Khusrau Malik Ghaznavid Dynasty 1160–1186 CE Lahore Mint Billon Jital Historical Coin

Ghaznavid Dynasty, Ruler: Khusrau Malik (1160–1186 CE), Mint: Lahore, Denomination: BI Jital, Metal: Billon, Weight: 3.30 grams, Diameter: 14 mm, Reference: Tye# 120.1, About Very Fine, Rare.

Obverse: Arabic Legend: “Khusru Malik (خسرو ملک)” within double circle; crescent above. 

Reverse:  Arabic Legend: “Al-Sultan al-a’zam siraj al-daula”.

Khusrau Malik was the final ruler of the Ghaznavid Dynasty, governing during the late 12th century when the once-powerful Ghaznavid state was rapidly declining under military pressure from rival Central Asian powers. After losing western territories to invading Oghuz Turks, he shifted his political center eastward to Lahore, which became the final Ghaznavid stronghold in the Indian frontier region. From there, he attempted to preserve authority through regional campaigns and defensive warfare. Eventually, he was defeated and captured by the Ghorids, bringing an end to Ghaznavid rule. His coinage reflects this final transitional phase of the dynasty, where older Islamic monetary traditions continued despite political instability. Jitals issued from Lahore remain historically important for illustrating the collapse of Ghaznavid authority and the rise of Ghorid influence in northwestern India and Afghanistan.

The Lahore-minted Jitals of Khusrau Malik are known in three major varieties distinguished by symbols above the ruler’s name: crescent (common), star (scarce), and no mark (rare). This crescent variety is catalogued as Tye# 120.3 in Robert Tye’s important reference work “Jitals.” These small billon issues circulated widely in local trade and remain highly collectible among specialists of medieval Indo-Islamic coinage.