Malwa Sultanate – Sultan Ala al-Din Mahmud Shah II 1510-1530 AD Copper 1 Falus Dar al-Mulk Shadiabad Mint Historical Coin

Malwa Sultanate, Sultan Ala al-Din Mahmud Shah II, r. 1510-1530 CE, Denomination: 1 Falus, Composition: Copper, Mint: Dar al-Mulk Shadiabad (Malwa), Weight: 8.69 grams, Diameter: 18.72 mm, G&G #191, About Very Fine, Very Scarce.

Obverse: Arabic legend “Abu Al Mujahid Mahmud Shah”.

Reverse: Arabic inscription “Dar al-Mulk Shadiabad”.

The reign of Ala al-Din Mahmud Shah II marked the final flowering of the independent Malwa Sultanate. Ascending the throne in 1510 AD, he ruled from the magnificent capital of Mandu, celebrated in contemporary inscriptions as Dar al-Mulk Shadiabad. His reign coincided with a period of intense political rivalry in northern and western India, particularly with the Sisodia rulers of Mewar under the celebrated Rana Sanga and the expanding ambitions of the Gujarat Sultanate. Despite these challenges, Malwa remained a thriving center of trade, architecture, and culture, sustaining an active monetary system that supplied both silver and copper coinage for commerce. The kingdom’s fortunes declined during the later years of his reign, and in 1531 AD Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat annexed Malwa, bringing nearly a century and a half of independent rule to an end. Surviving chronicles and coins preserve the memory of one of central India’s most distinguished medieval sultanates.

Copper falus of Mahmud Shah II were struck primarily for local circulation and everyday transactions. Their bold Arabic inscriptions and the characteristic six-petalled floral rosette are distinctive features of late Malwa coinage. Issues bearing the mint title Dar al-Mulk Shadiabad represent some of the final independent emissions of the Malwa Sultanate before its incorporation into the Gujarat Sultanate. Because of their historical significance and comparatively limited survival, these coins are highly desirable among collectors of Indian Sultanate numismatics.