Mughal Empire -Emperor Shah Alam II Shahjahanabad Dar-ul-Khilafat Mint Umbrella Mark Silver Rupee

Mughal Empire, Emperor: Shah Alam II, Reign: AH 1173–1221 / 1759–1806 CE, Denomination: Rupee, Metal: Silver, Weight: 11.16 grams, Diameter: 24.63 mm, Mint: Shahjahanabad Dar-ul-Khilafat (Delhi), Dated: AH 1200 / RY 28, Mint Marks: Umbrella and Sprig, Reference: KM# 709.1, About Extremely Fine, Scarce.

Obverse: Persian couplet Saya-e-Fazl-e-Ilahi with regnal year 28 and umbrella mint mark.

Reverse: Emperor’s name Shah Alam II with mint title Dar-ul-Khilafat Shahjahanabad, Hijri year AH 1200, and sprig mint mark.

By the closing decades of the eighteenth century, the Mughal Empire had become a shadow of its former greatness, though its coinage still commanded prestige throughout much of the Indian subcontinent. Shah Alam II, who spent much of his reign under the influence of regional powers, regained Delhi under the protection of Mahadji Scindia and the Marathas in 1772. The mint of Shahjahanabad, bearing the honorific title Dar-ul-Khilafat, continued to strike silver rupees in the traditional Mughal style. These coins are particularly noted for the poetic Saya-e-Fazl-e-Ilahi couplet and the distinctive umbrella (chhatra) symbol, an emblem that has earned them the popular name “Umbrella Rupees.” Despite the political fragmentation of the empire, Mughal silver remained a trusted medium of commerce and influenced regional coinages across India. Today, the umbrella rupees of Shah Alam II are highly prized for their elegant calligraphy and their association with one of the most turbulent periods in late Mughal history.

Coinage Note: The Shahjahanabad Dar-ul-Khilafat issues dated AH 1200 / RY 28 are catalogued as KM# 709.1. Distinguished by the umbrella and sprig mint marks, these silver rupees belong to the celebrated Saya-e-Fazl-e-Ilahi series and are sought after by collectors of Mughal and Maratha-period coinage due to their historical significance and relative scarcity.