Extremely Rare Billon Tanka of Muhammad Bin Tughluq – Delhi Sultanate – Daulatabad Mint

Obverse: ‘almustakfi billah amir al-mu minin, mint and date in margin’

Reverse: ‘al-imam al- a’zam khalifat allah fi al-alamin’

Muhammad bin Tughluq (r. 1325–1351 CE) was one of the most ambitious and intellectually gifted rulers of the Delhi Sultanate, known for his bold but often impractical reforms. His reign marked a period of vast territorial expansion, administrative experiments, and monetary innovations. One of his most dramatic decisions was shifting the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, aiming to control the Deccan more effectively and unify the empire. This also led to the striking of coins at the Daulatabad mint, such as this billon tanka. Muhammad bin Tughluq introduced several new denominations and experimented with token currency, reflecting his deep interest in fiscal policy. Although many reforms faced resistance and failed, his period remains significant for its scale, vision, and the remarkable diversity of its coinage.