68 Journal of 



[N.S., XIII, 



by as ' * freak coins ' ' uttered by some Subahdar or Mintmaster 

 with a craving for innovation. But the following passage from 

 the Mirat-i-Ahmadi militates against such a supposition r 



*>y* e>!>:M f& cr^ 1 f^ 1 **"*• >> J ***** J*"J )!>* J U ** ' 





-*J 



X 



# <*£ ^ uH&ig *yf J0** - *! *^ ^y^ J^ 1 (J^ **1 ****** ** 



Mirat-i-Ahmadi, Bombay Lithograph, 1307 a.h. 



Part I, p. 408, 11. 10-13. 



"And in the year 1122, a Hasb-ul-Hukm • was graciously 

 ordered to be issued to the Diwan of the Subah in these words : 

 6 The Mandate which is universally obeyed and [dazzling] like 

 the rays of the sun is now issued that the ashrafi and the rupee 

 bearing the auspicious coin-legend should be made equal in 

 weight to a tola. 9 For some time this was observed, with res- 

 pect to the weight of the coins, but it was soon afterwards 

 suspended, and orders were issued for following the practice of 

 former times." 



here is a reference to this innovation in Khafi Khan also, 

 which may be quoted from Dowson's translation : 



"Directions were given [in 1119 a.h.] that the new rupee 

 should be increased half a Masha in weight, and lacs were 

 accordingly coined of that weight; but as in the payment of 

 tankhwah and in commercial transactions, it was received at 

 only the old rate, the new rule was discontinued." 



Elliot and Dow8on f VII, p. 393. 



These statements are clear and explicit, and show that 

 these comparatively heavy rupees were struck in pursuance of 

 the express orders of the Emperor. These coins are now, of 

 courseware, as they must have been melted down, and otherwise 



driven out of circulation in accordance with the 'so-called Law 

 of Gresham. 



There are, as I have said, only four specimens in the Indian 

 Museum, but it is just possible that some of the 94 rupees of 

 Bahadur Shah Shah 'Alam I which are registered by Mr. 

 Whitehead, in the P.M.C., may be of this heavy type, though 

 the weights are not recorded. 



It is clear that the Imperial desire to make the rupee 



uniform in weight with the told was not gratified, for the reasons 



, mentioned, and this is stated by both our authorities in unmis- 



* Husb-ul- Hookum. A patent or order under the seal of the vizier, 

 mth these initial words signifying, - according to command.' Gladwin, 

 Bengal Revenue Accounts, 1796, p. 113. 



