India Mughal Empire - My First Square Rupee of Akbar (and a question about digits)

I've been wanting one of these for a while, and finally landed one, a square rupee of Akbar the Great, Mughal India. They are pretty common, but I was waiting, as always for a cheap one.

Here it is:



Attribution seems to be fairly straightforward, KM 82.1. But I am puzzled by the date (on the reverse). Here it is: ٩٩٤



My question has to do with the last digit: ٤ (a backward 3 in Western Arabic numerals). Is that a 4 or a 5? I've looked at several online sites, auctions, etc. and ٩٩٤ is shown as either 994 or 995. There doesn't seem to be a clear consensus, which surprises me. Or am I missing something? My ignorance in these matters is near-complete!

Wikipedia article on Eastern Arabic Numerals shows variation 4 = ٤ for "Eastern Arabic" versus ۴(Persian) or ۴ (Urdu).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Arabic_numerals

But here is an authoritative-looking auction stating this is a 5:
https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2959821

Any help much appreciated. And share those Mughal rupees, square or otherwise.

 

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Nice addition. I was happy to get mine too, but it got little interest on here.

Nice to see someone appreciate coinage of his.

@Amit Vyas should be able to help you with your questions.


Jalal al-Din Muhammad Akbar (963-1014 AH / 1556 - 1605 A.D.)
INDIA, Mughal Empire
AR Rupee
Dated AH987
Dar al-Sultanate Ahmedabad Mint
10.96g

 

Nice one, Mat. And an easily-interpreted date too! Keep posting them - maybe we can bring about a "Mughal Invasion" of Coin Talk!

 

Not all Mughal.



(Top row, left to right)
1. Mughal, Shah Jahan (AH1037-1068, 1628-1658 AD), AR Rupee, Lahore mint, AH1066/RY 30.
2. Indian Princely States, Baroda, Khande Rao (AH1273-1287/AD1856-1870), AR rupee.
3. Mughal, Aurangzeb Alamgir (AH1068-1118, 1658-1707 AD), AR Rupee, Surat mint, AH1090/Ry 23

(Bottom row, left to right)
1. Mughal, Aurangzeb Alamgir (AH1068-1118, 1658-1707 AD), AR Rupee, Surat mint, AH1102/Ry 34
2. British India. 1840 is a frozen year.
3. Indian Princely States, Indore, AR fractional rupee.

 

To quote from Richard Plant's invaluable book "Arabic Coins and How to Read Them", p.8:

"One other fact must be noted, that in the 800's and 900's A.H. Indian coins use different figures for 0,4, and 5. 0 is O : 4 is ۴ : and 5 is ٤. The O and ٤ are particularly confusing as they ought to represent 5 and 4 rather than 0 and 5. The date ٩0٤ is 905 A.H. on a coin for example of the Indian king of Jaunpur- and it is not 954 as it would be on an Egyptian or Persian coin."

 

Interesting coins for sure.

 

O thank you @Parthicus for taking the trouble to share this information! This is so helpful - it clears up my attribution and I don't feel I'm losing my mind looking at O's and 4's and backwards-3's. If nothing else, I feel now my confusion is justified!

As if I didn't already have enough trouble "reading" Mughal coins! But if it was easy it wouldn't be as much fun, right?

Thanks again!