Afghanistan AH 1173(14) 1/3 rupee
This specimen was lot 493 in Steve Album Auction 55 (Santa Rosa, CA, May 2026), where it sold for $10,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "DURRANI: Ahmad Shah, 1747-1772, AR nazarana mithqal, Shahjahanabad (Delhi), AH1173 year 14, Whitehead, standard obverse as type #3092, same reverse die as the 3 known of the exceedingly rare version with the name ahmad in a circle at the obverse center (cf. Zeno-142386); slightly clipped and holed, unpublished and unique! Fine, RRRR. There are 3 known examples of the nazarana mithqal of Shahjahanabad, all from the same pair of dies, without the hijri date but always with the regnal year 14. This piece has a totally different obverse design and is dated AH1173, and is struck from the same reverse die as the other three, and also with the border of leaves on both sides." Shahjahanabad is now a part of Old Delhi and was a capital for the Mughals. It was briefly taken by the Durranis of Afghanistan and this coin was issued during that occupation. During that occupation, the SCWC notes a nisar (KM 761, likely this coin), a nazarana rupee (KM 764), a mohur (KM 765) and a nazarana mohur (KM 767).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 4 g, silver, this specimen 3.63 g.
Catalog reference: A-3092D, KM 761?.
- Album, Stephen. Checklist of Islamic Coins. Santa Rosa, 1998. Stephen Album.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 55, featuring Selections from the Swamperbob Gurney Collection of Cap & Ray 8 Reales, the Kenneth A. Bovenkamp Collection of Ottoman Coins and the 1914 Collection of World Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2026.
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