357 
1873.] E. Thomas —The Initial Coinage of Bengal. — Ft. II. 
Here, for the first time in this series, we meet with the official or regnant 
designation of the Khalifah of Baghdad, who has hitherto been referred to 
by the mere generic title of “ Commander of the Faithful.” 
It would appear from this innovation, as if Gfhiyas-ud-din had already, 
indirectly, put himself in communication with the Pontifical Court at 
Baghdad, with a view to obtaining recognition as a sovereign prince in the 
Muslim hierarchy,—a further indication of which may possibly he detected 
in the exceptional insertion of the month in addition to the ordinary year of 
issue on the margin of No. 6a. ; a specification which will be found more 
fully developed in the succeeding mintages, where it admits of an explanation 
which is not so obvious or conclusive in this instance. 
No. 7. Silver. Size, 9. Weight, 169 grs. PI. x., fig. 5. # Dated 
20th of Babb ul akhir, a.h. 620. (7 specimens.) 
Obyeese. 
UioJl £>6^ 
y J^\ pi ) 
^ j 
♦f 
Axl^o &JLff 
Eeyekse. 
aD| if| Hf y 
dXJ I 
aBf UJ( 
Margin — ^ JSJ\ y 
Ax.uj^.i.^1 £aj j ^j-Q*** 1^'° 
A_>l*A** J 
No. 7a. Variety. Weight, 165 grs. Coin of the same date and 
similar character, which transfers the complete name of into the third 
line ; the dubious prefix to the second j hijJt reads more asjr*^, while 
the suggested above given, appears as y**. 
If the preceding coins had left any doubt as to Ghiyas-ud-din’s 
designs in regard to the assumption of sovereign power, the tenor of the 
legends on Nos. 7 and 7a, would conclusively set that question at rest. 
Here, not content with the recently-arrogated title of we find 
him calling himself “ Sultan of Sultans ,” by direct appointment of the 
* See also Marsden, No. dcclyii, p. 564. There are two coins of this type in his 
collection in the British Museum. Marsden remarks, “The date of this coin, the earliest 
of those belonging to the princes who governed Bengal in the name of the Kings of Dehli, 
but who took all opportunities of rendering themselves independent, is expressed distinctly 
in words.The titles and patronymics of the Sultan by whom it was struck 
are for the most part illegible; not so much from obliteration, as from the original 
imperfect formation of the characters.” 
