Ahmad Shah Abdali (Durrani) (AH1160-1186, 1747-1772 AD), AR Rupee, Kabul mint

Ahmad Shah Abdali (Durrani) (AH1160-1186, 1747-1772 AD), AR Rupee with "Qadir-e-bechun" couplet, Dar al-Sultanah Kabul mint, AH1175/Ry 15, A-3092, KM-423 (11.5 g, 23 mm)

Obverse: Hukm shud az qadir-e-bechun ba-hamd badshah, Sikka zan bar sim wa zar az auj-e-mahi ta ba-mah [Command came from God, the inscrutable, to Ahmad the King, Strike coin on silver and gold from the top of fish (i.e., depths of the sea) to the moon]

Reverse: Zarb Dar al-Sultanah Kabul, Sanah 15, 1175

 

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I really like these but can’t learn the script well enough to confidently buy any. Gorgeous coin.

 

Beautiful coin!

 

This is a very interesting coin.

I became interested in Arabic coins several years ago and bought a copy of Richard Plant's book Arabic Coins and How To Read Them.

I pulled out some of my notes and attempted to read the inscriptions on the Durrani coin.

Note that some of the words and phrases have been moved around. This was sometimes acceptable for coins in the Islamic world. Also note that some believe that the word "fish" refers to the constellation Pisces.

Here is what I was able to obtain:

Az Qadir bi-chun (Powerful One has none like Him)
Shod [horizontal] (went)
Be-Ahmad badshah (To Ahmad the Emperor)
Hokam [horizontal] (Command)
Zan bar sim wa zar (Strike over silver and gold)
Sikkah [horizontal] (Coin)
Auj mahi ta be-mah (Height fish up to moon)

ازقادر بیچون
شد
باحمد بادشاه
حکم
زن بر سیم و زر از
سکه
اوج مای تا بماه

Sultanat (Capital)
Dar ul, Kabul (Abode of, Kabul city)
Zarb (Minting)
Sanat [horizontal] (Year of reign)
15

السلطنت
دار کابل
ظرب
سنه
١٥

 

Excellent attempt. With very minor corrections, and off-flan words in parentheses. Some words are truncated on the coin (e.g., “Ahmad” as “hamad”).

Obverse:
(Az) Qadir (be)chun
Shod
Ba-hamd Badshah
(Hu)kam
(Za)n bar Sim wa Zar
Sikkah
(A)uj Mahi ba Mah

Reverse:
l Sultanah (“alif” of “al” placed in the next line, after “dar”)
Dar a Kabul 1175
Zarb
Sanah
15

According to Dr. Shailen Bhandare, “fish” is a reference is to “mahi maratib” (royal standard with fish insignia on top). He says that such standards or 'Ālams' were held behind the king when he held court. These included insignia such as a pair of scales, a palm of hand and a yak's tail. They all attributed to sovereignty and kingship.
"From the top of Mahi to the Moon" refers to the space between the standard of the fish and the heavens, suggesting that the king's sovereignty is not only limited to the earth but extends in the ethereal space too.