Lot 64

Islamic, Iran, The Early Period, Ghaznavid, Yamin al-Daula Mahmud (AH 389-421 / AD 999-1030), Silver Bilingual Dirham (Arabic / Sanskrit, Kufic / Sharada), 2.51 gms, 18.34 mm, Mahmudpur (= Lahore) Mint, AH 418, Obverse: in field: Shahada and nizam al-din abu'l qasim; al-qadir above; billah to the left; mint and date in the outer margin. Reverse: in field: as above. Margin, in Sarada characters: avyaktiya name ayam tankam hato mahamudapura samvati... in the name of the Invisible this tanka was struck at Mahmüdpür, citing the Abbasid Caliph Al-Qadir Billah. The city of Lahore was renamed to Mahmudpur by Mahmud and became the central base of Ghaznavid administration in India. The bilingual dirhams of Mahmud are rare, Album # 1610, G&G # GZ2, very fine+, rare.