Ala-ud-Din Ahmad Shah II Bahmani Sultanate 1 Gani Copper Coin

Bahmani Sultanate, Sultan Ala al-Din Ahmad Shah II, (AH 841–866 / 1438–1462 CE), Denomination: 1 Gani, Metal: Copper, Weight: 16.31 grams, Diameter: 21.37 mm, References: GG#BH84, Grade: Extremely Fine, Scarce.

Obverse: Persian legend “Al-Mu’tasim bi-Habl Allah al-Mannan, Sammi Khalil al-Rahman, Abu’l Muzaffar” arranged in bold calligraphic style across the field, proclaiming the Sultan’s religious honorifics and divine protection while emphasizing his legitimacy and sovereign authority.

Reverse: Persian legend “‘Ala al-Dunya wa’l-Din Ahmad Shah bin Ahmad Shah al-Sultan” in elegant multi-line calligraphy, identifying the ruler by his full royal title and lineage, reflecting the dynastic tradition and Islamic epigraphic style of the Bahmani Sultanate.

Issued during the reign of Ala al-Din Ahmad Shah II, this copper 1 Gani represents the early Bahmani coinage of the Deccan Sultanate. The coin is entirely inscriptional, featuring finely engraved Persian calligraphy without pictorial motifs, a hallmark of Bahmani numismatic art. The religious titles on the obverse and the ruler’s name on the reverse symbolize both spiritual authority and political legitimacy. These copper Gani coins circulated widely for everyday commerce throughout the Bahmani dominions during the mid-15th century.

Coinage Note: The Ala al-Din Ahmad Shah II Copper Gani is a significant Bahmani issue celebrated for its elegant Persian inscriptions and historical importance. Its purely calligraphic design and association with one of the Bahmani Sultanate’s prominent rulers make it a highly collectible coin among enthusiasts of Deccan Sultanate and medieval Indian numismatics.