s death Mr. 
Nelson Wright referred t inscription which had been found at Dhaka 
bearing Mahmiid’s name with the date A.H. 863. This inscription was 

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