Ghaznavid Empire Ibrahim of Ghazna Billon 1 Jital Lahore mint Coin

Ghaznavid Empire, Ibrahim of Ghazna, AH 451-492/1059-1099 CE, Denomination: BI 1 Jital, Composition: Billon (Silver+Copper), Weight: 3.30 grams, Diameter: 15.13 mm, Lahore mint, Reference: Tye #103, about very fine, scarce.

Obverse: Bull with a trident on its nape, facing left, with two dots on the body. 

Reverse: Arabic inscription in five lines: adil al-sultan / al-muazzam / abul-muzaffar / Ibrahim, all within a dotted border. 

Ibrahim of Ghazna was a ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire, belonging to the Ghaznavid dynasty, which dominated eastern Iran, Afghanistan, and north-western India in the 11th century. He ascended the throne in 451 AH (1059 CE) after the death of his father Masʿud I, while his grandfather was the famous conqueror Mahmud of Ghazni, founder of Ghaznavid power in India.

Ibrahim’s reign is remembered as relatively stable and diplomatic compared to his predecessors. He maintained control over Ghaznavid territories and ruled from Ghazni, which remained the imperial capital. His son and successor was Masʿud III, under whom the dynasty continued for a few more decades.

In India, Ibrahim preserved Ghaznavid authority over Punjab and Lahore, engaging both in conflict and accommodation with local Hindu rulers. While military pressure existed, his reign saw fewer large-scale invasions and more administrative consolidation. Sultan Ibrahim is buried in Ghazni, Afghanistan.

The coinage of his reign, especially the Lahore-mint jitals, reflects continuity with Indo-Islamic monetary traditions, combining Islamic inscriptions with indigenous symbols like the bull motif.