Lot 40

Bengal Sultanate, Ghiyath Al-Din Jalal Shah Suri (AH 968-971, 1560-1563 AD), Silver Rupee, 11.20 gms, 27.84 mm, Hajipur Mint (fully visible in bottom quadrant on obv), AH 968, Obv: sultan jalal al-din bin muhammad shah ghazi khallada Allah mulkahu ruler's name in nagari, Rev: Kalima Shahada, Ghiyath Al-Din Jalal Shah Suri (AH 968 / 1560 CE) was originally the Governor of Hajipur before proclaiming himself Sultan of Bengal in the same year. This coin represents his earliest known issue following his accession, struck during the brief and turbulent beginning of his reign. Only a couple of specimens of this particular type are known to exist, making it an exceptionally rare and highly desirable piece for advanced collectors. As the first emission in the name of Ghiyath Al-Din Jalal Shah Suri, it holds great historical importance and ranks among the most significant survivals of the short-lived Suri rule in Bengal. Ghiyath al-Din Jalal Shah Suri (AH. AH 968–971 / 1560–1563 CE) rose to power at a time when the Suri Empire was collapsing after the death of Islam Shah Suri, and his early career was closely tied to Hajipur in present-day Bihar. Before assuming the throne of Bengal, he served as the Suri governor of Hajipur, an important strategic garrison town that controlled the crucial routes along the Ganga and Gandak rivers between Bihar and Bengal. As central authority weakened, he transformed Hajipur into his personal power base, building a loyal following among Afghan soldiers and officers. From this fortified town, he gathered troops, consolidated his authority, and gradually asserted independence. Once his position was secure, he marched eastwards, captured Bengal, and proclaimed himself Sultan under the title “As-Sultan al-Aʿẓam Ghiyath al-Din Jalal Shah.” Hajipur continued to play a central role throughout his reign, functioning not merely as a military outpost but as a full administrative center. Contemporary Mughal sources, including references in the Akbarnama, describe Hajipur as a fortified station and a key troop-gathering camp from which campaigns were launched toward Tirhut, Tanda, and Bengal. Its control allowed Jalal Shah to watch over rival Afghan chiefs in Bihar while also delaying Mughal influence advancing from the west. The importance of Hajipur under his rule is further confirmed by numismatic evidence: coins struck in his name bear the mint inscription “Zarb Hajipur” (Struck at Hajipur), proving that the town operated as an official mint and revenue center, reflecting his exercise of full sovereign authority. The same Bihar–Hajipur corridor that enabled Jalal Shah’s rise also became the route of his downfall. In 1563 CE (AH 970/971), he was challenged by the powerful Afghan leader Taj Khan Karrani, who advanced through the region and defeated him. Jalal Shah was killed in this conflict, and Hajipur, along with the Patna region, passed into Karrani control. Taj Khan Karrani then established the Karrani dynasty in Bengal, which ruled until it was defeated by the Mughals under Akbar at the Battle of Rajmahal in 1576 CE (AH 983-984). Thus, Hajipur stood at both the beginning and the end of Jalal Shah Suri’s brief reign—first as the foundation of his ambition and later as the gateway through which his power was finally extinguished. G&G # B970, very fine, Extremely rare and highly collectible; missing from all major collections and appearing in an auction for the first time.