Delhi Sultanate ; Muhammad bin Sam ; ruled 1193-1206 AD Base Gold (Approx 20 mm, 4.33 Grams )

Description

Delhi Sultanate
Muhammad bin Sam, ruled 1193-1206 AD
Base Gold (Approx 20 mm, 4.33 Grams )

Obverse: Goddess Lakshmi seated
Reverse: Devanagari legend in 3 lines Sri Maha/mad bini/ Sam
Mint: Kanauj
Ref: Stan Goron & J.P. Goenka, The Coins of the Indian Sultanates, D5

Muhammad bin Sam was the Afghan invader who established the first Muslim kingdom at Delhi. He copied the Lakshmi type gold coins of the Hindu kings he defeated. He replaced their name with his own name on reverse, keeping the Devanagari legend so it could be read by the native population.

This is an important marker in the increasing control of the fledgling Delhi Sultanate and its use of coinage as a propaganda tool. The Muslim sultan probably just continued with the existing mints of the Rajputs, merely changing the name on the coins.
An attractive specimen with the complete legend on reverse. “SAVE HERITAGE SAVE COINS”