I have no clue on this one. Apparently bought in Agra. It is about the size of a Jefferson nickel but a little thicker. Any help you could give me would be appreciated. Thanks.
Thank you for the reply! Looked up the names you mentioned. That is a really cool story! I really appreciate it. Muhammad III bin Tughluq ruled much of India from 1325 to 1351AD. He was a scholar, calligrapher and an innovative monarch. Unfortunately he did not always consider the consequences of his innovations. Vast amounts of his treasury was spent trying to expand and consolidate his realm. This only encouraged numerous revolts throughout his realm. He forcibly moved his entire capital and all its inhabitants from Delhi to a more central location in the Deccan of central India. Unfortunately there was insufficient water to support the population, and the capital was returned to Delhi two years later, with great suffering and loss of life of the citizens. About 1330AD he tried to replace the silver Tanka with this brass Tanka, in an effort to boost his treasury. The brass Tanka has beautiful calligraphy on both sides, with legends to encourage its citizens to accept the debased currency. His unhappy citizens, forced to accept this token coinage, soon started to counterfeit them in vast numbers. Foreign traders would not accept the brass Tankas Within a few years he was forced to return to the silver Tanka, redeeming both real and fake brass Tankas at a great cost to his treasury. It is reported that a “mountain” of these brass Tankas remained lying outside the sultanate’s treasuries for over a century.
