353 
1873.] E. Thomas —The Initial Coinage of Bengal. — Bt. II. 
some controversy.* Advantage lias been taken in this, to the native 
comprehension, more elaborately-finished piece, to insert in the vacant 
spaces on the field, above and below the main device, the words, 
“ struck at Gaur,” and although the requisite dot below the he has escaped 
definition, there need be little doubt as to the purport of the entry, which 
it was not thought necessary to reproduce on the less-esteemed silver money, 
whose status with the mint officials, as equally with the public at large, 
ranged at a lower level. 
The date of G16 a.h. on this coin, supported and in a measure explained 
as it is by the marginal legend on No. 3, proves that the professed 
allegiance of the local ruler of Bengal to the head of the followers of Islam 
at Dihli, was no momentary demonstration, but a sustained confession of 
vassalage extending over one complete year, and portions of the previous 
and succeeding twelve months. 
The topographical record on No. 2 would further seem to show that 
Husam-ud-din had not as yet transferred his capital to the new site of 
Lakhnauti , to the west of the river, whose designation first appears in a 
definite form on the coins of the Empress Raziyali, in A.n. 635.f 
No. 3. Silver. Size, 7. Weight, 168 grains. Very rare. 
PI. x. fig. 2. a.h. 616. 
Eeveese. 
Obveese. 
(J* f J -I j-J t 
L--A 
-■? 
Horseman at charge. 
Margin — 
aU| Jj _-voj aJJ| \}\ aJj y 
(Xjl+L-y j O..W v* 
& 
(i 
# 
No. 3 a. Variety. Weight, 162 grs. PL x., fig. 3. Date illegible. 
The Persian legend on the obverse is given in very imperfectly defined 
characters, and offers the peculiarity of the insertion of the Hindi letters 
for Shah, ’ above the name of the king, thereby indicating that both die- 
engravers and the local public were naturally better versed in the old 
alphabet than in the newly-imported letters ol the conquerors. 
* J Jt.A.S. ii., N.S., p. 187. Cf. also Albirum ; Remand, Memoire sur I’Inde, p. 298, 
quoted in J.R.A.S. i., N.S., p. 471. As. Res. ix., 72, 74; xvii. 017. IV ilson s Glossary, sub 
voce, etc. Rennell, Map of Hindustan, p. 55. Stewart’s Bengal, pp. 44, 57. 
f Chronicles of the Pathan Kings, p. 107. J.R.A.S., n. s., II., p. 187, coin No. 14 
infra. 
