358 
E. Thomas —The Initial Coinage of Bengal. — Bt. II. [No. 4, 
Khalifah,* associated with which is the entry of a specific date, with, the still 
more unusual definition of the day of the month, which is preserved constant 
and unvaried throughout the entire issue. More remarkable still is the 
abnormal departure from the conventional form of coin legends, in the 
omission of the preliminary “ Al Sultan” and the abrupt introduction of 
the regnal title of the once probational Husdm-ud-din , under his more 
ambitious designation of Ghigas-ud-din. In short, the entire drift of the 
altered superscription points to an intentional reproduction of some formal 
phraseology, such as would be eminently consistent with an official transcript 
of the revered precept emanating from Baghdad. 
I should infer from these coincidences that a formal diploma had by 
this time been conceded by the Supreme Pontiff, admitting the newly-erected 
kingdom Bengal within the boundaries of Islam, and confirming the reigning 
monarch in possession, with added titles and dignities. The date so 
prominently repeated may either be that upon which the patent was 
originally sealed , or more probably it points to the auspicious moment of 
the reception of the ambassadors, who conveyed the formal document and 
paraphernalia of investment, at the Court of Lak’hnauti. This assignment 
in no way disturbs my previous attribution of the inaugural piece of 
Altamsh,t marking his attainment of the like honours in a.h. 626. The 
very concession to the Bengal potentate possibly led his once suzerain to 
seek a parallel sanctification of his own rights, which he had previously been 
content to hold by the sword: and the difficulty of communication with 
Baghdad over alien kingdoms and disturbed frontiers would account for a 
delay of the emissaries on the one part and the other, which would not affect 
the open ocean passage between the mouths of the Ganges and the sea-port 
of Bagrah. 
* The term ^ is of frequent occurrence on the early Muslim coinages, and is 
usually associated with the name of the officer—whatever his condition—responsible for 
the mint issues, as which is translated by Fraffin as “ manibus” (i. e. cura 
*» M 
et opera) Ahmadis or “ curante,”—a definition accepted in later days on the Continent 
as “par les mains de, par les soins de, etc. In the present instance it would seem to 
imply a more or less direct intervention by the Commander of the Faithful himself in favour 
of his nominee. 
f Initial Coinage of Bengal, J.B.A.S. ii., N.S., p. 154, No. 1, note ; Chronicles of the 
Pathan Kings, p. 46. Of course, this exceptional issue will now have to cede priority of 
date both to the Bengal coins of a.h. 614, etc., and likewise to the northern piece of 
Altamsli, No. 8, which must he taken as anterior to No. 10. 
